Walking Closer with God: With Prayers, Supplications, and Songs

By Dr. Elizabeth Thambiraj

Walking Closer with God is talking about relationship with the Living One and Only True God; God of infinite wisdom, majesty, splendour, power and honour Who alone is able to orchestrate events around us and Whohears. If something burdens our mind, it is wiser to go to God in prayer because we want someone to scale the unscalable in our lives. All thoughts which are formed in our minds can be brought in captive to Gods authority by petitioning to the Lord.

When we express our desires to God we are not talking about experiential/emotional/mystical/ fanatical approach but rather our hearts are drawn closer to the truth so that we as children of God are spared from the deception of end days which is today. I believe prayer, supplications, songs and staying in Gods Word is the Sovereign antidote against perplexing fear and anxiety.

She is very spiritually mature, knows and loves the Word of God and seeks God in prayer consistently. She is very dependable and is a woman of her word. I have seen her use wise discernment in a committee setting and bring peoples ideas together in very gracious, organized, and practical way.

Jan Annan; Sr. Pastors Wife, Harvest Hills Alliance Church, Calgary

She is a woman of prayer. She is also a woman of faith. Only faithful prayers distinguish committed Christians from the carnal ones. Elizabeth takes joy to be alone with the Lord in prayer as her disciple lifestyle.

Dr. Nelson Kung, a Christian Author Award Winner with his book, Built to Last: How to Build an Effective, Disciple-Making Church with Love and Patience; Fuller Life Church, Toronto

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jul 30, 2016
• ISBN: 9781532001369

Dr. Elizabeth Thambiraj

Dr. Elizabeth Thambiraj, M.Sc, M.BA, DBA, M.Div (ACBC Counseling) NANC certified. Author of the two books, Biblical approach to non-organic illnesses and Mystery of relationships through the lens of Scriptures. Former Lecturer in Chemistry, Company administrator; Company Director. Taught Marriage and Family care at Taylor Seminary, currently practising as a Counselor. Enjoys music, reading, writing and Missions. She lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with her husband, with a thankful heart for her family. Does teaching at Concordia Seminary at India, and Y.W.C.A and at other places as Mission work every year and teaches at other parts of the world as she travels. Church affiliation: Member of Anglican Orthodox Church, U.S.A. Member and worships in Southgate Alliance Church in Edmonton, Canada.

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Copyright © 2016 Dr. Elizabeth Thambiraj.

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All Scripture is taken from King James Version. KJV is part of public domain.

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ISBN: 978-1-5320-0135-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-0136-9 (e)

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iUniverse rev. date: 07/29/2016

CONTENTS

Walking closer with God with Prayers, Supplications, and Songs

Author Biography

Foreword

Introduction to Prayer

•   Preface on Prayer

•   Author’s view on prayer

Acknowledgements

Part A

Jesus taught us to Pray

•   Our Father Who art in Heaven

The seven petitions

•   Hallowed be Thy Name

•   Thy Kingdom come

•   Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

•   Give us this day our daily bread

•   Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us

•   And lead us not into temptation

•   Prayer- spiritual warfare

•   But deliver us from evil

The Doxology

•   For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever, Amen.

Part B

Forgiveness

•   Meditation: forgiveness

•   Prayer on forgiveness

Relationships

•   Preface on Relationship

•   Prayer for healing strained relationships with parents.

•   Prayer for mending broken relationships

•   Prayer for conflict between husband and wife

•   Prayer for emotional abuse

•   Prayer for unsaved spouse

•   Prayer for the unborn, to the adult children and grandchildren

Bringing in the Kingdom

•   Preface: Bringing in the Kingdom

•   Prayer of confession and revival in the body of Christ

•   Prayer for the Church for grace to share the Gospel

•   Prayer for Church leadership

•   Prayer for Nation and the National leaders

•   Prayer for Revival in the church

•   Prayer for Oneness in the Body of Christ

Part C

•   Prayer at all seasons of life

•   Scriptural references to pray to bear each other’s burdens

•   Songs - with the voice of singing

•   Afterword: Why I Wrote This Book?

•   Bibliography, end notes and websites

•   List of Contributors

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

The author of this book is: Dr. Elizabeth Thambiraj

Published books:

Biblical approach to non-organic illnesses @2014: Doss Publications; ISBN9781631737206

Mystery of Relationship through the Lens of Scriptures; Marriage, Sex and Intimacy @2015: I Universe Publications; ISBN: 978-1-4917-7125-9 (sc) & ISBN: 978-1-4917-7124-2 (e)

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Education: B.Sc. (Chemistry), M.Sc. (Chemistry), C.Dip. A.F (Accounting & Finance), M.B.A (Business Administration), D.B.A (Doctor of Business Administration), M.Div. (Biblical Counseling), NANC certified (Association of Certified Biblical Counselors).

Work experience: Worked as a Lecturer in Chemistry. As company administrator; Company President and Director. Now, practicing as a NANC (ACBC) Counsellor and taught Marriage and Family Care at Taylor Seminary, Edmonton, Canada. Passion of her heart is to bring the truth to people through God’s Word and affirms that prayer becomes the back bone of this mission. Does mission work on a regular basis in India and teaches at Concordia, Seminary at India as part of mission work.

Both in personal family life and in professional life has seen many answered prayers and was very thankful to God. In professional life the counseling always started and ended in prayer and has seen many answered prayers especially when people become captive to the lies of the enemies. Having worked with the prayer ministry team for long periods, also as prayer coordinator and having done pulpit intercessions at Bayview Glen Alliance Church at Toronto gave a relentless desire for prayer and to see answered prayers. Always cherished being nourished by God’s Word and in prayer in different settings even while being a student until now. Member of Anglican Orthodox Church, U.S.A. Member and worships in Southgate Alliance Church in Edmonton, Canada.

Brought up in a godly home, married to her husband for the past 33 years who is a Surgeon. Mother of two girls and a boy and the grandmother of 3 boys. Thankful heart for God weaving her in Christ in His unfailing love on the cross in the past and till today. Lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with her husband, and thankful heart for her family. Enjoys reading, writing, teaching, counseling and music.

FOREWORD

Elizabeth has a deep desire to help others. I know personally she has gone to great lengths, involving time, to help others. I am also aware of a situation where she was taken advantage of, but she was willing to forgive. She is very spiritually mature, knows and loves the Word of God and seeks God in prayer consistently. She displays the fruit of the Spirit and has a strong desire to continue to grow and be used of God. She is very dependable and is a woman of her word. I have seen her use wise discernment in a committee setting and bring people’s ideas together in very gracious, organized, and practical way. She is very intelligent, but speaks to others with humility and is a very loyal and trusted co-worker and friend.

Jan Annan

Sr. Pastor’s Wife, Bayview Glen Alliance Church, Toronto and later Harvest Hills Alliance Church, Calgary

Dr. Elizabeth is a very mature follower of Jesus Christ as witnessed in her demeanor and behavior. She not only looks to the Lord herself for guidance but she also encourages others to do the same. She is highly sensitive to the leading of God’s spirit in her life. I have known her for more than twelve years and she is a capable leader communicator and a prayer warrior. She has been the point person for the prayer ministry team at Bay view Glen Church during the past year. Elizabeth has a wonderful family of believers.

Gord Brown; Former Pastor of Administration, Bay view Glen Alliance Church, Toronto

She is a woman of prayer. She is also a woman of faith. Only faithful prayers distinguish committed Christians from the carnal ones. Elizabeth takes joy to be alone with the Lord in prayer as her disciple lifestyle.

Dr. Nelson Kung, a Christian Author Award Winner with his book,

Built to Last: How to Build an Effective, Disciple-Making Church with Love and Patience.

Elizabeth has a passion for the Lord and spends extended amount of time in the Word of God and in Prayer. Her spiritual maturity is anchored in her knowledge of the Bible, as well as in her daily devotion to the Lord. She is intelligent, professional, dependable, gifted and works with great proficiency. Elizabeth serves the Lord in teaching, mentoring others, in speaking engagements and in prayer ministries. She also reaches out to seekers and serves the Lord through Missions.

Houri Halahel: Friend, Bay View Glen alliance church, Toronto: Prayer ministry and music ministry.

INTRODUCTION TO PRAYER

PREFACE ON PRAYER

Prayer in a nutshell should be according to faith in Lord Jesus Christ, with a sincere heart, according to the light and truth we received from His Word, not aimed to oneself, but in submission of God the Father’s will who is all wise and powerful. When we speak about prayer to the world around us this may sound strange and one had to explain why we should pray. Often we Christians struggle in prayer life even when we know we ought to pray. It is increasingly important that every believer should pray and let us look at some of the reasons why we should pray.

Prayer is a beautiful form of communication between man and God. In prayer the relationship between man and unseen God is built eventually. Prayer is a form of expressing one’s heart, mind, emotions, feelings, will, desires and more so our inadequacies to God. God has communicated through His Word and He gives us His assurance and answers and reveals His supremacy to the believing Christians. I would say that prayer is building friendship with God, and it is a way of engaging with God who loves us and wants to share time with us.

Though this is the most important exercise of piety, yet in forming our prayers, and regulating our wishes, all our senses fail us. No man will pray aright, unless his lips and heart shall be directed by the Heavenly Master¹. –John Calvin

Read more: http://www.lords-prayer-words.com/lords-prayer-words/commentary_sermon_john_calvin_verse_9.html#ixzz3k1wgUMJ7

Commentary by John Calvin

Lords Prayer Matt 6:9

Read more: http://www.lords-prayer-words.com/#ixzz3k1xQOaJk

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened; Matt: 7:7-8. Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not; Jam: 4:2. Prayer is a way of expressing our desires to God, and the Word of God explicitly states that we ought to ask if we want to receive.

A heavenly pattern for our earthly life, OUR Father’s will shall certainly be done, for the Lord doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth. Let us adoringly consent that it shall be so, desiring no alteration therein². - Charles Spurgeon

Read more: http://www.lords-prayer-words.com/lords-prayer-words/sermon_charles_spurgeon_bible_study_heavenly.html#ixzz3k1z83iTJ

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God; Ephe: 3:14-19. As Apostle Paul writes, when we begin to communicate with the Living God, we begin to understand His Word, and we will receive boldness to face life because we begin to understand His love. This love shown two thousand years ago supremely demonstrated on the cross for humanity through the death of His Son.

I have countless examples of answered prayers in my life. God who formed us in our mother’s womb indeed answers prayers. His answer will be either yes, no or wait. As much as I cherish in all the answered prayers, I am also learning to cherish when God answers no. God who loves me unconditionally when He answers ‘no’ to my petitions this answer is indeed good for me, because He knows me much more than I know about myself. I am waiting for some answers to my requests with earnest expectations, and this waiting makes me persevere in my faith walk to grow in godliness.

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost; Jude: 20. Through prayer our faith is build up in the knowledge of God’s Son, and Jesus gave the finest example about prayer to His disciples by teaching them the Lord’s Prayer. Prayer is one of the vehicle through the courage and confidence in God is build up and we can grow spiritually mature. In our falleness and total depravity, and in our divided self we want affirmation, security, and confidence all the time and we strive to get it from all wrong angles. Prayer is the most effective way where we find the needing security, affirmation and confidence we long for and is fulfilled in Christ and through Christ. In praying the body of Christ is edified and especially the body of believers are strengthened and are geared towards growth and maturity.

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Eph 6:18. Believers can overcome the forces of darkness through prayer, because we believe that Satan is defeated on the cross. In the Book of Ephesians, Apostle Paul is talking about the weapons of our warfare and encouraging believers to stand against the wiles of the devil through prayer.

Prayer is an invitation to God to act in this dark world. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them; Gen 1:26-27. The dominion God has given to Adam was sold to Satan; In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them; 2 Cor: 4:4. We understand from the above Word of God that Satan has the legal right in this world and is the god of this age and has blinded the minds of many. Without prayer and petitioning, God cannot move the lease which was given to the evil forces by Adam, and we pray and ask God to intervene in these situations.

As for myself, prayer is a beautiful privilege given unto me, so that I may know Him. This privilege is for all believers, and we can know Him. We can all upon Him at anytime from anywhere. This is a huge privilege and a huge gift.

Especially in petitioning we are asking God to protect us, guide us, and bless us. We pray for strength, courage, comfort, for wisdom and above all for peace which passeth all understanding which the world cannot give. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you; Matt 6:33.

Thus therefore pray ye - He who best knew what we ought to pray for, and how we ought to pray, what matter of desire, what manner of address would most please himself, would best become us, has here dictated to us a most perfect and universal form of prayer, comprehending all our real wants, expressing all our lawful desires; a complete directory and full exercise of all our devotions³.- John Wesley

Read more: http://www.lords-prayer-words.com/wesleys_bible_study_notes.html#ixzz3k20hLTi4

AUTHOR’S VIEW ON PRAYER

Prayer is a heartfelt conversation or communication with God and for believers in Christ Jesus we pray to God the Father, through Jesus Christ the only mediator in the power of the Holy Spirit. Prayer is a deliberate communication to the Holy God. The foundation of prayer is the relationship to God and it can be done individually or corporately and can be done either privately or publically. Prayer is one of the ways of worship and thanksgiving. Different people around the world pray in different languages either in the form of a hymn, creed or sometimes spontaneously by some specific praying people.

Christian prayer, then, shared a simple belief that God could be petitioned to intervene and effect changes in nature and in the course of world events. The immediate source of this confidence came from the teachings and examples of Jesus himself, such as the model prayer he offered (Matt 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4) and his assurance that one had only to ask the Father in order to receive what was needed (Matt 7:7; Luke 11:9)¹.

¹Prayer - Definition and Meaning, Bible Dictionary

www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/prayer

Prayer Definition and meaning from Bible Dictionary. PRAYER prar (deesis, proseuche, (enteuxis; for an excellent discussion of the meaning of these see Thayer’s …

Prayer is a kind of litmus test of our relationship with God; very often our prayers reveal who and what is most important to us.

Definition of litmus test (n) ²Bing Dictionary

lit·mus test

1. test determined by single factor: a test in which a single factor determines the outcome

2. test to identify acid or base: a test in which litmus is used to find out if something is an acid or a base

Synonyms: acid test, proof, confirmation, test, measure

Prayer also exposes our inner most feelings our thoughts about ourselves and God. For example Psalm 35 is a plea for protection by David and it is an appeal to God concerning his integrity and the justice of his cause. In other words we can say prayer is raising our mind and heart to God and the first part is generally easier for anyone than the second part. What I intended to say here is that prayer involves our whole person and that is mind, heart and emotions, in a relationship with God.

For an unbeliever prayer is a deliberate invocation to a deity which is an object of worship or a spiritual entity. I have lived in different parts of the world including Malaysia, Singapore and India and have witnessed different forms of prayer and worships to different deities who are their spiritual entities. In India which is a Hindu Nation prayer is chanting and sometimes with repetitive words and it is a form of mantra and they offer supplications, praises and requests to their gods and goddesses in this format. People all over the world pray and worship for different reasons and very often for their own benefit and for the blessing of others.

Prayer can be a form of religious practice, may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. There are different forms of