Shirlee Abbott

Pray Like an Eagle

Posted on May 6, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

The eagle soars high and sees the big picture. Its sharp eyes miss nothing.

The eagle face of prayer looks beyond the horizon.

Matthew 6:10
Your kingdom come.

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Pray Like a Man

Posted on May 5, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

The man-face of prayer is filled with compassion and empathy. The man-heart grieves over broken souls. Man-prayer focuses on relationships (with God, with others). Restoration is the goal.

Matthew 6:12 (AMP)
And forgive us our debts,
as we have forgiven our debtors
[letting go of both the wrong
and the resentment].

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Pray Like an Ox

Posted on May 4, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

Consider the ox. It does the day-to-day hard work: plowing the fields, carrying the water, turning the grindstone.

Those dear saints with the ox-face work their way through their prayer lists daily. They cover the routine needs. They’re quick to respond when the load is heavy. When they promise to pray, they don’t forget. They pray till the crisis is over.

Matthew 6:11 (ESV)
Give us this day our daily bread.

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Pray Like a Lion

Posted on May 3, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

What does the lion face of prayer look like?

Imagine a lion resting on a hill, watching all that happens in the space between him and the horizon. He notices every bit of movement. He evaluates — is it friend, is it foe, is it food? And he decides what, if anything, to do about it.

The lion-prayer is part watchman, part protector, part provider.

Matthew 6:13 (ESV)
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

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Four Faces of Prayer

Posted on May 2, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

The book of Revelation offers an intriguing peek into the action in heaven:

Revelation 4:6-7 (ESV)
And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.

Is there a prayer lesson in these four faces?

Maybe. Do you pray like a lion? An ox? A man? An eagle?

Teach us new ways to pray, Lord.

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Forgiving Prayer

Posted on April 29, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

Matthew 6:12 (AMP)
And forgive us our debts,
as we have forgiven our debtors
[letting go of both the wrong
and the resentment].

I can only speak for myself, but I tend to hold on to the resentment, even when I claim to forgive the wrong. I can say the words of the Lord’s Prayer with bits of bitterness held tight in my fists.

Forgive me my resentment, O Lord!

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Be Quick to Pray

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

James 1:19 (NIV)
Everyone should be quick to listen,
slow to speak and slow to become angry.

Let me add one more thought:

Everyone should be quick to listen,
quick to pray, slow to speak and
slow to become angry.

Pray first, speak later.

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Pray for Your Own Eye

Posted on April 27, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

Jesus offered this advice:

Matthew 7:4-5 (CEV)
How can you say, “My friend, let me take the speck out of your eye,” when you don’t see the log in your own eye? . . . First, take the log out of your own eye; then you can see how to take the speck out of your friend’s eye.

First, ask God to remove any log in your own eye. Then, if you still want to, pray about the speck in your friend’s eye.

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The Golden Rule of Prayer

Posted on April 26, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

Do you practice The Golden Rule?

Luke 6:31 (ERV)
Do for others what you
want them to do for you.

The Golden Rule also applies to prayer.

Pray for others what you want them to pray for you.

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Practice What You Pray

Posted on April 25, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

You’ve heard, “practice what you preach.”
It’s good advice.

Likewise, practice what you pray.

- - - If you pray for peace, speak gently
    - If you pray for reconciliation, forgive others
    - If you pray for the poor, be generous

The Apostle Paul practiced what he prayed.

Ephesians 1:17-18 (MSG)
I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do.

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