Learning to Pray with God’s Love

Written by Lewis Turner
October 18, 2010

Key Scripture: Rom 5:5 “the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us."

The ability to show the Love of God, in our prayers, comes from the Holy Ghost of God which is given to us. Having the Holy Spirit of God, helps us in our quest to seek the Love of God, and let it guide our prayers. That quest also involves help from the Holy Spirit of God to grow in our Christian walk.

A question that has been asked: ‘How do we move and encourage people to seek God’s Love as the focus of our prayers?’ is not an easy question to answer, but in attempting to answer the question I will share one possible way. It comes from my journey which will involve sharing snapshots of my journey in prayer. I will then share keys from those experiences that may of help to others.

Starting with my Journey as an intercessor, time is taken to write thoughts and sometime prayers in a journal. An intercessor is one involved in much prayer. What journaling has done, has been to help me as I studied God’s Word. How has this happened? A journal provided a means to record items learned from Scripture, provided a means to help me to learn to listen to my heart, and to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit of God. It has also given me opportunity to see where I am, and where God has led me. The entries are like snapshot, and from those snap shots I have identified key points of periods of my life that I went through as I grew in the Lord.

Let’s look now at my prayer journey. When I first learned to pray, I prayed from my personal perception. I honestly did not realize that is what I was doing. The approach and focus of my prayers were what one might call ‘the way I see it approach’. I often did not even know what the scripture said on an issue, because I did not know God’s Word. I now know that approach was actually a hindrance to my prayers.

When I took time to study God’s Word regularly and learn it, I began to grow in my Christian life. As I started reading the Bible more, God sent people across my path who encouraged me to base my prayers on scripture. This started to change my focus of prayer to what God’s Word said, rather than “the way I see it approach”. Still I struggled with my own understanding of scripture when I prayed. As I searched for why this was happening, I found that the root problem was that the root was that my heart was still self-focused and the ‘way I see it approach’ kept popping up. Self-focus was also a hindrance to my prayers.

The real issue I faced underneath all of it was I had not really surrendered my heart to the Lord, to seek the Kingdom of God first. There came a point where I had to humble myself and make that commitment. Around this tender point in my life, God also used my wife to help me learn to listen to my heart and seek the heart of God. It is difficult for men to listen to our hearts, but with God, anything is possible. This was a major turning point in my life and I thank God for my wife’s encouragement. Learning to listen to the Lord took humbling myself and also involved surrender and commitment to the Lord. From that point on I have sought Him from my heart, and my walk with the Lord grew. My prayer life started to change and the way I prayed for others.

In time, the Lord taught me much about the prayer direction and focus that He wanted as I prayed for others. That focus was to pray in line with scripture and His Love. Again He provided people who encouraged me to keep moving forward. As I obeyed God, He drew me closer to Himself, and I sensed a desire in my heart to pray that His Love would be seen in others.

Where was this direction of God taking me? The Holy Spirit reminded me, that Love covers a lot of sin. The result was that I could no longer pray in ‘judgment’ or as ‘I saw it’. That manner of praying had to change. Praying in God’s Love does not mean that I overlook and sweep sin under the carpet. No! Praying in God’s Love for others means that God would draw them to Himself and to the cross of forgiveness. Christ said if I be lifted up, I will draw all men to myself. I sense very deeply that praying in God’s Love does lift up Christ Jesus. When I do, old things – old ways of praying have passed away in the way I used to pray in my prayers. That was and is a major change for me in my intercession. I still have much to learn about the Love of God. Now I can say that my prayer focus, of God’s Love to be seen in others, is because of the work of God’s Love in my heart.

In this process there were 5 keys that made a difference in my prayer life. They were:

• To regularly read and learn the Word of God Ps 119:11 --Journal what you learn. It will help you listen to your heart and the Holy Spirit of God and to grow in your relationship with Jesus..
• To seek the Kingdom of God first with my heart Matt 6:33
• To draw near to God James 4:8
• To allow God to change my heart’s prayer focus Ez 36:26
• To learn to listen to my heart and seek the Heart of God

The process of growing in prayer also required humility on my part. God also provided people to help and encourage me to work through of the above points. The growth process does not stop, and I fail at times, but I do not give up. I am still learning about God’s Love and growing in my relationship with God.

If others learn to truly listen to God working in their heart, follow the keys above - out of a heart desire to get to know the Love of God, the Lord will do a wonderful work in their heart and their prayers will come to reflect that Love.

My challenge to intercessors is to take time to learn God’s word. Listen to Him, and seek the Lord with your whole heart. Write down what you sense God is showing you. Allow His Love and His Word to guide you and your prayers of intercession.

©2010 Lewis Turner

The Heart of an Intercessor

Listen for the heart of an Intercessor.
...
It beats with anticipation;
It is troubled in conflict;
It needs nourishment to keep beating;
….When there is none it grows weak.
It has walked alone – for so long;
It is lonely and forgotten;
….It grows weak.
It seeks God’s Wisdom;
It hungers for God’s Love;
It wants hearts to open for God to cleanse them;
It wants only God’s Best;
It only wants to see God’s Perfect Love.


...
Written by Lewis Turner
©2010 Lewis Turner

Biblical Root of the Word 'Pray' by Lewis Turner

Biblical Root of the Word: Pray

Utilizing the Ancient Meanings of the word ‘Pray’ and related words, derived from the meanings of the Hebrew Letters

by

Lewis Turner

Wheatland Ministries

Revised April 10, 2015

 

If most of us were asked to define prayer, probably the majority would say ‘asking God for something’. Unfortunately that may be the limit of our understanding of prayer.  There is much more to prayer, and the Hebrew language used in writing the Old Testament in the Bible is a good place to go to teach us about prayer.

Note:  This study is detailed, but it is worth reading and studying.  If one desires to just see the conclusion, the conclusion is at the end, and is underlined.  You are encouraged to at least read through the study, and spend some time reviewing it, like the Bereans in the book of Acts (Acts 17:11), who searched the scriptures to see if these things be so. 

In the Bible, in the Old Testament, which was originally written in Hebrew, the word used for prayer is tephillah written תְּפִלָּה. It means intercession, or supplication (earnest prayer of petition); in implication - a hymn. A Prayer can be a Psalm and many of the Psalms in the Bible are actually prayers, and area part of communication with God. A closer examination of the word tephillah we find the root word palal written: פָּלַל. By definition, it means—to judge; by extension to intercede, pray: entreat, judge(-ment), make pray(-er,-ing), make supplication. [1] Supplication is often defined as a presentation of requests.

To further understand the root of prayer, let’s look at the word (1) ‘tephillah-or tephilla, palal, and the word (2) tekhinnaw (supplication) by making an examination of the meaning of the Hebrew letters that make up these words.  Hebrew letters have meaning, and those meanings can offer insight into the meaning of the word.  Let’s start with the word for prayer mentioned above.  It is tephillah:

tephillah תְּפִלָּה Two of the locations in the Bible where the word is found are Psalms 86:6, II Chronicles 7:15.

The Hebrew Strong’s Number for the word is H8605.

Listed below are the meanings of letters used in the word tephillah:

תּ ת   Tav  -- It's literal meaning is "ownership" "covenant" "sign" "a mark" and "to join two things together". (1a), mark, sign, signal, monument (2b)   T

Note about Tav:  In the ancient Hebrew picture letters the Tav was written as a cross, and later as an X.
The Hebrew word for religion is "DaT" , דתּ.  In Abraham’s Day it was written as a cross and a door flap to a tent.  This ancient word picture tells us that religion is the "door of the sign" or the "door of the cross".  Souce  (1a) 

פֶּ ף  Pey - Pe - mouth, speak, word, to speak, to open, It's literal meaning is “mouth” and it's symbolic meaning is "to open", "speak", "word", "the beginning" (like a river). In the ancient picture Hebrew, the letter Pey was drawn according to the meaning, in this case, a mouth.  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14 (1a) P (7)

ל  Lamed - Go toward, learn, teach, urge forward -The ancient picture form of this letter is a cattle goad and in this form it symbolized: to control or the controller, to prod or urge forward, to go towards of forward, and a tongue (1a) L

ה  He, Hey – behold, to reveal, the – look, reveal, breath (2b)  It's literal meaning is a window, or lattice. The symbolic meaning is behold, or to reveal. This meaning of the letter is one of the many reasons Rabbinic tradition calls the letter hey the letter of revelation! (1a) (Also by inference, the meaning could mean--expose or show.)  E

Putting the meanings together and deriving a letter meaning of tephillah we have the following:  the revelation/looking of going toward the speaking/opening of the covenant (the cross)

Note:  You might conclude from that meaning that prayer involves revealing and to speaking to—in  the sense of opening—seeking  the covenant of the cross.  That is what praying the scriptures can do.   It might be stated even simpler that Prayer involves speaking to—possible our desire speaking, a request—seeking what  the covenant of the cross, the Bible says on the issue, and using that to guide our prayers.

Going further in understanding tephillah, lets look at the word described as the root of  tephillah, which is the word Palal:

Palal  פָּלַל   One place where the word palal is found is Neh 3:25.  It means to judge.

The Hebrew Strong’s Number for palal is H6420.

Listed below are the meanings of letters used in the word palal:

פֶּ ף  Pey - Pe - mouth, speak, word, to speak, to open, It's literal meaning is “mouth” and it's symbolic meaning is "to open", "speak", "word", "the beginning" (like a river). In the ancient picture Hebrew, the letter Pey was drawn according to the meaning, in this case, a mouth.  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14 (1a) P (7)

ל  Lamed - Go toward, learn, teach, urge forward -The ancient picture form of this letter is a cattle goad and in this form it symbolized: to control or the controller, to prod or urge forward, to go towards of forward, and a tongue (1a) L

ל  Lamed - Go toward, learn, teach, urge forward -The ancient picture form of this letter is a cattle goad and in this form it symbolized: to control or the controller, to prod or urge forward, to go towards of forward, and a tongue (1a) L

Deriving a possible meaning of Palal from the meaning of the letters used in the word, we have the following: The urging toward speaking to open.  You might explain this definition using other words which show that prayer deals with speaking for the purpose of opening our focus—what is on our heart.

Looking at the two definitions of Tephillah and pala, we find that the words for prayer deal with speaking to open our focus/our heart on the covenant, and urging forward.  They also show that speaking indicates making requests.

In our study of prayer, the second word we are looking at is:

Supplication ‏תְּחִנָּה‎ teḥinnâ tekh-in-naw' Hebrew Strong’s Number 8467

^{Psalms 119: 170} Let my supplication (Beholding the Covenant hedge (of love) and life) come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.

The following may help to develop an understanding of the meaning of supplication and what supplication is.  We see this 'Old English Word' in the Bible--but often we may not fully understand what the meaning of the word is and from that what supplication is.  We sometimes hear the phrase 'Prayer and Supplication' (Philippians 4:6) and connect it with prayer.  We possibly conclude that supplication has something to do with making requests.  However, the meaning of supplication is much deeper than just making requests.  The meaning of supplication based on an examination of the meanings of the letter in the word, we find it focuses on beholding the Covenant hedge -or hedge of the covenant --the Covenant of life that is is provided by Jesus for us. (Romans 11:27 and Hebrews 12:24).  Supplication is about meditating on the work of the New Covenant that Jesus gave us.

Below is the development of the meaning of Supplication from the meaning of the Hebrew letters used to write the word supplication.

תּ ת     Tav  -- It's literal meaning is "ownership" "covenant" "sign" "a mark" and "to join two things together". (1a), mark, sign, signal, monument (2b)   T

Note about Tav:  In the ancient Hebrew picture letters the Tav was written as a cross, and later as an X. In the ancient Hebrew word for "sign" א ו תּ   we see that the SIGN is "the strong leader nailed to the cross". It is this same word that is translated in the Greek text of Luke 2:12 which reads: And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
The Hebrew word for religion is "DaT" , דתּ.  The letter meaning of DaT tells us that religion is the "door of the sign" or the "door of the cross".  Souce  (1a)

ח   Heth, Chet – fence, hedge, to separate. Outside, divide, half (2b), The literal meaning of this letter is a "fence", "hedge" or “chamber”, (1a) (an inferred meaning could also be protection-IE a fence protects)  (an inferred meaning could also be that Heth refers to instruction—instruction that makes the hedge—see the word Statutes Hebrew Strong’s Number 2706 חֹק‎)(another inferred meaning is that the hedge represents love-possibly protective love)  H

Chesed is the Old Testament's highest expression for love. It is a love that remains constant regardless of the circumstances. Chesed is translated in English in many different ways: kindness, lovingkindness, mercy, loyalty, love, and unfailing love. (Tiffany Ann Lewis)

נ    Nun-Propagate increase, In the ancient picture language this was pictured as a seed in ancient Hebrew and Egyptian cultures. As mentioned, it represented "life", "posterity", "active life". As used in the Hebrew word for son, the nun symbolized the posterity of the house.(1a) Continue, heir, son (2b)  N

ה     He, Hey – behold, to reveal, the – look, reveal, breath (2b)  It's literal meaning is a window, or lattice. The symbolic meaning is behold, or to reveal. This meaning of the letter is one of the many reasons Rabbinic tradition calls the letter hey the letter of revelation! (1a) (Also by inference, the meaning could mean--expose or show.)  E

Possible Letter Meaning of Supplication: תְּחִנָּה‎ teḥinnâ tekh-in-naw' Hebrew Strong’s Number 8467: Beholding the Covenant hedge (of love) and life 

Note:  Supplication deals with focusing on the covenant and the hedge it provides which offers protection.

Conclusion:  From study of the root of prayer, we find that prayers and supplication include requests presented through speaking to Our Father in Heaven—with our heart focused on the covenant.   When we focus on the covenant of Christ, we have a hedge provided by the covenant that offers protection to us.

©2014 Lewis Turner

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[1] Gesenius Lexicon

Humility Needed When Impasse Exists in Relationships

By Lewis Turner

Every one of us, who has been wronged, would probably want the one who wronged us to come to us and say they are sorry. In reality that rarely happens. What do we do? If we just wait and wait for that action of the other coming to us, then we may find ourselves just waiting and waiting, which in reality is an impasse.

There is a way to break an impasse, but it is not the way we would like to do it. It involves God's help, and humility on our part. The first step to take is to ask God to help us look at our heart in the issue. How did we receive a problem-what affected our reaction? Though we may have been wronged, it is quite possible that our response may not have been right either. Two wrongs do not make something right. Our response should be to deal with our part before the Lord. Do not be afraid to search out counselors on that issue.

Once we deal with our reaction, we need to look in humility at how our heart received the matter.   We may have to take the time to learn how to express heart words to the other person. That can be difficult because some of us are not used to speaking heart words. Usually we attack the problem which often has the negative consequence of sparking a negative defensive reaction from the other person.

We cannot control another person's response, but we can deal with ours. Our approach should be not in judgment or correcting, but seeking forgiveness on our part for our reaction.

All this may sound opposite to what we think should be done, but my friends, it can work if it is done out of love, without judgment, but seeking mercy. When it is done from the heart with humility, it can remove a hindrance to the Lord working and the other person receiving. 

The final step is one which is seldom done, and that is to bless the other person. The Lord says to bless those who despitefully use you, and to do good unto them. Blessing works. In my life, I have found that truly blessing the other person also reduces the need to bring negative issues back up.

©2008 Lewis Turner

Humility

In humility, there is no judgment, for judgment in one’s heart limits the Lord.
In humility, there is forgiveness.
In humility, mercy is your companion.
In humility, grace is your covering.
In humility, love is your character.
In humility, truth is Jesus Christ. He will direct you. Keep your eyes on Him, Then you will be truly free.

Put on the cloak of humility; Let it be your mantle.


copyright 2007 Lewis Turner

Humility-A Biblical Study and Proposed Action of Humility........Part 7 of 7

Note: This part is part 7, which was the last posting of this study on humility. There are a total of 7 parts in the study. To start at the beginning, you will need to start with part 1 and continue forward. Part 1 was posted with the March 2007 postings. I encourage you to take the time to study this important subject in its entirety starting with part 1 and continuing through part 7. I know the Lord will bless you for it.

To go to the beginning - click here.
Part 7 Phase 4: Sharing Love and Helping Others

Phase IV

A time of sharing vision and helping others to their vision. 

●       This is a time for sharing our vision and helping each other fulfill their vision from God. 

●       It is a time of reaching out in the local church and also beyound the local church.  Encouraging each other and other churches to follow the pattern of

   

Is 58 is a good place to start.

●       It is a time of churches working together.

●       It is a time of reaching out to those in need, both physically and spiritually.

●       It is a time of action putting the love for Christ into action-Our First Love for Christ in action.

●       It is a time of joining hearts together in prayer, in unity.

As we enter Phase IV in addition to sharing of vision and helping, it is also a time to celebrate and rejoice for God has done great things.  At the same time we press forward to show the Love of Christ to others and share what He has done for us!  A group of churches took time to pray and humble themselves, then sought the Lord for a way to show his love.  This took place in Cleveland, Ohio.  They worked with the community and helped paint homes and other things needed in neighborhoods.  In the process they had opportunity to share their love for Christ.  The result was seeing people come to Christ because of that love.  That is cause for celebration. Celebrations should focus on encouragement of people who are reaching out and the celebration should also have times of prayers of encouragement too.  We also should celebrate a harvest of souls into the Kingdom of God.

Warning:  Many celebrations have become funds appeals.  If we find that happening, consider going through the steps of humility again, and listening to the Lord to see if there is a block preventing the funds.  God said he would provide.  See Philippians 4:19.

Bibliography:

American Standard Version, Oak Harbor, WA:  Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995.

Anderson, Neil T, Bondage Breaker, Harvest House Publishers, 2000

Darby, John Nelson.  Darby Translation of the New Testament, The Ages Digital   Library,  Version 8, 2000.

Edwards, Jonathan, Some Thoughts Concerning the Present Revival of Religion in New   England  (1742), Part IV, Section I, the first paragraph

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Cedar Rapids:  Parsons Technology, Inc., 2000. 

Keyton, Dr. 'The Quadrilogy of Jesus Suffering, Stripes, Nails, Thorns, and the Blood       that Flowed for Us' published by Black Forest Press, San Diego, California, Sept           2002. 

King James Version, Oak Harbor: WA:  Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996.

Murray, Andrew.   Humility.   Bethany House Publishers, 2001.

New Jerusalem Bible, New York:  Doubleday Publishers, 1985.

Quick, Dr Kenneth,  "Healing the Heart of Your Church", Church Smart 2003.

Revised Standard Version, Cedar Rapids:  Parsons Technology, Inc., 1971.

Shuey, John, Kingdom Quest Ministries, Camp Hill, PA

Simple English Bible, New Testament, International Bible Translators, 1981.

Young, Robert.  Young’s Literal Translation, Oak Harbor:  Logos Research Systems,        Inc., 1997. 

Webster’s Bible, BibleDataBase, 2002.

Webster’s Third New International Dictionary of the English Language Unabridged,         Merrian Webster, 1993

Weymouth’s New Testament in Modern Speech, The Ages Digital Library, Version 8,       2000.

Humility-A Biblical Study and Proposed Action of Humility
copyright 2004
Lewis Turner

Humility-A Biblical Study and Proposed Action of Humility........Part 6 of 7

Part 6 Phase 3: Building Up

The actual time for following Phase II may be a weekend or several weeks or several months. It is important that all these phases not be rushed.

In studying this paper on Humility - take time to look up all the scripture. God's word brings life and humility leads us to God's word.If you want to go to the beginning of this study, click here.

Phase III is an important phase in the process of humility. It is in this phase that Godly building up occurs, pointing one to the ways of Christ, helping you with your relationship to Christ, listening to Him, prayer, and helping you show God's love in accordance with the word of God.

Phase III

After taking steps to remove hindrances and sin, we need to get the Word of God in our hearts, so we can establish godly patterns of living in our lives and relationships.  Phase III focuses on developing new patterns of godly living to replace areas that were turned from and renounced in Phase II.  We want our hearts filled with the fulness and love of God, so we can develop as God wants us to.  As our hearts are filled with the fulness and Love of God, we should also grow in our relationship with others.  This growth comes from obedience to God’s Word.

Areas we need to be encouraged in are:

●       Forgiveness

●       Building up each other

●       Listening to each other

●       Prayer

●       Learning to hear from God, and how to validate with scripture that what we are hearing is from God

●       Our position in Christianity

●       Worship

●       Commitment to obedience

●       Learning to pray together

●       Learning to understand other's love language

Also, in this phase, we will be exercising another aspect of 'waiting on the Lord', which should help us in studying the scriptures and establishing us in the Word of God. Study of the scriptures involves topical scripture studies and general scripture studies.  The Bible is God’s Word, and His Word directs and instructs us.  A thorough study of a subject will show God's thoughts on it, e.g. a study on Isaiah 58 and related scriptures about the poor. 

Is 58 is a good place to start, as it shows what we should be doing out of love for God.  When studying this topic, look for what promise God gives about being our rear guard to those who help the poor?  It is found in Isaiah 58.  Would this help keep pride from developing?  Pride has been the downfall of many.  Think about it.

Waiting also involves listening.  God will speak directly to us if we let Him.  He also speaks through others, but we do not always receive it.  We must learn to discern when God is really speaking, and then listen to what God is saying.  Too often we think purely analytically, which focuses on self rationalization.  It is an adjustment to let the Holy Spirit speak to us and guide us if we have not learned to listen.

Along with waiting on the Lord, this is a time of learning more about prayer.  Prayer involves communication with the Lord.  From my experience, praying from the heart  has been the most effective form of praying.  As we wait on the Lord, we are also leaning to tune our hearts to the Lord.  This is a good time to learn how to pray from the heart, and praying for each other in line with the scripture.

Note:  Pastor, specific scriptures have not been listed in this phase.  Areas needing training are listed.  This is an excellent opportunity for the Lord to encourage you to reach out to your congregation during this tender time.  As you do, you should see solid growth in their Christian walk and love for Christ. 

At the end of Phase III, there should be a communion and sharing time.

To go to the final part of this study - click here.