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Prayer Mentor Toolkit |
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The
Prayer Mentor Toolkit is a series of biblical
teachings on prayer. Each article is designed
to encourage and instruct you in intercessory
prayer. Prayer Team Members recieve weekly Prayer
Team Updates by email. If you would like to become
a Prayer Team Member, click
here to apply.
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ALL IS GRACE
Jan 20, 2012
In the 90’s I was deeply impacted by attending a Silent Retreat led by a former Catholic priest, Brennan Manning. So when a friend sent me his autobiography I began to read.
Brennan is well known among Christians as the author of Ragamuffin Gospel. His life message is to help us believe what is too good to be true: God love us as we are and not as we should be. This is Grace.
It is Brennan’s emphasis that captivated and changed me many years ago now. I commend to ...
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First Despair Then Hope
Nov 04, 2011
A Meditation on Matthew 24:1-14
Hope! There is joy, anticipation and longing in our hopes. The disciples had hope … hope that Jesus would set up the Kingdom. A few days earlier, he arrived in Jerusalem to a humble king’s welcome on a path strewn with coats and palm branches accompanied by shouts of praise saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David … Hosanna in the highest.” (Matt. 21:9)
Hope reigned. Anticipation of all of Israel’s longings pulsated through thei...
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Beyond The World's Understanding
Aug 30, 2011
Peace: Beyond the Understanding of the World about us. Many efforts and struggles to bring about peace in our world continue but ultimately fall far short. Any agreement signed for peace is soon broken or encroached upon in some negative way. Jesus tells us that the PEACE He gives to us is not as the world gives (John 14:27). His Peace is an inner peace that lasts and expresses itself through our lives even in the midst of turmoil and conflict.
Sitting on my desk is a picture denoting...
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Guard My Soul
Jun 17, 2011
Have you ever been in a situation where you urgently needed God to help you or perhaps even deliver you? If you are like me, probably many times.
Many years ago, I memorized Psalm 25:20.
“Guard my soul and deliver me; Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.”
This verse is often my prayer whenever I face a daunting situation. I don’t think about which verse I should pray, I just pray it. Urgently I pray it.
Abba really is my refuge and d...
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Right Choices
Nov 13, 2010
Facing numerous choices each day, it is crucial we make the correct choice as we journey with the Lord. Moses made clear and concise choices as he chose to remain with the people of God rather than be identified with the daughter of Pharaoh and the treasures of Egypt (Hebrews 11:24 – 27).
This had a direct critical input into Moses’ life and ministry and thus became a key example as a servant of the Lord.
So it is with us today as we make choices in our lives. May the...
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Eager for The Cross
May 24, 2010
In reading Mark 10:32-34 today, I was struck by the phrase, “Jesus was walking ahead of them, and they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful.” Jesus knew that he was going to Jerusalem and what awaited him there. In fact, he shares this with them in vs. 33-34. Those following knew as well that something bad was going to happen – as it says, they “were fearful.”
But regardless, Jesus was walking ahead of them. He was not reticent but rather, he was eager. Jesu...
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Insider World
Mar 19, 2010
These past few weeks, I have been meditating in Hebrews. Yesterday I meditated on Hebrews 13:13-15. After reading it in my normal version, I read it in the Message.
“So let’s go outside, where Jesus is, where the action is—not trying to be privileged insiders, but taking our share in the abuse of Jesus. This ‘insider world” is not our home. We have our eyes peeled for the City about to come. Let’s take our place outside with Jesus no longer pouring out the sacrifici...
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The Jesus Way
Feb 26, 2010
Jesus’ Strategy
I often stand amazed at how we (including me) ignore the words and model of Jesus. We like to think of ourselves as following Jesus – after all He is our Lord.
We all know Jesus prayed and so, as we think of prayer, we think of the times He prayed and the Lord’s Prayer. Because He prayed, we pray and we teach others to pray and we think this is the normal Christian life … to pray.
But how many times in the Gospels does Jesus talk with, questio...
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Life Is Short
Jan 24, 2010
Yesterday, I was with my mother to honor her as she celebrated her 90th birthday. It made me think, “That is a long time to live but eternity is far longer.”
In our life on this earth, no matter how many years we have, we can choose to invest in things that have eternal value – things that last for eternity. Many believers invest their lives in things that have no lasting or eternal value.
How we spend our time or how we live our life and treat people has an ete...
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Perseverance
Jan 21, 2010
Perseverance
Note: This is a letter from Gina Bulica (Romania) who is facing significant health issues. It is so inspiring that it is included as our devotional this week. May her heart also challenge you.
“I am truly grateful and appreciate very much the continuous prayer support that we (and I in particular) have received from the Mentorlink community over the last years. … at present I am struggling to keep the current commitments. I am working on revising the mate...
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Huility
Jan 14, 2010
I was struck this morning in my devotions in Luke 18: 9-14 when Jesus compared the proud Pharisee with the humble tax-gatherer.
The Pharisee had a self-perception of being really righteous – after all he had the right theology and did all the right things. He even looked down on those who didn’t measure up – particularly ‘that’ tax-gatherer!
The tax-gatherer was really different. He didn’t compare himself and he knew he didn’t have a righteous life. He ...
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Ask According To His Will
Dec 11, 2009
I have been meditating in 1 John in recent weeks. Today, I spent time praying through two verses reflecting an amazing promise.
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him (1 John 5:14-15).
What is His will? Getting in step with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit on any issue will bring His will...
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Be Ready!
Nov 20, 2009
This past week, I have been having my devotions in Matthew 24-25 where our King discusses His return. What struck me was His admonition to be ready. Am I ready?
What does it mean to be ready? There are many possible answers. For me the answer includes my desire to see Him. I reflect this regularly with the prayer, “Come quickly Lord Jesus!” It includes my longing for being eternally in His presences. It also includes the focus of my life in relation to what He values. Then...
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A True Hero
Nov 14, 2009
I just read an e-mail asking for prayer from my dear friend, Benvictor who lives in Cameroon. I was so touched by it that we have made it the focus of prayer this week.
He and his wife are like many pastors around the world that sacrifice to serve their risen King and His Kingdom.
It is the Benvictors of this world that are the real heroes. So often we in the church world look to the leaders with the big organizations or churches. McDonald’s and Coke are worldwide ...
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A Plea
Nov 06, 2009
I met one of our MentorLink partners from South Africa this week. His ministry is to the Zulu Tribe. He is a Zulu. He came to me pleading to bring additional training to pastors among his people. He was emotional and just shy of shedding a tear. I was moved and promised to make time in 2010 to serve his people.
Then he pleaded that we help rescue the youth of South Africa. These young people have rejected the hypocrisy they see in the Church and among its leaders and have turned...
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Pray Earnestly
Oct 30, 2009
I asked the Lord, what is on my heart that I can write about today? He brought the words of Jesus to mind, “And he said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest’.” (Luke 10:2).
Our human strategies will not propel people into harvest work. Neither will our marketing or communication strategies. What propels people into harvest work is the Lord of the harvest. <...
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He Is Good
Sep 25, 2009
If you are around me when I pray, you will often hear me thank Him because He is good. “How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men” (Psalm 31:19).
I have seen it over and over again where an event or circumstance seems to be difficult or even evil, yet in the long run or looking at it from another perspective, you can see the good God brings from it.
Abba...
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Ask, Seek and Knock
Sep 18, 2009
I don’t know about you, but I have claimed this passage many times in prayer: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more...
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What Abba Desires
Sep 12, 2009
I woke up really early this morning and spent some time in Matthew 5:1-10. I was struck that those who are humble, broken, gentle, thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart and peacemakers are blessed by the Father. These are not on the list of successful traits in this world, but they are in the next. Regardless of how the world thinks of them, they are the qualities the Father desires.
Then I thought, “How much have I been influenced by the world? Are these the char...
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Plans
Aug 28, 2009
I have been pondering the mystery of planning in the last few days. I plan, sometimes with great thoroughness. I work things out in my mind. We talk about our plans among our team or family and decide on a direction or action steps. I pray and consult the Lord the best I know how regarding these plans. I am sure you know what I am talking about.
But then reality happens. Things go differently than planned. Things unfold with surprises, twists and turns. Sometimes things turn ou...
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Dad
Aug 15, 2009
What does it feel like to be really loved? When any of my grandchildren visit, they run to me as I do to them. I pick them up, hug them and am so delighted to be in their presence. They seem to feel the same.
Abba is just like this with you and I. He is so thoroughly delighted to see us and to be with us. “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him (Psa 103:11).”
Today as you think about Dad, please en...
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Approaching Father
Aug 14, 2009
King David learned early that his Father, the Lord God, is approachable. What amazes me as I read and re-read the Psalms is that David lets it all out when he speaks to Father.
This morning I read Psalm 61: “Hear my cry, O God; give heed to my prayer.” “Let me dwell in your tent forever; let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.”
David was not bashful about what he prayed, what he asked for or how he felt when he talked with Father. Seems like this is a...
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Walking With Jesus in Hard Times
Aug 07, 2009
“Take up your cross and follow Me” are the words of Jesus to the Twelve and to us. This is not an easy saying to hear or to live.
All of us go through periodic hard times. Times where we really don’t know the right thing to do or the right thing to do is really hard. You may be in one of these times right now.
Jesus is our elder brother in this journey. He walked among us and faced the hardships we face. He sympathizes with us – He knows what temptations we f...
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No Formulas
Jul 31, 2009
I spent several hours with a talented young man this morning. He is so full of passion to serve the Lord with his whole heart. He has many gifts and insights.
We spent a few minutes talking about parenting. He has a two year old daughter and Paula and I have young grandkids. We discussed how each has a different personality and different needs and likes. Parenting necessitates treating each as a distinct person and nurturing the gifts and interests within each child.
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God Looks For ...
Jul 24, 2009
I often have verses rumble around in my mind. I assume the Spirit brings them to mind for a reason pertaining to something happening in my life or heart. Today this one is rumbling around: “But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word” (Isa 66:2).
I feel privileged to partner with the people we regularly pray for. They are people who are humble and contrite and tremble at His word. There are no formulas to help a pers...
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Pray For Workers
Jul 17, 2009
A few days ago, I talked with a younger leader from Alexandria, Egypt. He has a deep burden for a mentor in his own life. Beyond this, he has a calling from God to help his peers throughout the Middle East find mentors. This is why he called me.
He shared that, to his knowledge, there are no mentors he knows of in the Arab speaking world. So where is a younger leader to go for a Barnabas in his life – one who will champion him and build him up and release him to the ministry Go...
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Life Change
Jul 10, 2009
We regularly pray for training events in different parts of the world. Last month we prayed for a team conducting mentor training in Caripe and Caracas, Venezuela. Lives really do change in these events. Here is the testimony of one pastor.
“Well, I want to tell you some good news. My wife and I attended the Mentoring Seminar in Caripe. We were unaware of how much it would nurture my wife and me on a personal level. I was confronted spiritually and my soul was broken, and my mind...
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Only Be Strong and Courageous
Jul 09, 2009
In my devotional times in the last week, I finished Deuteronomy and began Joshua. I have been struck by two themes. The repetitive admonition to “fear not” and the constant reminder to be “strong and courageous”. These messages were directed to the people of Israel and often, personally to Joshua.
Seems to me that the same themes are relevant in our day. Are you taking bold steps for the King? Be strong and courageous. Are you moving into the unknown for Him? Be strong a...
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The Heritage of the Lord
Jul 08, 2009
I attended a memorial service yesterday for the mother of one of my friends. She was such an accomplished woman. But what struck me most was her heart for the Lord. My friend is a many of accomplishments himself but what strikes me is his character and heart for the Lord. He had a head start because of his mother’s walk with Jesus.
Then it occurred to me that those who read this also have a heart for Jesus. You may or may not have had godly parents, but you can be a significant...
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It’s All About Jesus
Jul 07, 2009
As I look at the prayer requests above, I remain amazed at what He is doing in our midst. Those of us in the MentorLink network, come together with one focus: to help leaders lead more like Jesus. Being more like Him is our first task and leading more like Him in our dealings with people is what we are about. It is really simple.
One thing I find is that Jesus prayed regularly. This fact spurs me on to be more like Him in my prayer life. I fall short of what I think He wants of m...
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First Guideline of Prayer: Praying in Jesus’ Name
Jun 01, 2007
How many times have you been part of a small group and the leader says, “Tonight we have an hour for prayer and share. Are there any prayer requests?” Fifty-five minutes later the leader looks at his watch and says, “My, where has the time gone?” He reminds the group to pray for the requests through the week and then asks one of the group members to close the time in prayer.
Lots of share and very little prayer!
Unfortunately this is the experience of many smal...
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