My Daily Pause

When you skip church, you aren’t doing yourself any favors. (Psalm 127:1, 1 Corinthians 9:27) Did you know you are affecting others when you choose to skip worship?

1. You affect God (Hebrews 10:25-27)
2. You affect those who aren’t even members yet (1 Peter 4:17-18, 1 Corinthians 10:32-33)
3. You affect the church where you are a member (Colossians 3:1, Philippians 4:8)
4. You affect your family (Ephesians 6:4, 1 Peter 3:1)
5. You affect the elders (Hebrews 13:17)

In the previous article, 5 Tips for Effective Prayer, we saw some qualities our prayer should have when making our requests from God. A quality prayer that pleases God contains much more than personal requests to satisfy our needs and wants. God is pleased with praise of his name and of his majesty, much like we read in Psalm 48. Let’s take some time today to think about the part of our prayers that do not ask anything but offer the Lord our everything.

Here are five tips that will help:

1. Speak to Him reverently (Matthew 6:9)
2. Praise for Him (Matthew 6:13b – For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. The NIV and other versions do not include this part of the verse)
3. Offered with a merciful spirit (James 2:13)
4. Not offered to be seen of others (Matthew 6:6)
5. Prayer is to be accompanied by personal action (Luke 6:46)

As Jehoshaphat was watching the enemy amass themselves against him, he turned to God in prayer (2 Chronicles 20). He was in a period where he was leading well and teaching his people to fear God, so God obliterates the enemy. Jehoshaphat’s reign was always either hot or cold in its relationship with the Lord – so why did God so completely respond to that prayer?

The Bible is full of tips on how to pray. Here are five:

1. The prayer of the righteous is effective (James 5:16)
2. Prayer is to be offered in Thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 )
3. Prayer should be continuous (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
4. Prayer should be offered Sincerely (Matthew 6:5)
5. Prayer should be offered with humility (Luke 18:10-14)

Here is  5 More Tips for Effective Prayer

not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. – Hebrews 10:25 ESV

If the Hebrew writer’s words aren’t enough, here’s a few extra:

1. It is a rewarding privilege that only children of God have.
2. If we don’t, we cast our vote to stop scheduling it.
3. Our influence and contributions to the Lord’s work is dependent on attending.
4. It helps lead the lost to Christ.
5. Jesus would attend if He were here.
6. It’s not optional.
7. It stabilizes our homes.
8. It part of the example we set.

Can you think of others?

Liberally – Luke 6:38

Sacrificially – Hebrews 13:16

Cheerfully – 2 Corinthians 9:7

Purposefully – 2 Corinthians 9:7

Secretly – Matthew 6:3-4