The apostles had this instinct: When in trouble, pray. When intimidated, pray. When challenged, pray. When persecuted, pray! Jim Cymbala More Quotes by Jim Cymbala More Quotes From Jim Cymbala You can tell how popular a church is by who comes on Sunday morning. You can tell how popular the pastor or evangelist is by who comes on Sunday night. But you can tell how popular Jesus is by who comes to the prayer meeting. Jim Cymbala christian morning jesus Persistent calling upon the name of the Lord breaks through every stronghold of the devil, for nothing is impossible with God. For Christians in these troubled times there is simply no other way. Jim Cymbala break-through prayer christian Does the Bible ever say anywhere from Genesis to Revelation, 'My house shall be called a house of preaching'? Does it ever say, 'My house shall be called a house of music'? Of course not. The Bible does say, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'. Preaching, music, the reading of the Word - these things are fine; I believe in and practice all of them. But they must never override prayer as the defining mark of God's dwelling. the honest truth is that I have seen God do more in people's lives during ten minutes of real prayer than in ten of my sermons. Jim Cymbala real prayer believe Prayer is the opening of the heart so we can receive all these good things that God has for us every day. It's like sitting down at a table that God has prepared for us. He says, 'I have everything you need today - all the grace, all the wisdom, all the provision that you need - but sit down at the table and eat. Don't be so rushed and so busy and try to live without My supply.' Jim Cymbala grace prayer heart No matter what I preach or what we claim to believe in our heads, the future will depend upon our times of prayer. Jim Cymbala religious prayer time I discovered an astonishing truth: God is attracted to weakness. He cannot resist those who humbly and honestly admit how desperately they need him. Jim Cymbala weakness christian needs He (God) is not looking for smart people, because He is the smart one. All he wants are people simple enough to trust him. Jim Cymbala smart simple christian Anything, and I mean anything, becomes a blessing if it drives us to prayer. Jim Cymbala prayer christian mean The birth of the church was during a prayer meeting, not preaching, not singing, but prayer. Jim Cymbala singing church prayer Your future and mine are determined by this one thing: seeking after the Lord. Jim Cymbala determined lord christian By not forgiving, by not letting wrongs go, we aren't getting back at anyone. We are merely punishing ourselves by barricading our own hearts. Jim Cymbala not-forgiving forgiving heart God is more powerful than anybody's past, no matter how wretched. He can make us forget - not by erasing the memory but by taking the sting and paralyzing effect out of it Jim Cymbala powerful memories past If we repeatedly read the Bible without the help of the Holy Spirit, it tends to reinforce our own prejudices and rock-hard doctrinal positions. We end up merely finding ammunition for what we already believe. We become so spiritually proud, so convinced of our own positions, that the Spirit is hindered in helping us to grow in the things of God. Jim Cymbala faith god bible What does it say about our churches today that God birthed the church in a prayer meeting, and prayer meetings today are almost extinct? Jim Cymbala religious prayer god Because we are God's children...we can bring our needs to him with certainty in prayer.... Prayer is not some kind of heavenly lottery. Nor does the Bible counsel us to pray with an "I hope this will work"...attitude. Instead...prayer brings us before the throne of grace as children seeking the help of their heavenly Father. That's the heart of breakthrough, successful prayer-the bold confidence that we are talking to the Father who delights to supply our needs. Jim Cymbala prayer attitude children Every time we open the Bible, let's stop and pray, whether for fifteen seconds or fifteen minutes, asking the Spirit to teach us. When I read the Bible, I want God to talk to my soul. Jim Cymbala fifteen soul want I have since learned that the most mature believer is the one who is bent over, leaning most heavily on the Lord, and admitting his total inability to do anything without Christ. The greatest Christian is not the one who has achieved the most but rather the one who has received the most. Jim Cymbala inability admitting christian Prayer cannot truly be taught by principles and seminars and symposiums. It has to be born out of a whole environment of felt need. If I say, "I ought to pray," I will soon run out of motivation and quit; the flesh is too strong. I have to be driven to pray. Jim Cymbala strong prayer running Doesn’t the God who created the universe out of nothing and put all the stars in place, have the power to take care of your situation? Jim Cymbala situation care stars Faith never denies reality but leaves room for God to grant a new reality. Jim Cymbala deny reality rooms