Patsy Laycoax

:(I think Jesus prayed for the Father to take the cup from him because he knew that meant a separation that would take place for a short time between him and the Father when he took our sin upon himself. That is something that we will never have to face, not for a split second. Jesus was so intense about praying this prayer 3 times because he wanted to be absolutely sure that it was the only way and thereby the Father's will. This meant it was the Father's will to sacrifice his son on the cross for our sin and they would suffer a separation that was so painfulthat Jesus cried out "My God, My God why have you forsaken me". Jesus was not resisting the Father's will, he only wanted to be assured this was the only way. I am so thankful for his sacrifice for us!

Jesus asked his disciples to pray that they would not give in to temptation. He knew they would be facing the temptation to cut and run or deny knowing him in the case of Peter. The content of their prayer was to be for the Father to stengthen them against the temptation to lose faith in Jesus. No, they did not pray diligently because they fell asleep. The Lord's prayer says, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. I think Jesus wanted to be alone because he was in such stress and agony over the cup he was about to drink that he needed to be alone with the Father to hear clearly from him without any distractions while he prayed.

The basis of Nehemiah's appeal is what God had told Moses,that he would scatter them if they were unfaithful and what he would do if they returned to him,gather them. Nehemiah argues his case before God quoting back to God his own words and promises.He tells God they are his servants who desire to fear his name and prosper. What we learn about intercession is first we should seek God and his forgiveness for our sins. Then we should use God's own words and promises in our prayers.

Nehemiah prays day and night for four months because his heart is so heavy and burdened for his people. He knows they have strayed from obeying God. He needs to know what to do. Nehemiah fasts and weeps for God to hear and forgive them of their sins which they have sinned against God. No, it is not excessive because he has to know God has forgiven them and is ready to restore them.

The danger Nehemiah is in is the king may become angry at Nehemiah's request and dismiss him from service and Nehemiah would never be able to come before the king ever again! Nehemiah prays quickly and silently before he answers the king because he wants to say the right words and that God will soften the king's heart so Nehemiah may go and rebuild Jerusalem. This quick arrow prayer is a continuation of the praying he has been doing for the last four months.

Daniel's situation is a lot like Esther's in that they both risked their positions if not their very lives to make a request of the king to reverse a former decision. God places his people in strategic places so they will be available to him to use for his purposes and glory. We have responsiblities to God that can cause danger to our positions and our lives such as spreading his word in hostile places, standing against abortion and other sins and standing for what we believe in our workplace or career. No, I can't say it has ever happened to me. In the mid-eighties I did homeschool my children, taking them out of public school. It was not a very popular decision back then but I can't say I suffered any for it except for some who thought I was being ridiculous (some of whom were christians). I hope I would pray that God would strenthen me and give me the courage to stand for him no matter what the cost.

The essential prayer of Daniel was a request for God's mercy for Israel's sin. The various grounds for Daniel's appeal were, for God's sake, the city that bears His name and because of God's great mercy. God answered Daniel's prayer by sending the angel Gabriel to reveal to Daniel God's plan for Israel.

Daniel identifies himself with the sins of the people in order that he could intercede for them. It isn't the same as what Jesus did for us in that Jesus took our sin upon his own body on the cross but Daniel took their sin upon his own conscience in order to plead for divine mercy for all of them.

Daniel's demeanor as he prays is to be very humble before God and confess the sins of the nation including himself in it. He prepares himself by fasting and by putting on sackcloth and ashes. It is important he do it like this because God owes them nothing. They are a sinful people and can only plead for mercy. We might prepare for intercession by reading and trusting God's word and come humbly to the Lord, asking for forgiveness of our sin and giving thanks to God for his love and mercy.

The scriptures given to Jeremiah the prophet that Jerusalem would lie in desolation 70 years is what encouraged Daniel to seek God's forgiveness and restoration of Israel to its homeland. Daniel's willingness to turn to the Lord God in prayer is the trait that brings this eccouragement to pass.

The prayer of surrender to God is very difficult because we do not know what God may ask of us. We have a tendency to think we have control over our lives and we do not want to relinquish it. The first time I prayed this kind of prayer was when I received Jesus Christ as my Saviour. The result was God cleansed me of all my sin and came into my heart and has been my strength and my guide ever since! No a person cannot be a genuine disciple without praying a prayer of surrender. We have to be willing for God to cleanse us of our sin.

Being aware of God's involvement in my prenatal development encourages me to realize just how much God truly does love me! To a young woman carrying a child this could mean choosing to give birth instead of abortion. To a father to be it would or should cause him to realize the awesome responsibility God has given him to raise this child for God. Such knowledge is overwhelming to us because we have such limited understanding and have never known such love!

In verses 5 and 10, God's hand touches the psalmist by no matter where he goes or what is going on, he finds God is there with him. Yes, I have felt God's hand in a special way when I am going through a crisis or a trial. And yes it was for my own good because if it wasn't for God's hand I would have lost my faith and I would have succumbed to sin. It was like I was truly amazed to see how good and loving God is and I can fully trust in him!

Sometimes people want to flee from God when they know they have sinned. People imagine God doesn't know what they do because they want to continue in sinning. Yes, I have felt that way but fortunately God does not leave me alone until I confess my sin and repent. To God be the glory!

The basis on which Hezekiah asks for healing is the godly life he has lived, not perfect but desiring to do what God wanted. Personal holiness is important because God's Word says if you love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15 Unrighteousness can prevent our prayers from being answered even though all gifts are by grace because to recieve God's grace, we must believe and trust God. We show our trust and belief in Him by living a righteous life.

Hezekiah's healing was important for the nation because they would be left without an experienced leader in time of war. Also possibly one that was ungodly. Hezekiah's healing was related to God's promises to David in that without Hezekiah leaving a heir to take the throne, that would break the line of David promised to him by God that his descendants would be king forever.The Messiah being the last one to ascend the throne.

The significance of Hezekiah's spreading out the enemy's message before the Lord is he realized the problem was really the Lords and he was giving it to Him to solve.Hezekiah would be willing to do as the lead. The underlying principle here is that the battle belongs to the Lord. We apply this principle by giving the Lord our problems and cares, trusting him to lead us, obeying him and leaving the rest to him! What happens when we fail to apply this principle is we do the wrong thing, we put a lot of stress on ourselves and we lose faith in the Lord. The Lord does not receive the glory he so richly deserves!

Praise exalts God because it puts Him on the throne of our heart. We should exalt God for who He is and what He has done. The biggest thing being dying on the cross to pay our sin debt so we could be saved. Exalting God strenghtens our faith in the Lord. It says that He is the one we worship and He is the one we adore. It says we look to Him for guidance in all matters, He is the one who rules our hearts and lives.

Yes, it is possible to have a pure heart! God brings about a pure heart by cleansing our heart through forgiving us of our sin by the power of the blood he shed on the cross. Our part in this is to repent of our sin and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

A prayer for pardon requires faith. You must believe God is willing to forgive because he is a loving and merciful God. Faith is based on what God says and his character which we can find in the Bible. We gain this faith by reading or hearing God's Word.

Abraham shows persistence by continuing to ask God for a smaller number of righteous people.I think he kept praying until he had peace asking for ten. There wasn't even ten but God still answered Abraham's prayer,just not the way Abraham expected. The prayer was for the righteous to be spared and they were. Persistence is necessary to get our hearts in line with God's heart and will. Yes I have experienced praying through. In 2002 my married daughter and her small daughter left in her van and no one knew where they were. I did some strong crying out to God to keep her safe and bring her back home. After about a month of persistent praying and reading God's word especially the Psalms,I had peace that she was and would be safe and would come back home. I still felt uncomfortable with her being gone but deep down I had peace and knew God would answer. She came home after being gone 4 months. PRAISE GOD! She was not with another man, I hate to say it but in my flesh I would have felt better because I would have felt she had someone to protect her. But after praying t through about it I realized she had no better one watching over her than the Lord!

Abraham showed humility by confessing he was just dust and ashes.He is careful to ask God permission to speak and he pleads with Him not to be angry. We must come to God with humbleness as well as boldness so as not to think ourselves equal with God. Even Jesus said to God thy will be done.

Shall not the judge of all the earth do right is the basis ofAbraham's argument that God should spare Sodom. This relates to God's character because he is a God of justice and will not destroy the righteous with the wicked!

In our lesson prayer did change God's mind without conflicting with the doctrine of immutability of God because God's character, purpose and desire did not change. God had revealed to Moses what he planned to do but nowadays God does not reveal that information to us except through His Word. So I have a question, how can we persuade God to change His mind in this present time? No,God does not answer prayer outside the scope of His will because if it isn't His will he does not hear our prayer.

A wrong understading of determinism and predestination keeps us from the gutsy prayer Moses prayed because we will have the attitude what will be, will be. We won't have faith that prayer will change circumstances. But when we pray gutsy prayers we must know we are praying God's will because somehow we know it is or else we have to say thy will be done. I call a belief that our prayers make no difference to God's response,unbelief. God always has a response even if it is to change us. Amen?