Lord, teach me to pray this way

Lord, teach me to pray this way:

Isaiah 62:6-7New Living Translation (NLT)

6 O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls;
    they will pray day and night, continually.
    Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord.
7 Give the Lord no rest until he completes his work,
    until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Tomorrow is Day 1 of Camp NaNoWriMo

Tomorrow is the first day of Camp NaNoWriMo (Camp National Novel Writing Month)

No. I am not writing a work of fiction or a novel. Rather, I am writing a nonfiction book. It's called,

Prayer Protection: My journey of learning about intercessory prayer, spiritual warfare prayer, watchman prayer, and powerful prayer

I have 15,000 words written already, so my goal is to write a total of 65,000 words at least for that book. Then, if I finish that earlier, I will start another project of the "Learning the who, what, where, when, why, and how of the Bible today series." However, the truth is, I imagine I will make Prayer Protection book a more lengthy one than 65,000 words... Or, I will add a second book to that one. We shall see. It's anyone's guess right now. 

If you want to keep track of my writing progress with Prayer Protection and Camp NaNoWriMo in April 2016, check out this link:

http://campnanowrimo.org/campers/momentswithkara/novels/learning-the-who-what-where-when-why-and-how-of-the-holy-bible-today-a-series

I am looking forward to seeing how much I am able to write. It's my goal to write as much as possible and as long as possible each day. I also cannot wait to get a book written. 

Have a blessed day. 

A new beginning: Prayer Protection

A NEW DAY: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016

My personal spiritual warfare journaling, learning, and prayer

This is how I began my day. I thought the term/phrase "spiritual warfare" was all-encompassing. Well, the more I study and pray about it, there are many more disciplines or practices that come with spiritual warfare prayer. Consequently, I am going to call my new personal journaling series and focus: PRAYER PROTECTION.
Tentatively, I am adding this to the title of my journaling series temporary title: "Prayer Protection: My journey of learning about intercessory prayer, spiritual warfare prayer, watchman prayer, and powerful prayer." Hence, you see there is a lot more to this than spiritual warfare.

All of these are temporary prayer, but I think I like PRAYER PROTECTION and that most likely will not change. What comes after that title and after the colon is temporary.

So, this marks a new focus. A second new beginning.

I am journaling a great deal more than what I am sharing on my personal journaling blog here at RYP Stories. Therefore, I will eventually turn this into a book. Know that what you read here are the highlights and there is a lot more depth I will share in the book.

Since I realize what I am wanting to learn about is a great deal more than just spiritual warfare, I now have several more resources/books to peruse. Far more importantly, it means there is a great deal more of the Bible I will need to read, study, think on/contemplate/meditate, and journal about.

I just read everything again I wrote to this point in this journal entry and I cannot help but chuckle at the connotation of PRAYER PROTECTION. It almost sounds like spycraft. This is my mission, should I choose to accept it, and the mission is to offer prayer protection over my life, my husband, my family, my friends, my home and house, my marriage, our block, our neighborhood, our city, our county, our church, our state, our region of states, the U.S., the U.S. military, the U.S. government, the president of the U.S. (present and upcoming), the Church as a whole, the world, the news and current events of all of the above and following, and against terrorism.

What a mission.

No pressure. Gulp.

How on earth do I go about this mission?

I have no idea whatsoever. Therefore, I guess it is time to pray on it, read, study, and pray some more.

One thing I know for sure is that no book out there starts with practical things to help you to immediately start applying these types of prayers to my life. They start with introductory explanations. I want a book that starts me off with prayer, not just at the beginning of the chapter, and at the end, but throughout. I want immediate application. And, if not a prayer written out, then a prayer point to stop and pray for immediately. I want to immediately put what I learn into practice.

Hence, I will learn all I can,  pray as I go, and journal. Then, I will write that resource. So, stay tuned. This will start in my next personal journal entry.

Lord, teach me how to pray

There are times I do not know what to pray because I am so stunned by what has happened. But, there is something far more prevalent in keeping me from praying as I want or should. I am not sure I really, truly, fully, deeply know how to pray. Or, at least I am scared that I don't. Therefore, I doubt if it would hurt if I prayed this prayer: Lord, teach me how to pray.
Almighty God and Holy One, if I am realistic, I do not think it is ever possible to learn enough on how to pray to You and communicate with You, the Eternal One and All-Powerful One.
And, I want to learn and know more about prayer just in general. I want to
Luke 11:1 Expanded Bible (EXB)
11 One time Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his ·followers [disciples] said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his ·followers [disciples].”
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Lord, teach me how to pray without ceasing for those touched by terror and for the terrorists. Show me how. Give me the words and remind me to pray about these things. Guide me.
Teach me how to stand in the gap and be a watchman in prayer aobut terrorism.
In the name of Jesus Christ, my Messiah and Lord, my Redeemer and Strength, I pray that You bring each terrorist to believe in Jesus Christ--and if not, that You bring justice.
Thank You, my Rock and Refuge, for being the One who saves and that it isn't up to me to make or force someone to believe. Thank You for being all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, so You do not depend on me to bring people to believe--nor do You depend on me to bring You justice. You do all of that just fine on Your own. You are the One True God and You do not depend on man for anything.
Lord, help the wicked to know that there is a better way. In fact, there is only one true way.
John 14:1-7 New Living Translation (NLT)
14 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
-- 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.
Lord, help terrorists to learn and believe in John 14:6.
There is something else that is strongly on my mind and in my heart right now, Lord. Protect people, in Brussels and anywhere else there is a plan of a terror attack. Put a hedge of protection around them.
Lord! You just spoke to me and made my prayer book aobut how to pray about terrorism very clear. You said that this is to be a book about "Spiritual Warfare Prayer and the War on Terror." Period. End of story.

Prayer Focus: Praying for the world and about terrorism

Saturday, November 21, 2015
Last night as I tried to fall asleep, I prayed. As I prayed, this came to me:
Lord, the world seems like it's falling apart at the seams. I realize there is nothing new under the sun as it says here:
Ecclesiastes 1:9 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
9 What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done;
there is nothing new under the sun.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
The world turmoil is not new. We just know more about it because of the internet and social media. (For instance, when hearing about breaking news, social media is usually the best way to find out information because social media posts in real-time. That being said, you have to know most of the information is marginally true and is subjective, so you have to filter it for the facts later.)
Lord, none of this is a surprise to You. However, Lord, it is a surprise to me. It hurts knowing the suffering of people. I wish I could go give them a hug and just be there for them. I pray instead and I realize well this is best anyway. Prayer offers them more than anything or anyone of this world.
The world is in turmoil and seems so... ugly... Bleak. Hurtful and hurting. Busy. Lost. Confused. Angry. Sad. There are so many challenges and so much ugliness, God. We are all trying to find our own way and are trying to find some beauty and at least one blessing to count. First, there was Paris. Then, Mali. Then, now, there is a threat in Brussels. They are in lockdown and are on alert. Americans are told to leave there or not to go there.
Lord, so much ugliness in this world.
Where is the beauty? Where is the light in this dark mixed up world?
Wait. We are all looking inside of ourselves, and all around, so we are not looking where we should. We should look for You. We should seek Your face. You are eve good, beautiful, and light. You are our only hope.
As our hearts break...
As we learn of more ugliness...
As we crave beauty in this muck...
We should look for You. Search for You. See You alone. You will never fail us and always want what is best for us. You are our one and only true and absolute hope.
We should also remember how You have a purpose for and in everything.
Acts 17:27 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
27 He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Lord, I wish You didn't have to get my attention with events and circumstances. I wish I turned to You first and foremost... and I wish I stood in the gap and on watch without having to remind me and get my attention. Help me to remain focused on looking for You in all I do, think, feel, and say. You alone, Lord. In these times... You first and You alone. The world will fail me every time and is a man versus man world. You are the only sure foundation.
Isaiah 28:16 New Living Translation (NLT)
16 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem,
    a firm and tested stone.
It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on.
    Whoever believes need never be shaken.
-- 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.
I should search for You, seek You and Your face, at all times. Yes, Father, in the times of sunshine, clouds, rain, snow, and storm, we should seek You and Your face. First and always. For, when we do, You reward us and bless us.
Matthew 6:31-34 New Living Translation (NLT)
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
-- 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.
Another terror attack? We should not worry. We should pray instead.
Lord, it is sometimes difficult to look for You in this vile and mixed up world at times that leads only to trouble. People are so self-centered they forget about You or are so focused on self they have never known You at all.
Psalm 53:1-3 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
For the choir director: on Mahalath. A Davidic Maskil.
1 The fool says in his heart, “God does not exist.”
They are corrupt, and they do vile deeds.
There is no one who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven on the human race
to see if there is one who is wise,
one who seeks God.
3 All have turned away;
all alike have become corrupt.
There is no one who does good,
not even one.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Lord, help me be the one. Help me be the one who seeks You first. Help me be the one who stands in the gap. Help me seek You every moment. Help to stand on watch.
But, Lord... all of this can be difficult at best. I cannot possibly do any of this, let alone all of it without You.
First, Paris, then terror attacks in Israel, then in Mali, and now Brussels is on high alert. People are dying. People are being murdered because of a difference in belief and a difference in a way of life. Ouch. There's so much tumult and turmoil... I feel like I am drowning in this sea of ugliness. Therefore...
Psalm 63:1-4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
A Davidic psalm. When he was in the Wilderness of Judah.
1 God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You.
I thirst for You;
my body faints for You
in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.
2 So I gaze on You in the sanctuary
to see Your strength and Your glory.
3 My lips will glorify You
because Your faithful love is better than life.
4 So I will praise You as long as I live;
at Your name, I will lift up my hands.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
I long for stability in this topsy-turvy world. I know that it's only found in You.
Lord, I know it isn't just me who struggles with these things and is grasping at anything to make sense of things and in order to stop myself from drowning in this sea of terror, never mind everyday life.
God, I realize that the fact that I am finding so much ugliness means in part that the terrorists are getting what they want. They want to disrupt lives. They want to cause terror and incite a war. I ahve fallen into that trap. That is why I should seek You first, always, and alone, so I do not fall into their trap and get my eyes off the prize.
Philippians 3:13-14 Expanded Bible (EXB)
13 Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not ·yet reached that goal [taken hold of it], but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the ·past [L things that are behind] and ·straining toward [stretching/reaching forward to] what is ahead, 14 I keep ·trying to reach [pursuing; chasing] the goal and get the prize for which God called me ·to the life above [heavenward; L upward] ·through [or in] Christ Jesus.
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
My goal should be to focus on heaven, not on the things of this earth. The things of this earth are only temporary. Heaven is eternal.
Colossians 3:1-2 New Living Translation (NLT)
3 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
-- 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.
Help all of us to turn to You and seek You. Helps us all to pray for what we should, when we should, in all things, for all things, and at all times.
I pray this for myself and for everyone who has been touched by terror the last few decades:
Psalm 91 New King James Version (NKJV)
91 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”
-- 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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Love, prayer, and terrorism

(Prayer about terror, standing in the gap, acting as a watchman for prayer)
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Here is a passage of scripture that separates Christians and terrorists:
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Ephesians 3:17-19 Expanded Bible (EXB)
17 I pray that Christ will ·live [make his home] in your hearts by faith and that your life will be ·strong in love and be built on love [L rooted and grounded in love]. 18 And I pray that you and all ·God’s holy people [T the saints] will have the power to ·understand [comprehend; grasp] the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is. 19 Christ’s love is ·greater than anyone can ever know [beyond comprehension/knowledge], but I pray that you will be able to know that love. ·Then [L …so that] you can be filled with the fullness of God.
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
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The only way we can fully know love is through knowing Jesus Christ. His life is a representation of God's love.
If we know Jesus, we know love. True love. Unconditional love.
And, God expects us to show others this love.
This is what the terrorists lack. True, unconditional love.
Christianity is based on the love of God.
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John 3:16-18 Expanded Bible (EXB)
16 “[L For] God loved the world so much that he gave his ·one and only [only; unique; T only begotten; 1:14, 18] Son so that whoever believes in him may not ·be lost [T perish], but have eternal life. 17 [L For; Indeed] God did not send his Son into the world to ·judge the world guilty [condemn the world], but to save the world through him. 18 People who believe in God’s Son are not ·judged guilty [condemned]. Those who do not believe have already been ·judged guilty [condemned], because they have not believed in [L the name of] God’s ·one and only [only; unique; T only begotten; 3:16] Son.
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
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If you do not know Jesus, these verses mentioned throughout this blog post will not make sense. See the following verse for an explanation:
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1 Corinthians 2:14 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
-- 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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Here is a more simplistic version of the previous passage:
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John 3:16-18 New Living Translation (NLT)
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.
-- 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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Here is a more simplistic version of the earlier passage:
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Ephesians 3:16-19 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
16 I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, 17 and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, 19 and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
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Our God is Love. And, He expects us to make love our focus--not judgment. (Also, He is the only one who judges. We do not.) Christianity is centered on love.
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Matthew 22:37-39 New Living Translation (NLT)
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
-- 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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Nowhere does the Bible say we are to judge other Christians. Nor does it say that we are to judge those who are Christians.
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Matthew 7:2-5 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
2 For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the log in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a log in your eye? 5 Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
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God does not tell us to murder other Christians we disagree with. Terrorists will murder, and have, others of their own faith who do not have the same faith and belief as their own. They do not believe in the saying: "Let's agree to disagree."
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Lord, help me to take all of these verses to heart and think on them so I can apply them to my life. Help me to fully grasp these verses. Then, I can pray more about terrorism and for terrorists. Help me to know You and Your love so much that it helps me to pray about terrorism, Father.
Lord, help me to fully, completely grasp and understand Your love. Help those touched by terrorism to know your love as well. Help this world to know Your love today--not tomorrow. Today and tomorrow even.
The love of Christ is perfect. The love He has for us and the love we have for Him. To know Christ is to know love. Without Jesus Christ, there is no love. There's false love and shallow love, but not true, deep, unconditional, eternal love.
Lord, help those touched by terrorism to know love through what they are going through. Help them know that circumstances and feelings cannot diminish Your love one millimeter. Love is beyond emotion and circumstance.
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1 John 4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. 3 But every spirit who does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist; you have heard that he is coming, and he is already in the world now.
4 You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world. Therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us; anyone who is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us.
13 This is how we know that we remain in Him and He in us: He has given assurance to us from His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent His Son as the world’s Savior. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God. 16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.
17 In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, for we are as He is in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because He first loved us.
20 If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother he has seen cannot love the God he has not seen. 21 And we have this command from Him: The one who loves God must also love his brother.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
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Lord, I pray all of these verses and will keep praying them for those touched by terrorism and I pray this for those who do not believe--that they may know Jesus and these verses.
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Prayer about terror and standing in the gap

Note to the readers of this blog and my personal (prayer) journaling:
Reader of this blog and my personal journaling (and prayer journaling), I ask that you bear with me as I post a few blog posts today. However, since today is a self-declared prayer retreat for all the victims of terror this week in particular, I determined the material I have to share is too precious not to share. I hope to arm you with prayers as well regarding everyone that has been touched by terrorism in general and this last week.
There will be a couple of more blog posts as well today and through the weekend as well regarding praying about terrorism and all of those involved and all touched by terrorism.
Hence, if you enjoy reading this blog, and do not want to get bombarded by multiple blog posts per day, you might want to consider setting it up as a bookmark and checking it once a day (or more) and at your convenience. Otherwise, I pray each blog post I publish will be a timely one for you and you will not find it annoying to receive yet another one.
My goal is as of December 1st or so to limit my blog posts to one a day, but only five days per week. Until then, I want to arm us with as much material so we can fight the war on terror with the most powerful and effective weapon out there: With prayer. I hope to give you the material needed to do so.
Here is another passage about the importance of watching and praying:
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Nehemiah 4:8-9 Expanded Bible (EXB)
8 So they all made plans to come to Jerusalem and fight and ·stir up trouble [cause confusion/a disturbance]. 9 But we prayed to our God and appointed guards ·to watch for [L against] them day and night.
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
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Lord, I have thought for years how you want me to be a watchman of and for prayer and stand in the gap. Lord, help me to do so. Teach me fully what this means and how to put it into practice. Once and for all. If You want me to make this a full-time endeavor, please tell me. Guide me and instruct me.
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Proverbs 3:5-7 New King James Version (NKJV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
-- 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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There are always slight nuances between versions or translations of the Bible. Just a one word difference adds more understanding so we can grasp further what God is telling us in His Word. This verse and translation is no exception:
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Proverbs 3:5-7 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
5     Trust the Lord with all your heart,
        and do not rely on your own understanding.
6     In all your ways acknowledge him,
        and he will make your paths smooth.
7     Do not consider yourself wise.
    Fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
-- GOD’S WORD Translation (GW). Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group
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Lord, please guide me in my prayer life and in all of my prayers. Show me how to pray about terrorism and what to pray about terrorism. Help me to act as a watchman and to stand in the gap both. Help me to know what this means and apply this knowledge. Lord, help me to understand Your Word fully and be able to apply it fully as I pray for and about terrorism, for all those touched by terrorism and all of those who commit terrorism.
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Ephesians 1:17-19 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
///
Lord, the fact is not everyone can stand in the gap like I can. I am unique in what I can offer as I stand in the gap. Therefore, it is my responsibility to pray as only I can, as others pray only as they can. I understand that this is why everyone should pray. for, each of us bring something different to the fight.
I realize I am in a very unique position in my life in general and in my prayer life. My husband works. I stay home. We don't have two-legged children. Therefore, I can pray for an extensive period of time each day, on top of praying as I go and in my mind in God-talk, rather than self-talk.
Lord, how do YOU want me to stand in the gap? What does it look like with my gifts, talents, and abilities?
What does it look like just in general, god, to stand in the gap in prayer?
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Ezekiel 22:29-31 Expanded Bible (EXB)
29 The people of the land ·cheat others [practice extortion] and ·steal [commit robbery]. They ·hurt [oppress] the poor and needy. They ·cheat [mistreat; extort] foreigners and ·do not treat them fairly [deny them justice].
30 “I looked for someone to ·build up [repair; 13:5] the walls and to stand before me ·where the walls are broken [in the gap/breach] ·to defend these people [L on behalf of the land] so I would not have to destroy them. But I could not find anyone. 31 So I ·let them see [poured out] my ·anger [wrath]. I destroyed them with an anger that was like fire ·because of all the things [L bringing down on their heads all] they have done, says the Lord God.”
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
///
Lord, I know for a fact I have not prayed far more than I have--in general and regarding terrorism specifically. Even though I knew You wanted me to do so. I make praying for and about terrorism an intentional goal from time to time, but then I get off-track. And, then I stop. Lord, help me to stand in the gap in the way You want, for as long as You want, even if it means for the rest of my life. Help me to make this a priority--once and for all. Help me to finally and totally commit to the endeavor.
There is only one I can influence and control. That is me. Help me to do so. The fact is, I know how surely I cannot without Your help. Father God, teach me how and guide me. Be with me and Holy Spirit, speak for me when I don't have the words.
I want to stand in the gap about terrorism and be a watchman. Now, help me to learn what that means, Lord.
///
Or a more simple version of the passage:
///
Ezekiel 22:29-31 New Living Translation (NLT)
29 Even common people oppress the poor, rob the needy, and deprive foreigners of justice.
30 “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. 31 So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them with the fire of my anger. I will heap on their heads the full penalty for all their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”
-- 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.
///
Not one. You looked and there wasn't one who stood in the gap. Abba, I cannot even begin to imagine how often this has been me and will be me. However, Father, help me to focus intentionally and purposefully on standing in the gap regarding terrorism.
Forgive me for not standing in the gap as I could and for not being a watchman.
Forgive me for all of the times I couldn't sleep, because You wanted me to pray, but I didn't for whatever reason.
Lord, help me.
Now, let's look just at verse 30 in another version or translation of the Bible:
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Ezekiel 22:30 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
30 I searched for a man among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land so that I might not destroy it, but I found no one.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
///
Lord, I know that since September Eleventh, 2001, You have put standing in the gap, and acting as a watchman of prayer, on my heart and in my mind about terrorism. There have been times I have heeded the call. However, there have been other times I have not. As I have said several times already, and in different ways. Lord, help me to know how You want me to do this and help me to commit to do so. I cannot without You.
///

Isn't this a blog about spiritual warfare prayer?

You may wonder why if this is a blog on spiritual warfare prayer, why there is so much talk about prayer (and other types of prayer). The answer is simple. You cannot start praying spiritual warfare prayer without a basis of how to pray from the start.

If you immediately dive into battle, without the training beforehand, you won’t survive and might even get others wounded or killed in the process. The same is true with battle prayer (aka spiritual warfare prayer). Lives are at stake and we don’t want to start in battle without the training.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re new to prayer—period, or if you haven’t prayed lately like you should. In both cases, it’s necessary to start with the foundational training and preparation before we dive into the fray. Which reminds me, let’s talk about preparation for a moment.

Just like trained men going into battle, we cannot dive right in without preparation. Even the pros won’t do this. Anyone in the military who fires a gun—whether on the ground or in the air, they don’t do so without the proper training and preparation. Both are required to be the most effective and to inflict the least amount of collateral damage. So it is with our prayers.

At the moment, I am setting up the foundational work for us. Then, we’ll dive deeper into that material. From there, we will make a plan for battle, prepare for it, and then implement it. In other words, there will be several months of information found here on this blog before we ever start warfare prayer. From time to time, I will do a blog here and there, but don’t do any of it until you are trained, have a plan, are prepared, and then it is safe to implement the plan, but only after lots of prayer and God’s guidance first and foremost.

I hope this makes sense.

~ Stacy Duplease

Remembering Your Present, LLC, Prayer Guard USA, and pj4life (Prayer Journaling for Life)

Author of Biblical Fiction, Bible Studies, and Devotionals

Email: Pj4life1@gmail.com

Blogs:

http://pj4life1.blogspot.com/

http://alifeofseasons.blogspot.com/

http://prayerguardusa.blogspot.com/

Prayer can be learned

Let’s face it… Most of us could learn a great deal more about prayer and gain more knowledge of prayer.

Most of us should gain more prayer experience. (Is there ever enough?)

We could also learn how to be more consistent and persistent in our prayers.

In other words, prayer can be learned. We could all learn a great deal more about prayer than what we know or what we practice. We can always use more practice with the weapon of prayer in our spiritual warfare battle.

That’s what the Prayer Guard USA is for and is why I’m keeping this blog and am writing the Blog Book, “Prayer Guard USA Order of Battle.”

~ Stacy Duplease

Remembering Your Present, LLC and pj4life (Prayer Journaling for Life)

Author of Biblical Fiction, Bible Studies, and Devotionals

Email: Pj4life1@gmail.com

Blogs:

http://pj4life1.blogspot.com

http://alifeofseasons.blogspot.com

http://prayerguardusa.blogspot.com

Why the Prayer Guard USA?

Why is a blog, book, and prayer community called Prayer Guard USA? (You might wonder.)

We are to stand on guard and always be alert, prepared, and ready to pray. Hence, this is the Prayer Guard.

Why the USA? Our nation needs prayer more than ever.

Does that make sense?

~ Stacy Duplease

Remembering Your Present, LLC and pj4life (Prayer Journaling for Life)

Author of Biblical Fiction, Bible Studies, and Devotionals

Email: Pj4life1@gmail.com

Blogs:

http://pj4life1.blogspot.com/

http://alifeofseasons.blogspot.com/

http://prayerguardusa.blogspot.com/

Additional Resources

One of the best books I’ve ever read on spiritual warfare prayer is the link I’ve enclosed in this blog post. Check it out. You’ll want it on your bookshelf (paper or digital). Trust me.

It’s “The Art of War for Spiritual Battle” by Cindy Trimm

http://www.amazon.com/Art-War-Spiritual-Battle-ebook/dp/B00428MFHC/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1303245862&sr=1-1-catcorr

This is one of the best written, most creative, and most informing books I’ve read on the subject in years.

There are many excellent resources I will share with you, but this is the newest and best, in my humble opinion.

~ Stacy Duplease

Remembering Your Present, LLC and pj4life (Prayer Journaling for Life)

Author of Biblical Fiction, Bible Studies, and Devotionals

Email: Pj4life1@gmail.com

Blogs:

http://pj4life1.blogspot.com/

http://alifeofseasons.blogspot.com/

http://prayerguardusa.blogspot.com/

Welcome

This is an upcoming blog about spiritual warfare prayer. There will be a great deal more to come.

~ Stacy Duplease

Remembering Your Present, LLC and pj4life (Prayer Journaling for Life)

Author of Biblical Fiction, Bible Studies, and Devotionals

Email: Pj4life1@gmail.com

Blogs:

http://pj4life1.blogspot.com/

http://alifeofseasons.blogspot.com/

http://prayerguardusa.blogspot.com/