VATICAN CITY (CNS) — It may seem illogical, but Christians are called to give God praise — not complaints — in times of darkness and difficulty, Pope Francis said.

Welcome to Contact God. Do you have something to say to God? In this busy world sometimes it feels like God does not hear you. At ContactGod.com you can electronically send God a message. Since God is everywhere we can only assume God will read your message. To Send God A Message CLICK HERE. If you do not ordinarily draw near to God or reflect upon the words of God, then you will have nothing to say when it is time to pray—and even if you do pray, your lips will just be moving, you won’t be truly praying.

The Bible also says, “The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him” (Proverbs 15:26). God even hears our prayers when we can’t even put them into words—times, for example, when our hearts are too burdened or confused even to speak. The Bible says, “the Spirit helps us in our weakness. People will say things like, “Father God,” “Heavenly Father” or “Almighty God.” How you choose to address Him will remind you and anyone you might be praying with about who you are talking to and what He represents in your life. Do I pray to God the Father, Jesus or the Holy Spirit? This is completely up to you.

Jesus and the saints “show us that we can always give praise, in good times and bad, because God is the faithful friend — this is the foundation of praise, he is the faithful friend and his love never fails. He is always by our side; he always waits for us,” the pope said Jan. 13 during his weekly general audience.

This is why, he said, “praising God is like breathing in pure oxygen. It purifies the soul, it helps you look at the horizon” and not see oneself as imprisoned or trapped in the current moment.

Livestreamed from the library of the Apostolic Palace, the pope continued his series of talks on prayer, reflecting on the prayer of praise.

He reflected on the time in Jesus’ early ministry when his great works and miracles were still met with unbelief: St. John the Baptist, who had been imprisoned, was unsure whether Jesus was truly the Messiah; some towns remained unrepentant; and the wise and learned had rejected his preaching.

According to St. Matthew, “Jesus does not lift up a lament to the Father, but rather a hymn of jubilation” and praise during this time of crisis and disappointment, he said.

“Why?” the pope asked.

“First and foremost, he praises him for who he is: ‘Father, Lord of heaven and earth.’ Jesus rejoices in his spirit because he knows and he feels that his father is the God of the universe” and he is “my father,” he said.

“Praise springs from this experience of feeling” that he is the son of God and is loved.

Jesus’ prayer and praise should also teach everyone who reads the Gospel “to judge our personal defeats in a different way, the situations in which we do not see clearly the presence and action of God, when it seems that evil prevails and there is no way to stop it,” the pope said.

“Jesus, who recommended the prayer of asking questions so much, at the very moment when he would have had reason to ask the father for explanations, instead begins to praise him,” Pope Francis said. “It seems like a contradiction, but this is where the truth lies.”

Praising God adds nothing to his greatness, he said, rather it allows one to experience the same happiness “of the pure of heart who love God in faith before seeing him in glory.”

“Paradoxically it must be practiced not only when life fills us with happiness, but above all in difficult moments, when the path becomes steep,” he said, because “we learn that, through that ascent, that wearisome path, those demanding passages, we get to see a new panorama, a broader horizon.”

For some reason, God willed that it would be “the little ones,” the pure of heart who would be most receptive to him, while the “learned” and the “wise” remained suspicious, closed and calculating, he said.

Jesus rejoices in this fact, and “we too must rejoice and praise God because humble and simple people welcome the Gospel.”

“In the future of the world and in the hopes of the church,” the pope said, “there are the ‘little ones’ — those who do not consider themselves better than others, who are aware of their own limitations and their sins, who do not want to lord it over others — who, in God the father, recognize that we are all brothers and sisters.”

Pope Francis asked people to take inspiration and courage from the examples of Jesus and the saints, who lived in a world that did not fully change with their preaching and who themselves would ultimately face death.

“Let us have the courage to say, ‘Blessed are you, Lord,’ and praise the Lord,” he said. “This will do us good.”

The post Praising God purifies the soul, is like breathing ‘pure oxygen,’ pope says appeared first on Catholic News Service.

Dealing with financial difficulties can leave you feeling tired and stressed out. These powerful miracle prayers for financial help from God will encourage you in your faith and walk with Christ.

God Will Provide Prayer
Eternal God, Your word says that I should not worry about what I shall eat, or what I shall drink or what I shall wear. Therefore, I know that I shouldn’t worry about my finances. For the pagans chase after these things, and You, my heavenly Father, know that I need them. Lord, You know that I need a financial miracle right now. You know that I need an overflow of money, let the drought that currently occupies my bank account be gone. Amen.

Abundance for Inadequacy Prayer
Almighty God, I am helpless in the face of my financial circumstances. I claim Your abundance to overtake my inadequacy. Come with Your mighty power and pull me out of these troubles. Teach me what to do. Hear my prayer, my Lord, and answer with Your miracle power. I don’t want to just pull through; I want to have an astounding victory to Your glory and honor. May these debts melt away. I praise You, my Provider, for fulfilling Your promises. Amen.

Prayer to Calm Financial Anxiety
Heavenly Father, I know that I should not be anxious for anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present my requests to You. Father, I present my finances before You, and I pray for a financial miracle in my life. I pray for an increase in wealth and a decrease in losses. I choose to let go of the anxiety and depression that having a lack of finances has caused me. Amen.

Prayer to Eliminate Debt
Awesome God, I pray against financial debt right now. I pray that I owe nothing to anyone – except for my obligation to love others. If I love my neighbor, I will fulfill the requirements of Your law. I pray against financial oppression and declare financial prosperity instead. I declare a miracle in my finances because I know that You do not want me to be anxious or oppressed. Let love be my main priority, not money. Amen.

Turn My Hopeless Situation Around Prayer
Lord, my Deliverer, my financial situation is overwhelming. I am anxious and afraid when I think of what might happen if I don’t experience a miracle. Hear my cry for help and answer me in Your grace and compassion. Turn my hopeless situation around. Help me see the way to prevail over these problems. Empower me to thrive economically despite how dreadful everything looks right now. Guide me by Your Holy Spirit in the steps I need to take for financial freedom. Amen.

Prayer for God’s Gifts
Jesus, an earthly father doesn’t give their son a stone when they ask for bread. Or if they ask for a fish, they wouldn’t give their child a snake. If then, the evil (sinners) know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more will You, my Father in heaven, give good gifts to those who ask of You! Lord, I ask that You give me a financial breakthrough and I believe that You will do it. Amen.

Lift Me out Prayer
God of all grace, I approach Your throne in deep despair. I wish I could somehow fly away from these troubles, but I know I must face them head-on. In Your power, I can achieve victory over this economic disaster. Lift me out of my debt and set me on high financial standing. Make me more than a conqueror in this battle. You are my eternal and sovereign God, and I thank You for answering my prayer and calming this storm. Amen.

Prayer for My Needs
Eternal Savior, I am currently struggling financially, but I am not anxious because I know that You will meet all my needs according to the riches of Your glory in Christ Jesus. Lord, I pray that You have Your divine way over my money, You know what I need, and I know that only You can provide it. I thank You for my financial breakthrough, I trust that it is coming! Amen.

Promises of Deliverance Prayer
Faithful Father, I bring my financial difficulties to You, knowing You will provide for my needs. You will not permit me to sink below these raging waves. I trust You to rescue me from this situation. I feel harassed by all these bills that need to be paid, but I put my unwavering confidence in Your power to save. I thank You for Your promises of deliverance. I don’t need to fear because my hope is in You. I praise You, my Miracle-worker. Amen.

Prayer for Abundant Blessings
Righteous God, I thank You for who You are. I thank You for being the God of Abundance because I know that my financial miracle will come by Your divine power. You are able to bless me abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that I need, I will prosper in every good work. I know that my finances will thrive in Your hands, I know that I will be successful in all that I do. Amen.

Contact For Pray What God Says Websitepray What God Says I Am

Your Arm of Power Prayer
Lord, my Glory and Strength, You know all my troubles and tears. I kneel before You now, in the assurance that my desperate financial issues will recede. I thank You for coming alongside me now, for my own efforts are futile. Stretch forth Your arm of power and pull me out of this pit. I thank You for Your strength in my weakness. I praise You, mighty God, for You are able to do infinitely more than I could ever ask or think. Amen.

Prosperity Not Poverty Prayer
Compassionate God, look at my deep troubles, and have mercy. I run to You for help with this financial adversity, taking shelter beneath Your wings. Send a miracle from heaven in Your faithful and unending compassion. I praise and lift You high for making a way of escape from this overwhelming flood. Out of the riches of Your glory, set me on stable ground. Help me to follow Your wisdom and instruction on what to do. May prosperity triumph over poverty. Amen.

Trust with Riches Prayer
God of Heaven, I thank You for the trials that I face here on earth. I thank You for my financial trials because if I am untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust me with the true riches of heaven? I pray that You guide me to make wise financial decisions so that I can reach my financial miracle. I pray that I do not idolize money, but instead I pray that I respect it so that I can respect my heavenly riches. Amen.

Infinite Love Prayer
Gracious Lord, I am trapped in a desperate predicament. I confess the recklessness that got me into these dire straits. Lord, I promise to spend more wisely in the future, with Your guidance. But now, I need Your miracle power to break out of this staggering debt. My heart trusts in You, for Your infinite love and faithfulness reaches to the clouds. With You, all things are possible. Calm my beating heart and show me the path I need to take. Amen.

Prayer for Financial Wisdom
Mighty God, Your word says that the wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get. Father, I respect money, but I am currently struggling financially. I am in a drought and lack finances. I need a miracle. I pray that You release a miracle over my life so that I can be like the wise who have wealth and luxury. Not so that I can boast in wealth and luxury, but so that I can glorify You through my wealth and luxury. Amen.

Prayer for God’s Provision
Holy Father, blessed are those who trust in the You and have made You their hope and confidence. I put my trust in You, I place my finances in You because in You I am confident. I will be like a tree planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. I will not be bothered by pressure or long months of financial drought. I will not worry because I will never stop producing fruit and when rooted in You, I will never lack. My financial miracle is already promised. Amen.

God’s Hands Prayer
Dear Lord, You are my Shepherd and with You, I lack nothing. My finances appear low right now, but Your word says that with You I will not need anything! As my Shepherd, You will and have ensured that I have all that I need to survive. With You, I am taken care of! It doesn’t matter what my bank account says. It doesn’t matter what my circumstance seems like. With You, I will not lack. My finances are in Your hands. My miracle is in Your hands. Amen.

Build Me up Prayer
Builder of all things, save me from my financial woes by Your infinite power. I thank You that You are marching with me and that this problem will be soundly defeated. I pray that You will not only get me out of this hole but that You will build me up financially so that I am in a secure place. Empower me to be a lender and not a borrower. Help me to owe no person anything except love. Amen.

Be My Rock of Security
Father of lights, I cry out to You from a dark place. Through my own efforts, I am utterly helpless to pull myself out of a bleak financial future. Be my rock of security, where I never need to worry about money. Work a miracle in this situation, for You are my provider. I am confident that I will see an increase in my finances. Turn my lack and insufficiency into abundance and plenty. May I be able to bless others out of my fruitfulness. Amen.

Prayer for Strength
Oh Lord, my financial status has placed pressure on me right now. But I will fear not, for You are with me. I will not be dismayed, for You are my God. I know that You will strengthen me, Yes You will help me. I know that You will uphold me with Your righteous right hand. I know that I should not be anxious regarding my financial breakthrough because You are with me. With You, the impossible is possible. With You, my financial miracle is possible. Amen.

Power from God Prayer
Precious Father, I thank You because You have not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-discipline. With You, I have authority in my life, so where the devil attempts to cripple me financially I can stand against it! I also have self-discipline, I can say “no” to overspending so that my finances can increase! I thank You for the financial miracle that I am going to experience. Amen.

Prayer to Be Content
Holy God, I thank You for giving me peace in my circumstances. I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am in, especially my financial drought. I know how to get along with humble means. I also know that I will experience what it’s like to live in prosperity. Father, I can do all things through You who strengthens me! I can receive and achieve a financial miracle through You who strengthens me! Amen.

Prayer for a Heart of Treasure
Precious God, You are my treasure. It is easy to become materialistic here on earth, for where my treasure is, there my heart will be also. I pray that my spending will be a reflection of my values. I pray that I respect You with my finances. I need a financial miracle right now, but Lord, I do not hold my finances above You because the love of money is the root of all evil! I place You at the center of my heart and mind. Amen.

Contact For Pray What God Says Websitepray What God Says About You

Prayer for Exaltation
Magnificent Father, I come to You for my financial miracle today! I turn to You, not to man because it is You who has everything that I need! It is You who sends poverty and wealth. You humble, and You exalt. You are in control of all things, and You are the supplier of all needs! I turn to You for my financial prosperity, I lift up Your name for my financial miracle! Amen.

Prayer for Justice
Everlasting Father, I come before Your throne seeking justice regarding my economic plight. My righteous Judge, You know that this is not of my own doing. Take up my cause and vindicate me. I pray that this unjust circumstance will come to nothing, and I will be set free from these financial chains. Look at what is happening to me and come to my aid. Stand with me as my counselor and empower me to triumph. I praise You, for You are always just. Amen.

Contact For Pray What God Says Websitepray What God Says Today

This video of Pastor Rick Warren offers the right advice on how to prepare for a miracle from God. Pastor Warren reminds us that acting in faith will leave our lives open for God to bring miraculous results to otherwise difficult situations.

Contact For Pray What God Says Websitepray What God Says Now