Simple but Powerful Prayer for Children in Extreme Poverty

For many years, I've been involved with various missions helping children in extreme poverty. I've come to appreciate that one of the most powerful ways to help these children, their families, and their communities is through prayer. God is working in their midst, and He already has an amazing plan to bring individual children, families, …

Did You Know Charles Wesley Wrote Prayers to Sing? A Prayerful Look at Intercession Hymn #1 “For All Mankind”

In 1758, Charles Wesley published his collection of 40 Intercession Hymns. These hymns are examples of intercessory prayers set to music. Music is a good way to remember words, and singing helps people have words of prayer and scripture on their hearts and tongues throughout the day. Although Wesley’s collection of Intercession Hymns represents an …

Prayer for Individuals and Families Living in Poverty

In 2013 I was very blessed to be teaching an eight-week course to a church women's group. The focus of our course was on the challenges of poverty in the community and the church's response. We worked through a book on poverty. To use with their reading, I printed up and gave each woman a …

Pray Through It

Have you ever taken on a new challenge where you weren't really sure you could do it? I think we all have - probably many times. It's in those experiences where we learn how to pray from a deeper level of dependence on God. What a great opportunity to grow in prayer and relationship with …

Praying for Students Entering College

If you feel called to pray for your community and/or your church, one of the best ways you can pray right now is for young people who are entering college. Our community prayer group is currently praying for: Students still in high school but starting dual enrollment classes in college this semester. College freshmen returning …

Thanksgiving Prayers

Thanksgiving Day is a beautiful time to reflect on God's goodness in our lives. We are reminded to really focus our hearts on who God is and how much He loves us. It's an opportunity to ask God to align our hearts with His, so we can see through His eyes, and love with His …

Talking to the King

Have you seen the movie, Anna and the King? There is a great scene that reminds me of the authority we have in intercessory prayer. Because of Jesus, we have access to the throne room of God: "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, …

Prayers for Community Organizations: Junior Achievement

How many children in your community know how to balance a checkbook? How many adults do? Financial illiteracy adds challenges to already difficult situations. If someone is struggling with poverty, not only does that person need employment opportunities and training. He or she also needs life skills to sustain that employment and provide for his …

The 3 Most Effective Prayers

The most effective prayers are often the simplest. Here are three of the shortest and simplest prayers you can pray. They are also among the most powerful prayers you can pray. Yet they are often the hardest and the most neglected. 1. I confess Confession is a way to acknowledge sins that are hidden and …

Praying through Scary Moments

I was house sitting in the countryside. It was a big house on a hill in an isolated area of a mostly rural county. Except for the dog and the cat, I was alone. I was relaxing on my day off when I looked out the window and saw a man walking around the property. …