Standin in The Need of Prayer with Joyce's client Guest Blogger Stacie Stoelting

As we begin this National Day of Prayer, interceding for our Nation and it's Leaders, we recognize the need for continuing personal days of prayer as well.

Stacie Ruth Stoelting founded Praying Pals.org, an outreach of Bright Light Ministries.com. Praying Pals has grown, with over 1100 + prayer warriors joining to pray together each week. She is an author, speaker, and recording artist. Stacie's greatest interest though, is leading others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. A CBN.com feature writer/columnist, she's prayed with the feeble and the famous (i.e. Sarah Palin, Ann Graham Lotz). Stacie Ruth knows well the astounding fact: the Almighty Creator listens to our hearts and loves us deeply regardless of our backgrounds. Most of all, she's a sinner saved by King Jesus! Please go to www.prayingpals.org to learn how you can go to Heaven when you die and live a life of purpose now!

"Beaming His story while giving Him glory!"

Stacie Ruth shares;
A Christian leader persecuted me once for sharing prayer. Why? He felt that it should be done inside the church only. I fell to my knees even harder to ask the Lord for grace in such a time as this. Last Friday, my radio program, Praying Pals, encountered evil attacks (i.e. horrible, anti-Christian commercials during breaks) and now needs a new network to host it.


As the United States’ National Day of Prayer drew closer, people sharing the Good News and prayer faced escalating resistance. Wisconsin U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb recently ruled the National Day of Prayer as "unconstitutional." And Franklin Graham suddenly faced being disinvited for the National Day of Prayer. Today, United States' Christians and the United Kingdom's Christians share a shocking, disconcerting commonality: increasing persecution.


In Europe, the former archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, alerted Christians worldwide: "In recent years, there has been a wave of relentless and shameless attempts to hollow out our nation's deep-seated roots in the Christian faith...This week, a nurse in Devon is courageously taking her NHS Trust to an employment tribunal after being told she cannot wear a cross she has had since her confirmation 38 years ago...We see many other situations, including the banning of school nativity plays, the inability of Christian charities to gain public funding and noise abatement orders on Sunday worshippers...The Church is facing an increasingly secular outlook which sees no place for religious believers in public life. Yet a faith which does not influence a believer's whole life is not a faith at all, merely a hobby or a preference."


Fellow believers, it’s time to unite not only on this National Day of Prayer, but on a continual basis. Here are a few tips to help us draw near with a right heart:


1. First, don’t make prayer too hard. God wants heart prayers –not long, Pharisee-like prayers. Like a child, run to Jesus. He'll be your high, strong tower to keep you safe above the floods in your life: "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the [consistently] righteous man [upright and in right standing with God] runs into it and is safe, high [above evil] and strong."


2. Arm yourself with impenetrable spiritual gear as shared in Ephesians 6:10-12.


3. Look to Jesus. How? Consider removing anything anti-God (i.e. worldly materials in your house, on your computer, etc.). Avoid looking at problems from earthly perspectives. Instead, look at the Solver. No problems exist for Him—only answers.


“Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2, AMP).”


4. Talk with Jesus. Pour out your heart to Him. How He loves you! Psalm 62:8 states it well: “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge…”


5. Realize that when you don’t feel like reading the Bible, you need it the most. When you don’t feel like praying, you need it the most. Don’t let feelings direct your prayer life. Let Jesus rule. Let Him mount guard over your heart as in Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV): “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”


6. Get glasses: Ask God to give you His vision for your situation.


7. Ask God to use you in the midst of your present circumstances. Be sure to speak and act on His Word everyday. Would you like God to use you today? Offer to pray with someone. Send an e-mail to your pastor and tell him you're praying. Call a relative. Text your friend a quick prayer.


Make this National Day of Prayer the first of many personal days of prayer. Wade into the deeper, living waters of Jesus. How He loves you!


Romans 5:5 is for you: “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”


By the way, I still pray for the Christian leader who persecuted me. Let’s remember to pray for all –even the ones who try to fell us. The power of Jesus’ love far exceeds that of the deepest hate. Will you share the love? Will you share prayer? Let’s unite and fight with His might! And remember, prayers: We’re on the winning side!


Join Praying Pals today on Facebook or at www.PrayingPals.org today. We would love to take your burdens to the Lord and for you to come along side us and pray for those that have asked for prayer.


Remember to pray for our Nation, it's leaders and our church leaders, missionaries and all those who are in Christ. May we find the courage to fight with His might until the day He calls us home.


Thanks Stacie Ruth! God Bless America, Land that we Love!



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