Shirlee Abbott

Praying Expectantly

Posted on April 1, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

Acts 12 shows the power of corporate prayer (if you don’t know the story, take a few minutes and read it for yourself). Christians were being persecuted. James was killed, Peter put in jail.

Acts 12:5 (NIV)
Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

God sent an angel to walk Peter past the guards and out the door. Peter went to the home where his friends were praying. The answer to their prayer knocked at their door, and they were astonished.

Pray expectantly. Don’t be astonished if God answers in a way you don’t expect.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged Acts 12, corporate prayers, Peter's escape from prison, pray | Comments Off

Praying for One Another

Posted on March 31, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

Prayer brings the Church together.

Bind us together, Lord.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged Blest Be the Tie that Binds, John Fawcett, prayer | Comments Off

Prayer Meeting

Posted on March 30, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

What’s a prayer meeting?

Are you thinking of a weekly gathering at church, where folks pray for one another, for their family and friends, for their community and the world?

Yep, that’s a prayer meeting. As is a quick prayer with a friend when you cross paths in a parking lot, a comforting prayer with a family member over the phone, the blessing over a shared meal, the bedside prayer with a hospital patient. You meet, you pray.

James 5:16
Pray for one another.

Pray for — and with — one another.

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Praying across the Miles

Posted on March 29, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

Jesus said,

Matthew 18:20 (EXV)
For where two or three
are gathered in my name,
there am I among them.

Last week, I prayed with a friend on the other side of the country — sweet fellowship across the miles. God was with us.

Where two or three are gathered on Zoom in Jesus’ name, He is there with them.

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Praying Together

Posted on March 28, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

After Jesus ascended to heaven, the disciples returned to Jerusalem.

Acts 1:4 (ESV)
All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

11 disciples + Mary +more women + the brothers.

How do you picture it? Each in their own corner, praying? Twenty people in a circle, taking turns?

Maybe. But I picture folks coming and going, doing chores and catching some rest. Sometimes two or three praying quietly. Sometimes the whole group eating and praying. Many or few, praying together — in one accord.

Let us do likewise.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged Acts 1:4, corporate prayer, prayer, praying together | Comments Off

“Fear Not!” (Proverbs 31 Ministries Devotion)

Posted on March 26, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

I’m excited to have Proverbs 31 Ministries publish a devotional I wrote. I read their Encouragement for Today post every morning. I hope this one speaks to your heart:

https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2022/03/25/fear-not!-your-time-will-come

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Space for Prayer

Posted on March 25, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (GNT)
Pray at all times.

You may be thinking, “Nope. I don’t have time for that.”

This is a picture of the Western Wall in Jerusalem (credit: Pixabay). These big stones are all that remain of the Temple destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. It’s now a place of prayer. Look carefully, and you’ll see slips of paper stuffed in the cracks. Folks write out their prayers and push them into the empty spaces.

Picture your schedule as a wall of stones. Pray into the cracks.

There’s lots of space for prayer.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged 1 Thessalonians 5:17, prayer space, Western Wall | 2 Comments

Your Prayer Space

Posted on March 24, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

1 Timothy 2:1 (MSG)
Pray every way you know how,
for everyone you know.

For almost tw0 decades, I drove an hour to and from work. Much of that time was spent in prayer. I prayed for people I knew: family, friends, coworkers. I prayed for people I didn’t know: children waiting for the school bus, other drivers, construction workers. I prayed over the news. I prayed for politicians. I prayed for refugees.

My car was my best prayer space. What’s yours?

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Your Prayer Room

Posted on March 23, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

Matthew 6:6 (ERV)
But when you pray, you should go into your room and close the door. Then pray to your Father.

In the movie War Room (which I heartily recommend), a closet becomes the prayer room.

It’s nice, but not essential, to have a room dedicated to prayer.

Susanna Wesley, mother of John and Charles Wesley*, prayed long and often in the main room of her home . . . as her ten children studied, played or worked around her. Mother Wesley’s prayer room was the space under the kitchen apron she pulled over her head.

Wherever you meet God — that’s your prayer room.

*John Wesley is considered the Father of the Methodist Church. Charles Wesley wrote more than 6000 hymns. Together, these two men had a major impact on Christians in England and the US in the 1700’s. Their influence continues to this day.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged Matthew 6:6, prayer closet, prayer room, Susanna Wesley, War Room | 2 Comments

Your Prayer Closet

Posted on March 22, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

Matthew 6:6 (MEV)
But you, when you pray,
enter your closet,
and when you have
shut your door,
pray to your Father
who is in secret.

You and God, sharing secrets.

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