"I pray that those who read Our Need to Pray will find a closer walk with Jesus. That they will recognize their great need for prayer, for communion, and a friendship with our Great God. That they will witness His Presence in their lives 24 hours-a-day."
- Lorraine West, Your Woodside SDA Prayer Warrior
In 2001, I became the Prayer Coordinator for the Woodside Seventh-day Adventist Church, and so began my ceaseless study on prayer.
I found that I had in my personal life (where prayer was concerned) just barely touched the tip of the iceberg. I realized that my walk with God was something that I could not do when I got around to it. This focus on prayer turned my whole world around, with God now at the center.
So I started emailing my family & friends, little gems that I had gleaned for myself. Soon, it was reaching out around the world as those messages I sent were forwarded on. So has it grown since; it’s really God’s work; He thought of it first.
Praise God for never giving up on me. He won’t give up on you either; just be sure to spend lots of time with Him!
I’m a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and have been a Seventh-day-Adventist Christian for over 46 years. With Jesus as my Saviour, friend and companion, this time with Him has passed so very quickly; He constantly blesses me; and I am so very thankful.
The Latest “Our Need to Pray”
- Our Need to Pray: February 17, 2012
“How do we often find release from the pressure of temptation? We give in to it, right? Someone aggravates us and we’re tempted to give him or her a piece of our mind. As long as we hold our tongue the pressure to let the person have it builds and builds. Finally, we can stand it no longer. A torrent of hot lava spews from our lips. Sweet relief! We couldn’t have held it in a second longer.
It works the same way with other sorts of temptations. We’re in an acquiring mood (which the Bible calls “coveting) and prohibits in the tenth commandment of God’s “Big Ten”). At first we resist the urge to splurge, but it grows until we just have to go out and buy something. Something we don’t need—but something that relieves the pressure.
And then there’s lust (a temptation I know only from a guy’s perspective). . . . Some seek release from it by turning to a pornographic Web site. . . . There’s a weight of guilt that will eventually overwhelm the conscience. But initially the yielding to temptation brings relief.
Now recall the fact that Jesus never yielded to temptation. Never. The pressure to say “yes” to it just kept mounting. But Jesus always said “no.” Do you understand why Hebrews tells us that Jesus “suffered when he was tempted”? That same verse (Heb. 2:18) goes on to explain that this is why “he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Far from being unable to empathize with our struggle because he breezed through similar struggles himself, Jesus understands exactly what we’re facing—and far worse.
The writer of Hebrews now draws an application from this truth: “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Heb. 4:16). Temptation should prompt us to pray! Why? Because Jesus understands our predicament, because he has successfully fought—and won—similar battles, and because he has explicitly invited us to approach him in prayer when cornered by temptation.
In Summary, James would tell us to remind ourselves, when tempted, that the very desires which are pulling us toward sin can be met in a much better way—by presenting them to the Giver of all good gifts, by asking the Giver to satisfy us.” Prayer Coach p, 71, 72 by James L. Nicodem, Crossway Books
Vitamin C: One cup of peppers, strawberries, broccoli or peas or one papaya has more vitamin C than one orange. Eat a good variety of fruits and veggies to get your antioxidants and fight disease.
Be healthy and be happy,
Lorraine