Prayer retreat and prayer about terror

Prayer retreat and prayer about terror
I just read a really good article. Take a look:
Article and blog post title: "Should We Pray for ISIS to be Defeated or Converted?"
Link: http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/russellmoore/should-we-pray-for-isis-to-be-defeated-or-converted.html
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It's also our responsibility to pray. If we do not pray for others, it's a sin. This verse describes how seriously we should take praying for others:
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1 Samuel 12:23 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
23 Moreover, as for me, (A) far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; but (B) I will instruct you in the good and right way.
Cross references:
1 Samuel 12:23 : Rom 1:9; 1 Cor 9:16; Col 1:9; 1 Thess 3:10; 2 Tim 1:3
1 Samuel 12:23 : 1 Kin 8:36; Ps 34:11; Prov 4:11
-- New American Standard Bible (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
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That verse applies to prayer for individuals, families, businesses, governments, organizations, countries, etc. We are told to pray always and about everything. Period. End of discussion.
So, how do we do this? How do we put this into practice? Here are a couple of hints and tips:
Rather than doing self-talk in your mind, do God talk. Talk with the Lord. Turn all your thoughts to Him. If you journal make Him alone your audience, then all journaling, and all thought, becomes prayer.
We can, also, pray in the background as we do our everyday life's activities, as we work, as we clean, as we drive--and... While we converse with others. We can have prayer going on in the background and at all times.
Prayer is something that God wants us to do at all times, for all things, and there is no exception. Through talking to God in our minds, and in our journals, as as we do all that we do, we are praying at all times.
1 Samuel 12:23, however, is talking about a specific type of prayer: Praying for others.
This is my goal and aim today. It was one week ago that there were the six Paris Terror Attacks (on Friday the Thirteenth) and there was another terror attack in Mali today, never mind all of the other terror attacks that have happened this week. There were several. This gives me/us a great deal to pray about and for. We can (and should) pray for: the victims of the terror attacks, their familes and friends, the first responders, the military, the government, the church (all Christians as a whole, each denomination, and each church in the world, and all Christians indiidually) and the world response of each attack.
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Now, I am going to stop about how to pray, and why we should pray, and start praying. (It's about time. 1130 a.m.)
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My personal prayer journaling and prayers on Friday, November 20, 2015:
Lord, first of all, I pray that the Holy Spirit conveys everything to You that is on my heart and in my mind. I know for a fact I will not get all of the words out on the page. This week has been intense at best. So many things have happened. I do not know if it is possible for me to pray for all of it in words. That being said, God, I do pray that You help me to do precisely that.
This week has been... What are the words to use here? Tragic. Terrible. Full of turmoil. Emotional. Mental. Thought provoking. Tough. Surreal. A surprise. A week of grief and fury. A week of conviction. Stirring. Motivational. Heart breaking. A nightmare. Sad.
I cannot even begin to imagine what Paris, Jerusalem, Mali, etc. are going through... Three places with terror attacks this week. I lift all of them up to You. Comfort them. Bring them closer to you. Help them to seek You. After all, You alone can bring them the comfort they need.
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2 Corinthians 1:3 New Living Translation (NLT)
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.
-- New Living Translation (NLT). Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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He is the one and only true source of ALL comfort. Complete comfort. Without exception. All comfort means precisely that--ALL.
Lord, bring everyone involved and immpacted by all of the terror attacks in the alst forty years, plus this last week in particular, know ALL of YOUR comfort. May they seek comfort from You, the true source of comfort--and in no one and in nothing else.
Just that verse is a comfort. It's a balm that soothes the mind and heart.
Let's also be realistic. If any of us have watched the news over the last week, we have all been touched by terrorism, whether we acknowledge it or not.
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Romans 5:3-5 Expanded Bible (EXB)
3 [L Not only this, but] We also ·have joy [rejoice; boast] ·with our troubles [through suffering/trials/persecution], because we know that ·these troubles [suffering; trials; persecution] produce ·patience [endurance]. 4 And ·patience [endurance] produces [tested and proven] character, and [tested and proven] character produces hope. 5 And this hope will never ·disappoint us [let us down; or put us to shame; dishonor us; C honor and shame were among the most important values in first century culture], because God has ·poured out his love to fill our hearts [or flooded our hearts with his love]. He gave us his love through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to us.
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
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Romans 5:3-5 New King James Version (NKJV)
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
-- New King James Version (NKJV). Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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The only true way to learn about true hope is through experiences, through living it. The true hope is found in Jesus Christ alone. This brings the peace that transcends our grasp and understanding (see Philippians 4:6-8). This true hope is something we can stand strong in. Our hope in Jesus will never fail, for He will never fail, has never failed. Lord, help all of the world to know the only true source of hope. It is Jesus. It is found in Him alone.
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James 5:13 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
13 Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
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Psalm 105:4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
4 Search for the Lord and for His strength;
seek His face always.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
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I pray this verse for all touched by terrorism. The only true strength and comfort there is can be found in Him alone.
Lord, help them to search for You. AND, help them to search for YOUR strength alone. Human strength is finite and comes from sinful people. Your strength, however, is limitless, infinite, and is perfect.
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1 Chronicles 28:9 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
9 “As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands the intention of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
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In times of suffering... in times of terror... when we are trying to make sense of the unthinkable and unimaginable, the only thigns we can do is turn to the Lord. It's also the only things we should do.
Lord, help every individual, group, business, church, organization, military, government, and nation that is touched by terrorism this week and in the past, learn to seek You and Your Word alone. Without hesitation. With faull heart and mind. After all, when we search for You, You promise that we will, without fail, be found by You.
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Hebrews 11:6 Expanded Bible (EXB)
6 [L And] Without faith no one can please God. [L For; Because] Anyone who comes to God must believe that he ·is real [exists] and that he rewards those who ·truly want to find [earnestly/sincerely seek] him.
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
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And, if we seek You, You will reward us. You will bless us.
Isn't Your blessing what we need most in times of trouble?
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Psalm 46:1 New Living Translation (NLT)
1 God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.
-- New Living Translation (NLT). Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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Oh, help people to know this verse firsthand, Father.
Help all who have been touched by the terror attacks this week in particular know this verse personally.
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