Intercession, that is, intrusion into the courts of power on behalf of another, is central to the church's action in prayer.

the book of Matthew and read from chapter 6, verse 27: "'Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

You mustn't wish for another life. You mustn't want to be somebody else. What you must do is this: "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks." I am not all the way capable of so much, but those are the right instructions.

Who are you thinking about? Who are you thanking God for? Who has needs that you can bring before the Father with joy?

Even when we are confused and struggle, if we will only stay in the conversation with God, He will take us where we need to go.

By all means, turn to wise and trusted friends in your moments of need. And don't be afraid to express your full gamut of emotions—David shows us that God wants us to come before Him with full honesty, even when we have doubts or feel anger. But my brothers and sisters, most of all turn to God in worship, in prayer, and in eagerly seeking Him and His counsel in the Word of God.

I cannot change the world. You cannot change the world. Even prayer alone doesn't change the world. Only God can change the world! However, God uses prayer to change us, and then God uses us to change our world.

Praying is what confirms our true belief that we cannot succeed without God, and its absence confirms the exact opposite.

The reason God responds to persistence is because prayer is changing the one who prays. As we pray, God is making us spiritually fit to receive what He is already willing to do. Prayer changes us into the people who can participate in the greater work of God without being spoiled by it through pride or becoming discouraged by the increased weight of greater fruitfulness.

Prayer is the easiest thing to assume in church and the hardest thing to maintain. Prayer is the first thing our flesh stops when times get easy, and true prayer is the last thing we resort to when times get tough.

Thankfulness is the attitude that perfectly displaces my sinful tendency to complain and thereby release joy and blessing into my life.

Gratitude is the attitude that sets the altitude for living!