are we pursuing God in prayer?

If we are saturating ourselves in His Word, then His desires will be ours. — Anne Graham Lotz, Joy of My Heart     Prayer in the Pursuit of God by Anne Graham Lotz from Joy of My Heart Time Alone with Jesus   Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. — Luke 5:16   Often when I am under stress and pressure, I feel one of my greatest needs is to get a good night's sleep. But I've found that physical rest alone is not enough to revive my flagging spirit. I need the spiritual revival that comes from spending quiet time alone with Jesus in prayer and in thoughtful meditation on His Word.   A careful study of the life of Jesus reveals that as pressed as He was, He "often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." If Jesus felt He needed time alone in prayer with His Father, why do you and I think we can get by without it? How is your prayer life? Could some of the exhaustion you are feeling be the result of simple prayerlessness? How motivating it has been for me to view my early-morning devotions as times of retreat alone with Jesus, who desires that I come with Him by myself to a quiet place to pray, read His Word, listen for His voice, and be renewed in my spirit.       "God Says So" Prayers   "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." — John 15:7 NKJV   Prayer is a conversation. We speak to God in prayer, then listen attentively as He speaks to us through His Word. Do you think the promise that Jesus gave His disciples was like handing them a divine genie in a bottle? And that if they would just rub the bottle with enough faith, the genie would pop out and grant them their "wishes"? As ludicrous as that is, it actually is the way some people view prayer. And when the genie doesn't pop out of the bottle, they become offended with God and resent Him for not being at their beck and call.   One major prerequisite to receiving answers to prayer is that our requests line up with God's will. How will we know what God's will is? By abiding consistently in His Word. Instead of basing our prayers on "I hope so," our prayers are based on "God says so." And if we are saturating ourselves in His Word, then His desires will be ours.       A Greater Miracle   "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." — John 11:14–15   Jesus was glad Lazarus had died without Him? What does that mean? We know it doesn't mean He enjoyed knowing that Lazarus had died or that He enjoyed thinking about the family's grief and despair.   Jesus was teaching His disciples — and you and me — a life lesson: there is a greater miracle than physical healing! It's the miracle of the Resurrection! Be encouraged!   Even if your prayer is not answered, and your loved one is not healed, and your marriage is not reconciled, and your financial problems are not solved — there is hope!   Jesus was glad because He knew God would be glorified to a far greater extent by the death and resurrection of Lazarus than He would have been by Lazarus's healing and recovery from sickness.   Would you rejoice with Jesus for the greater miracle that is coming to you?   Excerpted with permission from Joy of My Heart by Anne Graham Lotz, copyright Anne Graham Lotz.   Your Turn   How is your pursuit of God going lately? How is it really going? Has prayer been harder through this season, or have you looked this year's challenges in the eye used it as momentum for a growing and healthy prayer life? We'd love to hear from you! Come share on our blog. Leave a comment.   COMMENT Cyber Deals Extended One Day Only Don't miss this $10 Deal   Save 47% off + free shipping* ends tonight!   The Joy of My Heart by Anne Graham Lotz   A beautiful gift for anyone looking for a concise collection of daily devotions and Bible verses. Hardcover, Regular: $18.99 Sale Price: $10.00 - today only! eBook Price: $9.99 + free U.S. shipping on orders $30 or more SHOP NOW Known for her remarkable gifts in weaving spiritual truths into everyday life, Anne Graham Lotz offers insightful meditations on Scripture in this collection of daily devotions, The Joy of My Heart.   Each of the 365 devotions in The Joy of My Heart includes a Scripture verse and reflections from Anne Graham Lotz on topics such as eternity, grief, and faith. Called "the best preacher in the family" by her father, Billy Graham, Anne will draw you to a deeper relationship with Jesus. She asks us to join with her in "life-changing discovery as, day by day, we learn more about God."   The Joy of My Heart is a beautiful gift for anyone looking for a concise collection of daily devotions and Bible verses. From one of the most well-loved spiritual writers of our time, The Joy of My Heart invites us to engage with Scripture as we meditate on our heavenly Father's relentless love and grace.   Learn More and Save What Others Are Saying     "Inspirational and faith building 💕" – Sandra L., reader       "Such a powerful way to set your heart toward God in prayer with different topics that speak daily to me." – Cathy L., reader       "It is a great devotional. I always enjoy books by Anne Graham Lotz. Great gift for my dear Sisters in Christ. 🙏✝️❤️" – Sharon M., reader     *Sale prices valid through 12/01/2020, excluding eBooks. eBooks purchases are fulfilled by our partner, Glose.  Free U.S. shipping, excluding Alaska and Hawaii, ends at 11:59 p.m. CST on 12/1/2020. Prayer.full, the prayer newsletter at FaithGateway Our mission is to help you grow and share your faith Copyright © 2020 HarperCollins Christian Publishing,  All Rights Reserved. 501 Nelson Place, Nashville, TN  37214  USA Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy *Manage Your Email Preferences or *Unsubscribe      Subscription Information This email was sent to Webmaster220 Bible Study Blog  *the blog owner has deleted the hyperlink intentionally