Breakthrough Praying for Breakthrough Living

If you arrived here today at this very hour it is not a coincidence. It is not by chance or happenstance. The LORD, God brought you here. There is much work to be done in the Kingdom of God here on earth. God, Himself, has appointed you to participate in His redemption plan.

So, Welcome! We are about to embark on a fantastic journey together. A journey that will certainly leave all of us changed. Dare I say, Forever! YES! We are going to learn how we can know the Lord’s will, His character, and His purposes for our lives. Does this sound impossible? Perhaps, but God desires each of us to know His will, character and purpose. Even more fascinating, He desires to set us on a life journey that is so fantastic we could never dream it up in a thousand years.

What this journey entails:

This weblog was born on May 1, 2006 it’s purpose is two-fold. First, to honor the Lord Jesus Christ. Second, to offer practical help and encouragement to the followers of Christ.

What I will share with you throughout this series is the practical knowledge and practice of “knowing God.” I don’t pretend to have everything figured out. Those of you who read my posts regularly know I mess up and mess up big at times. I don’t always get it right. What I can tell you, however, is how my relationship with the Lord developed and how I am able to pray dangerous prayers without fear.

Do you want the assurance the heavinlies move when you pray? Then let’s get right to it.

Lord, our God, today as we read this prayer, place a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit upon each of us. Stir our heart and soul with conviction and to be expectant about our future with You. Prepare us for a deeper understanding of Your heart for people. Lord, when you cry for the lost and the weary, let us cry. Lord, when You reach out to save, let us be Your hands, Your feet, Your voice and Your eyes.

Father, as we prepare for this journey grant us the commitment to see it through. At the end awaits a new life, a changed heart, and saved loved ones. Father, I especially ask for You to instill a desire in us to spend time alone with You. In Jesus name, Amen.

The first part of our journey will cover some of the practices which grew my understanding of our Lord and His will and grew my prayer life. The second part of our journey will cover prayer and faith. These are common concepts, yeah, been there stuff. However, over the years in ministry I have discovered many Christians struggle in their prayer life and need help and encouragement to pray life-changing prayers.

So ask yourself now these questions: 1) Do I know God’s will for my life? Do I know how to pray in God’s will? Am I afraid to pray dangerous prayers? Does God’s word abide in me? Do I want my relationship with Christ to be richer in a year from now?

I know my answers and I WANT more of JESUS this year!

As we move through this process I will leave you with an assignment and a few questions. Please find yourself a journal and begin writing down the questions and working on the assignment. Don’t fret. It is easy and it will be a tremendous help to grow your relationship with Jesus.

Let’s begin at the beginning:

What is the bedrock of our faith? In the early years of my marriage to an atheist I struggled with the many questions my husband would ask me. What I realized was my faith and knowledge of God’s word was based upon what others had told me and what I heard in sermons. I did not know what God’s Word said because I had never actually read it. I couldn’t answer my husband’s questions and I had no idea where in the Bible I could find scripture to reply with a knowledgeable answer.

Our faith, our hope, our life begins in the pages of God’s word. Have you read it?

Last February I had a chance visit with a Christian woman whom I adore. She has been the leader of a worldwide Bible study ministry for years, Kay Arthur. I literally tangled up with Kay at a Deeper Still Conference in San Francisco. Kay stepped out into the audience, stopped in front of me. We reached out to exchange an embrace and my large and inconvenient earring tangled with her cordless microphone that was hanging on her ear. What a mess. We both giggled as we untangled. What a gracious woman. Sheesh I was embarrassed!

The next day my travel companions and I had another chance meeting with Kay at the Airport. Kay remembered me from the tangle earring incident. I turned red again. But, I began to tell her about the unequally yoked ministry and asked her for a word of advice. Kay immediately responded, “Keep them in the Word.”

Wise indeed.

It really is simple. The Word of God changed my life. On June 13, 1998 my mother gave me a 365 daily bible. This Bible is organized as a daily read over 365 days a year. It includes reading in the Old Testament, New Testament, a Psalm, and Proverbs. The translation is easy reading, New Living Translation.

I remember the date exactly because the day I began to read it I wrote the year next to June, 13. I have read through the Bible every year since then.

Today, I KNOW what God’s word says because I have read if for myself. God’s word abides in me.

Now I know there is some spicy discussion among bloggers this January about methods and assignments and must do reading. A daily Bible may not be a fit for your life. You may already have a daily reading practice. Wonderful.

However, if you aren’t reading daily and want your life to be different in a year from now, start with this Bible reading plan. Order a bible online or head to the bookstore. Let me add a few thoughts here.

Daily reading of God’s word may seem at first like a duty. It is a duty to set the alarm 30 minutes earlier to meet with God. It may appear to be a duty to push through the chapters when you are tired. It may look as if you have a million things on your list for the day that are far more important. I will make you a PROMISE.

DUTY WILL TURN TO DESIRE!

When you are regularly meeting with the Lord through reading and prayer, you will see your life change. In fact, every day I set my alarm to go off at 5:45a.m. I want to be certain to have an hour to meet with God before I do anything else.

I crave my time alone in prayer and with the Word. It is the best time of the day. I cannot function if I do not meet with the Lord every single day. No matter where I am, I bring my Bible, I get up early and read and I pray. Every minute no second I have invested in this relationship has come back to me in immeasurable ways.

Don’t become obsessed with the reading plan itself. Read what you can in 15-20 minutes and allow some time for prayer. Perhaps you will only read a chapter from the New Testament or a Psalm. Read something everyday. When you read a particular passage and a line or a word jumps out at you making an impression upon you, underline it. This could also be a passage you can bring to God in prayer. We will cover praying through the Word in later posts. You will be amazed how God works through these specific passages as the years pass.

Questions for the week:

1) Will you commit to daily reading God’s word?
2) Will you create a quiet place to read, where distractions are minimal?
3) Will you try it for at least 30 days?

Assignment: Ask the Lord for guidance and help to create your 30-minute appointment with the King on a daily basis. Ask your husband to help you. Tell you kids that you are going to start reading every day at (time) see if they would agree to try not to disturb you. Get up early.

Next Friday we will jump right into prayer. The best is yet to come. I hope to offer you the motivation you need to pray like you have never prayed before.

This week you have a lot to work on. Get a 365-day Bible if you can. If not, read a chapter from your own. Set an appointment with the King and keep it.

Give me some feedback. If you read daily, tell me what you do. If you don’t, tell me what your plan is for the week.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Be Blessed, Lynn

Comments

[Denise]

Thanks so much for doing this my friend, it is going to be awesome. I say yes to all three questions. I am going to read a chapter a day, and have prayer time. It is so worth it. I love you my friend.

[Mama Bear]

Lynn,
I enjoyed your writing so much. I've made a not of the questions in my journal. I read the 365 daily Bible last near. I know what you mean about the difference it makes in a life when an appointment is kept with God first thing in the morning. Yes, to a daily quiet time with The Lord. I have a specific place but sometimes I meet Him in other places. I'll be back.

[Courtney]

I try to read the Bible everyday, but, I must admit, am not always successful. What has helped me this year already is having a reading partner. My grandmother is also reading through the Bible in a year and she calls me most days to make sure I read what I was suppose to and to discuss what we read. I enjoy reading at my kitchen table because I can spread out my Bible dictionary, prayer journal and study journal to write down anything that touches my heart. I'm looking forward to your post next week.

[Dineen Miller]

Awesome post, Lynn. I agree. Staying in the Word and spending time with God every day is so critical to an effective Christian. My life changed tremendously doing this and the one year I didn't read my whole Bible through was a
"dry" year for me. God's Word truly is living!

We long to spend time with friends and loved ones. God should be no different. In fact, He should come first. :-)

[Vanessa]

Lynn,

I LOVE having you, a prayer warrior, as my friend! You get me fired up to pray and to obey the Lord. I was reading your post as I was listening to Toby Mac's new song, "Made to Love." If you haven't heard it, you must download it. It speaks to my spirit. And something connected in me as I heard it and read your challenge. Now I can focus my eyes above and listen for what I will write for you in a few weeks.

[Marsha]

Over the years I've used several different Bible in a Year Bibles. I've really enjoyed that. This year, I'm changing it up - 2 chapters in the OT, 1 in the NT. Then on top of that I always enjoy reading through the Psalms in a month and the book of Proverbs. I keep a Bible in my car. Then if I'm out somewhere, I can be reading the Psalms for that day and or Proverbs.
Thanks for doing this study, Lynn. I'm looking forward to hearing what the Lord has laid upon your heart to share with us.
Seeking Him,

[Susan]

Hey Lynn,

This was great! As always I enjoy popping over. Your passion is contagious!

I also had the "HONOR" of meeting Kay Arthur too. I was invited to the Christian Book-sellers Convention.(many years ago) I have a friend who is an author who writes for Harvest House Publishers. Well, as I was sitting down eating lunch with my friend, Kay sat next to me. Before I could read her name tag I made a comment on how much I liked her dress, and then she said "oh my precious one", and I thought,hmmm that voice sounds familiar. I looked up and read her name tag, I was so thrilled. Now of course I played it really "cool", like it was no BIG DEAL that I was eating lunch with Kay Arthur! She was just as delightful then as she is in the public. (And yes, I did get her to autograph several books for me!)

I also went to the "Deeper Still Conference", but in Nashville. I'm still basking in all I learned.

Sorry this was sooooooo long!

Blessings to you.

[Shelley]

"Duty will turn to Desire"

So true so very true. It's like water, we don;t realize how much our bodies need or long for water until we start to really drink it regularly on a daily basis and then all you want is water and you feel thirsty for it. Just like the Word - we have no idea how much we need it or want it until we dive into it.

Right on!!

BTW I'm reading Colossians and hope to start memorizing it too.

Bless you
Shelley

[Terri @ in His hands]

I am looking forward to my bible study that starts this week because I need the direction and focus that comes with that. I wake up early to read the Word every day and love my alone time with Him!

Miss you, girlfriend! You've been on my mind lately---I'm praying for you, BIG time.

[Jennifer Teike]

What a great message! I haven't read through the entire bible in a while, sorry to say! January 2nd I decided to participate in the read the bible in 90 days, and I'm still doing it almost 2 weeks later. Tomorrow will be Numbers 27-Dt. 3. It has already been such an awesome experience, and God is touching my heart big time! In reading it through like a book, I'm able to see more of the relationship that God has had throughout the generations, and compare moments. It only takes 30 to 45 minutes to read daily, and I am retaining it well. That was one of my fears. After my reading, I go to my study bible and read through the notes there, and jot things down in my notebook. I have been getting up before everyone and sitting in my favorite chair to do this, and it really starts my day off in the right mindset.
I can hardly wait for the next message on prayer. Thank You!

[Wendy]

Lynn, I'm excited to be in my second year of reading the entire Bible. I definitely say YES to all three questions. And you are so right, duty will turn to desire. I also appreciate that you said not to get obsessed with the reading plan. I think too many of us (myself most of all) get wrapped up in being "goal-oriented" instead of taking the time to really meditate on the Word and giving God a chance to speak to us (or stopping long enough to hear what He has to say.) I'm going to make a concentrated effort to avoid that pitfall this year. I like the idea of keeping a journal with me while I read, to jot down verses that jump out and what the Lord may be saying to me through them.
Thank you for starting this. May God bless many women through it.

[Irene]

You know and God through you, know how to inspire and encourage. I shall take part in this, because I have been feeling I wanted a closer contact with God. I really want to know what God says.
I'll be in touch.

[Lydia]

I stumbled upon your blog tonight, and of course it wasn't an accident. I lost my job this week, and I now know that God is using this time to draw me closer to him. I was directed to this site after I googled "I need a breakthrough". Now I know why my husband had to work so late tonight :-)

I'm looking for my Bible now... I just wanted to thank you