Praying for your heart's desires

Praying For Your Heart's Desires

(Psalms 37:4-8 NKJV) Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. {5} Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. {6} He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. {7} Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. {8} Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it only causes harm.

(Mark 11:24 NRSV) So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

(James 4:1-4 NRSV) Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? {2} You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. {3} You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. {4} Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

(Philippians 4:5-7 NKJV) Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. {6} Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; {7} and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

(1 John 5:14-15 NKJV) Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. {15} And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Briefly review the above Bible verses and extract all the principles on prayer that you can find...

The great challenge of prayer for the ordinary person is to be granted the desires of their heart. Prayer, for most of us who are not specially called to intercession, is getting God to grant us the righteous and good desires of our heart. How frustrating it is when they are not! When a sin does not budge, when a friend is not converted, when we struggle in loneliness or illness or poverty. The promises seem so powerful and reality so distant from them. The promise of prayer and the practice of prayer seem so different.

Point one is that God grants "the desires of our heart". Prayer needs to be telling God about our whole-hearted desires. I have learned that whole-heartedness is essential to miraculous answers to prayer, when Peter took those first few triumphant steps on the water it was because he was whole-hearted in following Jesus. He let his whole heart lead. Daniel 9 is a whole-hearted prayer for the return of the Jews that may well have moved heaven and Cyrus!

James tells us that prayer is to be "without doubting" and that double-minded (lit. double-souled, di-psuchos) person "receives nothing". I find that most Christians have to struggle to get in touch with the desires of their heart where Jesus lives. Its like there are a number of layers of confusion, for me there is the layer of mental confusion, anxiety and intellectual doubt - the area of the plausible and the implausible, the possible and the impossible, "I don't think that can happen ..etc". That is the outer layer.

Then there is the layer of confused emotions "I understand x but I feel y". This is the area where we "can't believe that God would be like that". Where we come up with the "God loves missionaries but not me" and the "God can't possibly be paying attention to me.." feelings. Underneath all those waves there is the still place where the Spirit lives and prayer begins. That is the place of the desires of my heart. I just tell God what I desire. Its up to Him to make it possible. Don't pray your doubts, don't try and tell God the mechanism or you will end up full of doubts and confusion, don't tell God how to move the mountain just tell him that you want it moved.

When you pray the fundamental questions are:1. Do I want it 2. Can God allow it.(if its immoral or significantly violates someone else's free will then God cannot allow it). Assuming that it is neutral or a good request then ask yourself "Do I want this with my whole heart". If you do then pray it and expect to receive it. Forget about what your mind says is possible or your emotions say is going to happen, just let God know your whole-hearted desire no matter what is.

This leads us to the "how to". How do we get our prayers answered and results for the Kingdom, our daily needs met and our hearts desires answered. Here are the steps...

1. Ascertain whether the request is within the broad bounds of His moral will. When John uses the term "according to His will" here he means according to the broad moral will of God. It is only in modern parlance that we have coined the phrase "God's will" to refer to specific things such as which person to marry. In Scripture the term always refers to things such as the Ten Commandments. When it comes to who to marry the terms Scripture uses are "the counsel of the Lord" or "the word of the Lord" (on a specific matter). It may seem like semantics but it is important in this case. Far too many people get blocked at this step and get in a lather about whether their perfectly OK request is "God's will" or not. Its a mix up that is not needed.

2. If we are believers and the request is within the bounds of Scripture then we can be confident that God has heard our prayer.

3. Once we know He has heard us we can be confident that we will receive what we have asked of Him.

4. In which case we should believe that we have received it. We should hold on to that fact. We should believe God as Abraham did when praying for Isaac despite being 100 years old. (Romans 4:20-22 NKJV) He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, {21} and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. {22} And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."

5. After believing we have received it we wait in expectant hope - and we DO RECEIVE. This works. Scripture says it will work. I have seen it work. I would not teach it to you if it did not work.

6. There are two main obstacles that you will have to remove if you are not to waver in unbelief. The first is your belief about what is possible with God and what is not possible with God. This includes thinking that God has to use "normal means". God has means we don't know about or understand. Abraham believed God for a son despite him being 100 and Sarah 90. He put aside human reasoning and calculation and believed the promise of God.

Secondly we have to put aside our feelings about the situation. There are often deep emotional blocks to faith. These include "I am unworthy", "God doesn't care for me", "these things don't happen for people like me.." and many others. Sarah displayed this emotional blockage when she laughed at the idea of conceiving a son. She saw it as God playing a huge joke on her. There is a certain degree of spiritual discipline required in order to keep these interfering things out and stay on track especially if the request is a long-term one.

OK I hope you have got the idea. May I emphasize two things a) This is not for worldly gain or fleshly pleasures b) It works! It works! It works! I have seen it work for 20 years. God is faithful to His word.

Review and Practice

Write down one or two things that you desire with your whole heart and bring them to God in prayer each day for a week. Also do the following workshop with some friends in your Bible study group

Praying For Your Heart's Desires Workshop

(Psalms 37:3-5 NKJV) Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. {4} Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. {5} Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

(1 John 5:14-15 NKJV) Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. {15} And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

1. List three desires of your heart that, to your understanding, are in God's moral will.

A)__________________________________________________________________

B)__________________________________________________________________

C)__________________________________________________________________

2. Now list the anxieties and intellectual doubts you have about God answering them.

A)__________________________________________________________________

B)__________________________________________________________________

C)__________________________________________________________________

3. Use the Scriptures, logic and your Christian testimony to answer these doubts.

A)__________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

B)___________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

C)___________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

4. Now list the emotional blocks, feelings and sheer unbelief you have about God being good enough or powerful enough or nice enough or you being worthy enough etc.

A)___________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

B)___________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

C)___________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

You may also sense some deep spiritual blocks that need to be prayed through. Ask Jesus for help (Mark 9:24 NKJV) Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"

5. Now use Scriptures, logic, your Christian testimony and the encouragement of your brothers and sisters in the Lord and tackle these blocks to belief.

A)___________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

B)___________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

C)___________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

6. Now agree in prayer together and bring each others heart's desires to God.

(Matthew 18:19-20 NKJV) "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. {20} "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

7. Have you reached a feeling of breakthrough in prayer? Do you sense God answering? Has He said anything to you about the desires of your heart? Write down what you are sensing from Him.

A)____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

B)____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

C)____________________________________________________________________

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8. Do you sense a course of action that you must undertake for your heart's desire to be realized? Is there some way you can "put legs under your prayers"?

A)____________________________________________________________________

B)____________________________________________________________________

C)____________________________________________________________________

Rev. Terry Aaron, D.D.

Why I Became An Ordained Minister - Rev Goodson

Greetings Rev Amy,

In response to the questions you asked regarding my experience with ULC, I offer the following:

I recently completed the Master of Chaplaincy Studies course. I enjoyed receiving the classes each week and found them informative.

Currently I am enrolled in two courses, gnosticism and comparative religion. One installment has already arrived the other is due today. Class one was engaging in both subjects.

I have been a ULC minister for about 9 years. There have always been some folks that offered resistance due to my ordination being completed online.  They are a small minority.  By and large my sincerity, professionalism and enthusiasm in ministering to the Spiritual needs of others has left no question of my seriousness or the legitimacy of my ordination.

I would like to say thank you for offering me this fantastic opportunity to serve and for all the blessings it brings.

Sincerely
Rev Doug Goodson

Seminary

The Bridal Relay

 

My first wedding gave me an unusual opportunity to get creative. Much to my surprise, the owner of this lovely outdoor venue "took charge" of the processional rehearsal. This being my first ever, it seemed wise to  be the observer for a moment and to only step in if necessary.

 

This was an outdoor wedding with a bride who had several grown sons whom she wanted to walk her down the aisle, along with her dad! Imagine standing up front as the bride proceeds up the long boardwalk with all four of her sons and her dad in tow. Time to step in. Laughing, I waved my arms and said, "Wait! It looks like the Mob is following you!" I noticed that there were fancy light posts along the boardwalk, so I instructed the sons to each take a post and wait for the bride to reach them, and then walk her to the next person, who would then proceed to the next, and so on, like passing the baton in a relay match. That way there was only one escort at a time with the bride so she wasn't lost in the crowd. Then after her dad handed her off to the groom, the brothers could all come take their places. It turned out beautiful. I have since become the preferred officiant for this venue (and I still let the owner have her part in the rehearsal, which often saves me time), so everyone was happy!

 

Rev. Debra Graham

North Dakota/Minnesota

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As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.

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Become a Minister

Become a Minister

Storybook project

For Jo Anne and Robert Mauck going to prison has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of their lives.

Granted, the Maucks weren't behind bars for committing a crime. The members of Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Damascus, MD., have been volunteering with The Community of St. Dysmas, a congregation within the Maryland correctional system. St. Dysmas held its first services in the state's Correctional Institution for Women in 1985. The Maucks attended their first service in 1989. And earlier this year, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich honored their volunteer efforts with a certificate of appreciation.
"I will never forget the date we first went because it was my birthday," JoAnne said. "My husband said, 'You don't want to go down there today.' But I said, 'I think God wants me to skip this dinner and do this instead.' "
From that first visit, the Maucks knew that this was a calling for them. "This work is mandated in Matthew 25," Robert said. "As well as directing us to visit those in prison, it says, 'Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did to me.' That's exactly how I feel."
JoAnne concurred: "If I hadn't been lucky enough to have family reach out to me when I was young, I don't know where I would be today. There but for the grace of God go I. So I try to offer the same kind of help. And the truth is I have learned so much from these women."
After weekly services, the Maucks visit with the prisoners. They also help lead Bible study classes and offer to help inmates find a church when
released.
Robert, who has served on the Prison Congregations of America advisory board for 10 years now, said the recidivism rate for inmates involved in this type of ministry is only one-quarter as much as those who don't.
"Just being there and talking to them, it helps so much," JoAnne said. "It's important to show that there are people who care."
To learn more about The Community of St. Dysmas, call (410) 233-7897


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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training. 
 

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.
 

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Become an Ordained Minister

“Loving Reiki”

      Or Confessions of a Reiki Therapist

As a Reiki practitioner and teacher for the past ten years, I have had the absolute joy and pleasure of experiencing the remarkable results of my clients healing and recovery from both chronic and acute illnesses. I have been blessed and witnessed many miraculous outcomes.

The healing capacity Reiki energy possesses is as infinite as our human minds can create or imagine. The energy comes from the universal source of pure love. I don’t know of anything pure love cannot heal, do you?

When I practice Reiki I am graced with the delight of being a conduit for this beautiful, immeasurable, light and love passing through me to the person I am laying hands on or sending energy, too!

My own personal healing from Reiki took place ten years ago. I had been in a five-year long divorce battle that threatened to alienate me from my children. I was traumatized, emotionally and spiritually blocked. I was stuck and suffering. I tried many traditional modalities to help me heal to no avail. I then received a few Reiki treatments and attunements. Immediately, I felt relief. My path opened as the Reiki energy flowed through me. The blockage that was preventing me from moving forward in my emotional and spiritual growth was removed. I was able to really love again. The Reiki healing allowed me to open my heart and forgive. It is the tool that assures my peace of mind and stability are here to stay.

Healing is to be shared and I want to share some remarkable healing results Reiki energy has produced. The following are several accounts of my Reiki healing experiences with several clients below who have generously agreed to tell their own Reiki healing story.

 

Client Case #1

Brenda Generali brought me her newborn son Joshua born with birth Palsy (or Brachial Plexus) due to complications during the birth and as a result Joshua’s entire right arm was paralyzed. After three forty-five minute Reiki treatments Joshua regained eighty percent of his range of motion and feeling back in his arm and he continued with a full recovery and complete use of his arm. I taught Brenda Reiki 1 so she could continue to give Reiki treatments to her son, too!

Brenda Generali’s testimony:

I had heard some years prior to the birth of my son that Reiki could heal tissues through energy so I made an appointment with Therese Johnson. I took Joshua to Therese six times for reiki treatments until we were told that Joshua would not need surgery and that he would have a full recovery. I think that without Reiki Joshua would have had to have tendon transfer surgery at Shriner’s hospital and he would not have normal movement.                  Brenda Generali 2003-Colfax, CA

Client Case #2

JS came to me for Reiki treatments to relieve the side effects of seizures he was experiencing in his brain due to brain cancer (the same kind of brain cancer Senator Kennedy is currently battling) When I would lay my hands on JS head I could feel the seizures but within ten minutes of administering Reiki energy to his head the seizures would stop completely.

JS testimony:

As a five-year brain cancer survivor Therese Johnson’s work has been instrumental in my successfully fighting the side effects resulting from past surgery treatment. Johnson has helped me greatly in dealing with the fall-out from surgery, chemo and-particularly-radiation.                             JS 2009-Auburn, CA

Client Case #3

Joseph M. had been suffering from bi-polar manic depression. He had been self medicating with methamphetamines for twenty years. This behavior had terrible results including time in prison. He was forty years old and wanted to heal, to be released from his dependence on drugs and to experience real health. I gave Joseph a one-hour Reiki treatment and his desire to take methamphetamines completely left him. I have no words to describe what occurred during his treatment. I was in absolute awe of the changes that took place and the healing power of Reiki. The changes in his energy field were immediate as the Reiki energy flowed through. He was ready to heal and he did.

Joseph M. testimony:

I have been clean and free from a methamphetamine twenty-year drug addiction for eight years now ever since I received a Reiki treatment from Therese Johnson that helped me remove my desire for methamphetamine’s.

                                                                               Joseph M. 2001-Auburn, Ca

Client Case #4

Jean Harmon Testimony:

Therese Johnson treated my hypertension with Reiki energy. When we started it was 200/89 within twenty minutes it was reduced to 132/79. Amazingly, the severe headache that came with the elevated numbers and high blood pressure also disappeared.

                                                                        Jean Harmon 2009-Auburn, Ca

As a Reiki practioner and teacher I have treated hospice patients eliminating their pain and need to be on heavy doses of morphine for anywhere from 24-72 hours with one reiki treatment. This allows for great relief not only for the patient but also for the family so that they can spend quality time with each other with the patient being able to be cognizant of his surroundings and family. Once the patient’s pain is controlled there is peace. Everyone relaxes when the patient is comfortable. I then show the family or caregiver how they too can continue to give Reiki energy, allowing them to become active participants in comforting the patient.  It is a beautiful process that takes the fear and stress out of ones transition.

I teach Reiki classes to individual caregivers and Residential Assisted Living Community Caregivers so they can ease the suffering of seniors. Reiki has proven to be of enormous help in alleviating Alzheimer’s dementia behavioral problems. For more information see my article on “Treating Alzheimer’s with Reiki” on my website at www.reikimastertherese.com

Currently, I am focusing on offering Reiki to our young soldiers returning home from war who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Reiki is excellent in aiding in the recovery of post-traumatic stress.

For treatments or classes see my website: www.reikimastertherese.com

Email: silvat@jps.net

Or call me @ 530-305-8872.

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free  and lasts for life, so use the button.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Why I became ordained

Universal Life Church

Well I can say this. I became ordained through ULC because:

1. It is a lot easier getting credentials from ULC and you do not have to build a church immediately.

2. I do most of my preaching in Nightclubs. Flogger in one hand Bible in the other preaching The Word of God in BDSM Nightclubs. How I got the nickname the Evil Wicked Cardinal of Evil. :devil:

3. I have vast knowledge of The Bible and know where most of the relics are which are described in the Bible.

4. I love a good debate on religion. I never lost a debate yet. For it is the individual on how they interpret The Bible.

5. I go to religious seminars where my vast knowledge improves religion. And, I talk on my own experiences.

6. ULC is the best place to start as an ordained minister. But, when you preach never implement ULC in any way shape or form. I never tell anyone about my credentials with ULC. I let my knowledge of The Bible do the talking.

7. People ask me where I became a Minister. I say four words. "It was my calling." Why say where you became a Minister. You build a church and call it ULC for instance it is not connected with ULC HQ. It is your church and do not break the law or implement ULC HQ in any way shape or form.

8. All ULC HQ is vouch that we are ordained ministers. Other than that you are on your own. So be smart and use The Bible. It is a powerful weapon.

9. Do not think you can evade IRS just because your a Minister. Because Churches and Ministers do get taxed. But, I do this volunteer and I accept no donations. It is Volunteer Work for me.

So; one thing always preach The Word of God, that is why we became ministers. And, teach others our religion.

Why I became Ordained

Universal Life Church

I became ordained because there was something inside of me that said I should help other people realize their spiritualism without the confines of being associated with an organized religion.

Tolerance for all beliefs is the key to true peace and spiritualism may come in many forms. Doing that which is right is an excellent motto to live by for anyone and I do my best to spread this message. Whether you believe in God or gods or an order in the universe or whatever it might be that helps you to center yourself in life.

All should have an open mind and respect that others might not feel the same way as you do, but that there is nothing wrong with what is spiritually important to you and how you feel about it and express it. Live and let live.

Rev. Dr. Rick

ULC

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. 

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.

 

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.  
 

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar