Praying with Confidence

Been a while since I posted on here. Lately I've found some readings of my mom in which she had paper she had taken from "Our Daily Bread." This excerpt is titled "Praying with Confidence" and she clearly liked it and thought it was important for she saved it. It reads:

The Scriptures were written by people who felt the same desires and discouragements we face. They too were dismayed at times by their circumstances. They knew what it was like to cry out to a silent God, to come to the end of themselves, and to feel their emotions going "over the edge." Yet the people of the Bible are important to us because they lived long enough to recover their sense of joy and confidence in God. 

As we struggle through our own fears and disappointments, we can find renewed hope by using their thoughts as a path for our hearts and prayers. Psalm 42 is a good example. Here is a verse from that psalm, and a suggestion for how you might use it to fashion your own prayer to God:

"Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God" (v.11). Yes, I will praise You, Lord. You are my only hope. I praise You for Your goodness. Forgive me for doubting You. I will wait for You to restore my joy! 

This excerpt is taken from the booklet Praying with Confidence copyright 1993 RBC Ministries. Read it on the Web at https://christians-in-recovery.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/PrayingWithConfidence.pdf

God, thank for giving me a great mom who knew prayer was important and found resources and helps for her to know how to pray. We can learn from each other constantly. 

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