Pastors Wives Newsletter: January 2012

Pastors Wives Newsletter

Volume 12, Number 1

January 2012

Dear Sisters,

"Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving." Col. 4:2

We are told by the Apostle Paul to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17). When we pray, we cultivate a heart that loves to be in the presence of Jesus. We come to know in a deeper way the One who is the strength of our heart.

This year, I have been impressed with my need to grow in faith. What better way than to spend time with the One who is our greatest example of dependence on the Father in prayer?

In this month's newsletter, three women give insights and practical tips on the topic of prayer. These words are from women who are examples at spending time in prayer with Jesus. Their common message is this: Expect God to answer your prayers!

Let's learn from their examples and draw closer to Him, Who "is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think." (Eph. 3:20)

In Christ,

Sandy Hopler

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What are some practical steps you have taken to strengthen your prayer life?

One of my biggest prayer verses is Jeremiah 32:17 "Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." Reading this reminds me that nothing is too difficult for God. In my life I have seen God do more work while I am on my knees than when I am busy trying to answer my own prayers.

At the beginning of last year I asked all of my children and the women that I am discipling, to please give me a list of their prayer requests. I typed the list on a sheet of paper and taped it to the inside cover of my Bible. I prayed as faithfully as I could. Around October, I looked at the list again and realized that ninety-five percent of the prayers were already answered. God had been so faithful to do the work that only He could do! I was encouraged once again to pray "God sized" prayers that can only be answered by our heavenly Father.

This year I am putting together my prayer list once again. I was challenged this past Faithwalkers by Jan Gordon's message. She and her family have created a list of seventy people and they commit to praying for ten people from that list each day. So I have my list of seventy. Each morning I enjoy walking for about twenty minutes, which gives me plenty of time to pray for ten people per day.Psalms 5:3 says, "In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch." I am excited to see each day what God is going to do!

Barbara Wilson

Raleigh, North Carolina

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Planning when and where to pray has been very helpful in strengthening my prayer life. I have often thought of the prophet Daniel who routinely prayed to God three times a day. From my understanding, the Jewish culture set up prayer times in the morning, mid-afternoon, and evening. I don't know where or how that started, but I do know that habit and routine definitely help me to pray.

I am still refining my prayer times, but here are a few times and ways I regularly turn to God in prayer- "Dawn's Top Ten:"

1.) First thing in the morning, my husband and I lie in bed and pray together for the coming day.

2.) Before breakfast- take a pocket New Testament and walk and pray over a Psalm (in our basement).

3.) After breakfast- pray with my husband and son for local and regional requests.

4) Praying over my "verse for the day," my family and other things that God puts on my heart.

5.) Bedtime- pray with my husband and son (when he's home).

6.) Monday afternoons- each week set aside an afternoon to spend with God "praying" in my journal, praying out loud over the Word, and walking and praying more deeply for my life, my family, and my church. (I do this at a local church or outdoors at a park in nice weather AWAY from home.)

7.) Dates with my husband- in all our conversations, prayer is a vital part of our planning, sharing burdens, seeking wisdom, etc.

8.) In between- God is always there and always interested to listen. I like to ask for His help and blessing in whatever I'm doing, and also pray for people and events that the Spirit brings to mind.

9.) Did I mention the Spirit? I often ask God to lead me by His Spirit when I pray. It is always amazing and VERY encouraging as thoughts and insights come to mind that I know I wouldn't have thought to pray about on "my own".

10.) Praying with others- whether through a phone call or in person, I like to pray with others. There is strength and encouragement when two or more gather together and pray. When people share burdens, I like to bow our heads together and "take it to the Lord in prayer." Are joys shared? We thank Jesus together! Conversations are blessed when they are kissed with prayer.

I realize we are at many "stages" and under different circumstances in our lives, but God will always creatively lead you when it comes to praying, giving you your own times and places to connect with Him. After all, He is more passionate about relationship with us than we are!

Dawn Bovenmyer
Ames, IA

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Psalm 5:3 says, "In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch" or "wait in expectation." It's like putting in my order for my favorite food at a restaurant and waiting eagerly for it to come to my table. I try to, on a daily basis, write a few things down that I really want to see happen. With a colored pencil, I color them green, Herschel Martindale's coloring-the-Bible color for prayer, so that I can easily find these prayer requests for future prayer. I have a Father who delights in answering prayer.

Years ago, I read a book explaining the Lord's Prayer. Each phrase is expounded on with examples for what to pray about for that specific phrase. Starting out the prayer with "Our Father" helps prepare my heart and reminds me that I have a loving Father who desires to be a part of my life. Another phrase, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done..." is where a lot of supplication happens. I add "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in my life" or "in my husband's life" or "in my children's lives." Learning how to better apply this framework that Jesus gave to His disciples has given my prayer life structure and purpose. If distracted, I start the prayer over and find my place again.

One other thing I have done that has strengthened my prayer life is, at the back of my journal I have listed the days of the week and under each day I have 10 lines. These lines are for prayer for people I meet and want to influence for Christ. I want God to prepare their heart for salvation. That will add up to 70 unsaved people I am praying for over a period of a week. This excites me and gives expectation for the next time I run into that person. I wonder if "today is the day of salvation" for that person and how God may want to use me. I have not filled in all the lines but I continue to meet people and now know how to have a great influence in their lives. I will pray for them.

Jan Gordon

Gainesville, FL

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Pastors Conference 2012: The theme this year is Courage. It will be held in St. Louis, MO on June 18-20th. Mark your calendars, as this year is a year for the wives to attend as well!