NUGGETS FOR LIFE by Barbra Burton

For the past several weeks we have been discussing prayer and what I call Prayer Basics
There are 5 prayer basics #1 ABIDE, #2 ASK, # 3 ASSURANCE, #4 AUTHORITY and today be will talk about #5 ASSIGNMENTS.
Prayer basics will lead you out of infancy in prayer and into rivers of Spirt-led prayer.  John 7:38 says “He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters.”
Only God knows He can rely on you to pray in reverence and with authority.  He may place specific assignments on your heart.  It could be an entire nation or you, a neighbor next door, but in His sight they are equally important and vital to His plan.  Think of it: God has asked you to be involved in helping Him on earth!  WOW!
Acts chapter 12 records a prayer assignment that was given to a church while Peter was in prison.  Verse 5 says that they entered into fervent prayer on his behalf.  Their prayer was so full of the fire of God that it broke open the prison door and set Peter free.  That’s what fervent prayers can do.
When speaking about the Ephesians, Paul said that they labored fervently in prayer (Colossians 4:12) the word fervent is “to be hot, to boil.”  The Bible tells us in James 5:16, that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  That’s the kind of prayer that Elijah prayed.  He really turned the heat of old Ahab because he was on an assignment to intercede for his nation.
Prayer always begins with God.  If prayer is your lifestyle, God will find a way to get His assignments to you.  But don’t worry; God will not throw you in over your head.  He’ll stat you out in the shallows so that you can get your feet wet first.  If you are found faithful, God will move you on to deeper things.
Never underestimate the power of prayer!  It is so awesome that it will heal the sick, save the lost and set the captives free.  Prayers spoken in faith parted the Red Sea, raised the dead, and fed the multitudes.  Regardless of the need, prayer will always reveal God’s plan for your victory.
Don’t let past failures keep you away from God’s throne of grace.  Discover the awesome power that is available in prayer and never pass up the opportunity to pray.