Pondering Prayer

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Our hymn this month is Cleanse Me by J. Edwin Orr. This past week, I prayed David’s prayer in Psalm 139 and sang the hymn. I also read the prayers of Nehemiah, Daniel, and the Lord. I thought I’d share those scriptures. I will mark the things that stood out to me this week and over the past years.

I hope you will begin your own study!

David’s Prayer

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

Nehemiah’s Prayer

And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. Nehemiah 1:4-7 KJV

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Daniel’s Prayer

And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandmentsWe have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgmentsNeither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. Daniel 9:3-6 KJV

The Lord’s Prayer

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 

Scriptures on Prayer

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy faceThat thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.-Matthew 6:9-13

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Mark 11:25-26

Family Matters

 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 1 Peter 3:7 KJV

Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 1 Peter 3:1 KJV

I added 1 Peter 3:7 because it deals with prayer. I shared Peter 3:1 because I didn’t want anyone to think I was picking on the husbands. 😉

Hope in Prayer

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:14-16 KJV

What is your favorite scripture on prayer? What do you think about these scriptures? What are your thoughts on the highlighted portions?

I enjoy pondering on prayer and its benefits! How about you?

Cleanse Me

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. – Psalm 139:23-24

I like to think I am fully aware when it comes to my heart and mind. But life has taught me otherwise. Only God can plumb the depths of the heart and mind. David understood this truth. He cried out to the only One Who knew him better than he knew himself.

In this world where it’s so easy to compromise, we, too, need to cry out as David did. “Search me. Know my heart. See if there be any wicked way in me. Teach me your way and lead me in a plain path. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight.”

In Psalm 27, “plain path” means a flat and smooth country. Not a rugged trail surrounded by rocks and steep precipices. Such a hazardous route would only prove beneficial to the enemy. It is crucial to stay on the right path.

The Author

I believe J. Edwin Orr knew this same truth. This man was a dynamo when it came to spreading the gospel to all the regions.

J. Edwin Orr MA ThD ED PhD was a husband, father, baker, ordained minister, evangelist, Air Force chaplain, professor, author, and hymnist. To read more, visit https://www.jedwinorr.com/about-j-edwin-orr/

The Song

Search me, O God, and know my heart today; Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts I pray; See if there be some wicked way in me: Cleanse me from ev’ry sin, and set me free.

I praise Thee, Lord, for cleansing me from sin: Fulfill Thy word, and make me pure within; Fill me with fire, where once I burned with shame: Grant my desire to magnify Thy name.

Lord, take my life, and make it wholly Thine: Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine; Take all my will, my passion, self and pride; I now surrender: Lord, in me abide.

O Holy Ghost, revival comes from Thee: Send a revival, start the work in me: Thy Word declares Thou wilt supply my need: For blessing now, O Lord, I humbly plead.

Cleanse Me – J. Edwin Orr – Maori Melody – Public Domain

Facts, Fiction, and Friends ~ Melissa Henderson

Good morning!

Welcome back to Facts, Fiction, and Friends, where we learn fun facts about our favorite authors, discover their latest Christian Fiction, and meet new friends. Joining me today is one of the sweetest ladies I know. Say hello to award-winning author Melissa Henderson.

Facts

Use this or that to tell us about yourself.

Summer, winter, or fall?

Summer

Coffee or Tea?

Tea

Hiking or walking?

Walking

House plants or flower gardens?

Flower gardens

Mornings or nights?

Mornings and nights

When reading, do you like this or that?

Novella or novel?

Novel

Online or bookstores?

Bookstores

What makes you purchase a book? Covers or authors?

Authors

Big city or small town?

Small town

E-book, paperback, or hardback?

Paperback

Describe your writing lifestyle with This or That.

Writing or editing?

Writing

Plotter or pantser?

Pantser

Office or everywhere?

Everywhere

Couch or desk?

Desk

Pen, pencil, or keyboard?

Keyboard

Fiction

“Grumpy the Gator

“Licky the Lizard”

“Pandemic Moments

“Heaven Sightings”

“Remembering Christmas”

“Divine Interventions”

“Charleston Light: Stories Inspired by Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse”

Have you read Grumpy the Gator?

Friend

Learn more about Melissa at My Website | Facebook | Pinterest Twitter

Award-winning author Melissa Henderson writes inspirational messages laced with a bit of humor. With stories in books, magazines, devotionals, and articles, Melissa hopes to encourage readers.

Melissa, thank you so much for allowing us a peek into your life. We wish you the very best, my friend!