Problem-based praying identifies problems and forms appropriate requests. However, purpose-based praying forms requests appropriate to God's purposes.

Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does" (John 5:19, NIV).

We should spend more time identifying and blessing what God is doing. Consider your prayer life. When you pray for someone or something, do you begin with what you see God doing or with what you wish He were doing? We suggest that you:

Identify what God is doing. What evidence, even subtle changes do you see?

Thank God and praise Him for what He's doing. Thank Him for the circumstances He is arranging, the people and the influences He is using and the miracles He is performing in this situation.

Proclaim His works. Glorify His name.

Ask Him to enlarge the area of His activity. Ask Him to demonstrate His power and glorify His name as He extends His kingdom in this matter.

Rather than continually asking God to do what He is not doing, bless what He is doing! read more

It's one thing to pray; It's another to be assured you have what you ask for. What is the secret of believing prayer?

When Jesus was on Earth, He made an incredible promise to His disciples regarding prayer that is recorded in Mark 11:24: "'Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them'" (NKJV). This promise of answer to prayer is one of the most wonderful in all Scripture. But in how many hearts has it raised the question: However can I attain the faith that knows it receives all it asks?

It is this question our Lord would answer today. Before He gave that wonderful promise to His disciples, He spoke another word, in which He points out where the faith in the answer to prayer originates and ever finds its strength. "'Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever...does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says'" (v. 23). read more

7:00PM EST 1/31/2003

The key to answered prayer is strong faith that believes God without doubting.

Genuine, authentic faith must be definite and free from doubt. It is not general in character or a mere belief in the being, goodness and power of God. It is a faith that believes that the things that "he says will be done" (Mark 11:23, NKJV).

As faith is specific, so the answer will also be definite. "He will have whatever he says" (v. 23). Faith and prayer select the things, and God pledges Himself to do the very things that faith and persistent prayer name and ask Him to accomplish. read more

7:00PM EST 3/31/2004

Although it's rarely acknowledged, prejudice is clearly prevalent—even in the church. God is looking for a generation that will scale every dividing wall.

Prejudice is sin. It is a form of sin that has kept God's people in bondage for generations and created an unnatural separation among them. But I believe it is time for change. God is looking for a generation courageous enough to climb over every dividing wall.

Isaiah 61:1-3 tells us that the Messiah's ministry involves delivering people from prisons of various kinds. He was anointed to "preach good news to the poor," "bind up the brokenhearted," "proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners," "comfort all who mourn," and "bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair" (NIV). Those He delivers, or rescues, will "rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated. They will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations" (v. 4). read more

Performing religious duties at set times is not a sign of true devotion to God; we must live each moment to please him and give him glory.

Devotion is neither private nor public prayer; but prayers, whether private or public, are particular instances of devotion. Devotion, in the fullest sense of the word, signifies a life given, or wholly devoted, to God.

The devout man, therefore, is one who lives no longer to his own will or the way and spirit of the world, but to the sole will of God; who considers God in everything, who serves God in everything, who makes all the parts of his common life parts of piety, by doing everything in the name of God and under such rules as are comformable to His glory. read more

7:00PM EST 11/30/2002

Until our outward man--our soul--is broken, the fragrance of Christ in our inward man cannot come forth.

Anyone who serves God will discover sooner or later that the great hindrance to his work is not others but himself. He will discover that his outward man and his inward man are not in harmony, for both are tending toward opposite directions.

He will also sense the inability of his outward man to submit to the Spirit's control, thus rendering him incapable of obeying God's highest commands. He will quickly detect that the greatest difficulty lies in his outward man, for it hinders him from using his spirit. read more

8:00PM EDT 7/31/2002

Like it or not, faith involves spiritual warfare. Are you combat ready?

It is amazing how God will use natural tools to make a spiritual difference in our lives. Before I was saved, I could not relate to the spiritual, so God used the military to put me on the right track. Enlisting in the service was part of my destiny. And the Lord has blessed me with the experience of an extensive military background. While in the United States Army, I moved through the ranks at an incredible pace.

However, initially, because of my background, my transition from the streets to basic training was quite drastic. When the recruiter picked me up to go to the processing center to be inducted into the army, I was smoking cocaine. The recruiter waited in the car as I took my last hit. read more

8:00PM EDT 3/31/2007