In Sermon Illustrations: "Prayer Before Meals"

Huck Finn On Prayer

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Apr 5, 2011

HUCK FINN ON PRAYER There’s an incident in Huckleberry Finn where Mark Twain has Huck make a very human observation. "Miss Watson took me into a closet and prayed, but nothing came of it. She told me to pray every day, and whatever I asked for, I would get. But it weren't so. I tried it. Once I ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Room On The Prayer List

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Jul 2, 2011

ROOM ON THE PRAYER LIST Readers’ Digest Magazine contains the story of an employee who confided in a co-worker: "I told her about a problem in our office and my fear that I would lose my job. She was concerned and said she would pray for me. I know she keeps a list of 10 people she believes need ...read more

Tags: Intercession

Denomination: Brethren

The Impact Of A Mother's Prayer

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2011

THE IMPACT OF A MOTHER’S PRAYER Picture an old woman with a halo of silvered hair--the hot tears flowing down her furrowed cheeks--her worn hands busy over a washboard in a room of poverty--praying--for her son John--John who ran away from home in his teens to become a sailor--John of whom it was ...read more

Scripture: James 5:16-20

Tags: Die, Mother's Day

A Mother's Christmas Prayer

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 19, 2012

A MOTHER'S CHRISTMAS PRAYER On Christmas Day, Mike Nicholas, a tall and slim young man with dark hair was making his way south on I-85 just below High Point, NC trying to hitch a ride. For two years, he hadn't been home. His family had heard nothing from him. He and his mother had a disagreement ...read more

Tags: Christmas Eve

Denomination: Methodist

George Mueller On Prayer

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 5, 2012

GEORGE MUELLER ON PRAYER George Mueller: "I live in the spirit of prayer. I pray as I walk about, when I lie down and when I rise up. And the answers are always coming. Thousands and tens of thousands of times have my prayers been answered. When once I am persuaded that a thing is right and for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Tags: Comfort, Believe, Security, Saved, Prayer How To  (view more)  (view less)

Prayer-Spiritual Defiance

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 19, 2018

Richard Foster in his book "Prayer: Finding the Hearts True Home" describes an aspect of radical prayer as spiritual defiance. He states, "We are subversives in a world of injustice, oppression, and violence. Like Amos of old, we demand that "Justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ...read more

Tags: Prayer, Radical Prayer

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Do Not Hinder Prayer

Contributed by James Dina on Jul 19, 2020

Do not hinder prayer. Those that live without prayer in the world, live without God in their lives. “Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the peoples who do not call on your name.” (Jeremiah 10:25). To restrain prayer is worse than not to pray. The latter indicate only ...read more

Scripture: Job 15:4-5, Psalm 60:11, Psalm 51:15, Matthew 12:37, Isaiah 50:4, James 3:8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faith, Prayer, Words, Tongue, Hypocrite, Hinder  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Answer To My Prayers

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 5, 2021

I don’t see as many vending machines around as I used to see. The ones I see now, you can pay with your phone or your smart watch. In the old days, all the vending machines had the food on metal coils that would rotate and move the food forward when you make your selection. Sometimes, that item ...read more

Scripture: John 14:13, Luke 4:38-44

Tags: God, Prayer, Vending Machine

Denomination: Methodist

Christian People Are Prayerful  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

E.M. Bounds says in his book on prayer: Nothing distinguishes the children of God so clearly and strongly as prayer. It is the one infallible mark and test of being a Christian. Christian people are prayerful. The worldly-minded are prayer less. Christians call on God. The world ignores God and ...read more

Tags: Communion, Lord's Supper, God's Provision

My Unspoken Prayers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

An unknown confederate soldier wrote: I asked God for strength that I might achieve I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey I asked for health that I might do greater things I was given infirmity that I might do better things I asked for riches that I might be happy I was given poverty ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God

Six Chairs Of Prayer

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2008

Six Chairs of Prayer Chair One: My attitude towards prayer is that it is not important. I have no motivation to pray and no desire to pray. Nothing is happening in my life in regards to prayer. Chair Two: My attitude towards prayer is that it is optional. I have a motivation and a desire to pray ...read more

Tags: Life

A Prayer For Wells Of Salvation

Contributed by Richard Francis on Mar 29, 2008

A prayer for wells of Salvation: Lord God, amighty God I ask by your creative power that you would open the hearts of all who hear and read these words to your son Jesus Christ, Lord Jesus I pray that we would let you into our hearts by faith and surrender to you and Lord I ask as you promise that ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer For Future Generations  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

PRAYER FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS In Point Man, Steve Farrar tells the story of George McCluskey. When McCluskey married and started a family, he decided to invest one hour a day in prayer, because he wanted his kids to follow Christ. After a time, he expanded his prayers to include his grandchildren ...read more

Tags: Family

Expecting Answers To Prayer

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Jun 25, 2024

Several years ago, there was a drought in one city and the pastor of the Church called for a prayer meeting to pray for rain. The prayer meeting was held on a hot summer evening. All the members came out dressed in cool summer clothes since they would be there for a while praying. When Sister Betsy ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Philippians 4:6-7

Tags: Prayer, Expectations, Beliefs

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer For New Year

Contributed by Samuel M on Jan 4, 2025

Let you find Christ in greater measure this year satisfying your needs, nourishing your heart, guiding and leading you through still and dark waters. Let not a day pass by without seeing the face of Jesus. Let Jesus become real to you and everything else fade away. Let his face be the first thing ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:7

Tags: Faith, Hope

Prayer Check-In

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 16, 2025

A simple “check-in” to see where a person is in their prayer life: • For everybody – what are you praying for? Too often, we pray for the circumstances (E) to change when the Response is what needs to change so this is the right prayer – “Lord, change me.” James 4:3 • For everybody – do you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:7, James 4:3, James 5:16

Tags: Husband, Wife, Prayer

Denomination: Methodist

Stripped Pride

Contributed by John Scott on Aug 16, 2014

Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad marches — or runs — to the beat of a different drummer. The 29-year-old French athlete was up to his old tricks Thursday. The two-time Olympic silver medalist was on the verge of winning his third straight title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the European ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 11:2

Tags: Pride, Pride Before A Fall

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Before Calfed Bank Turned Into Citibank, There ...

Contributed by Dana Chau on Jun 17, 2003

Before CalFed Bank turned into Citibank, there was an advertisement that showed a toddler driving a parent crazy, and then words that suggest that while CalFed cannot help you take control of your child, it can at least help you take control of your finances. Children have ways of bringing ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience, God's Provision

Denomination: *other

Six Year Old's Prayer

Contributed by Richard Wafford on Sep 9, 2006

7. SIX YEAR OLD’S PRAYER Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son had asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Church Bulletin - National Prayer And Fasting ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian Buriff on Aug 13, 2006

Church bulletin - National Prayer and Fasting Conference announcement: “The cost to attend the Fasting ...read more

Tags: Disciplines Fasting

Denomination: Church Of God