Since we ran a little long week four with Marie Starr and weren't able to address questions, here is an offline version of our Q and A.

Q. How important do you think it is to be still and quiet in prayer, waiting on the Lord?

A. Psalm 46:10 (Amplified Bible) "Be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!"

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It’s vitally important to be still and quiet in prayer because you can then learn to “hear” God's voice speak to you on a personal level. You’ll know it’s His voice because he’ll use His word to confirm it and use personal answers you’ve asked for as proof that he is listening to you. Eventually, you will know when He is speaking, when to be silent and meditate, and when to shout.

Q. What is more important, to evangelize winning souls to God or to pray and attend prayer meetings?

A. There is no distinction of importance between doing one instead of the other. The importance is knowing when to do each. We are all called to the ministry of reconciliation so we evangelize and win souls as God makes opportunity. John Wesley said that nothing gets started or birthed in the spirit without us praying about it first, so it goes with souls…without prayer, the souls’ hearts would be hardened. That’s why we pray without ceasing & at every opportunity. But I think you decide your own participation: Do I go out on the streets on a weeknight with Pastor Nick or do I go pray in a prayer group that night? Only God can help answer that for your own life. Seek him about where He wants you.
 
Q. How does a person catch a spirit of prayer? How do you turn into a lover of prayer, a person of prayer?

A. A spirit of prayer is a gift from God. God is a God of prayer and wants all of his creation to simply ask for it and then receive it. Be open to God giving you a love for prayer. Ask him to help you become a lover of prayer and when you do, you will be a person of prayer. By faith we take hold of God. In our time with Him, we learn to love what God loves. As we spend time with Him, we will begin to have a love for that time with Him.  Andrew Murray said: “Faith in a PRAYER-HEARING God will make a PRAYER-LOVING Christian.”
 
Q. How much time do you spend in the Bible vs. books by other Christian authors?

A. Fellowship with God in His Word, the Bible, is a precious life-building time. It provides sustenance like nourishment or food. The Bible or God’s Word is the spiritual “outlet” for your need to “be plugged in” like a battery. You must be charged or your energy will run out.
Spend time reading Christian books and writings. Research topics about God or the Christian lifestyle. This provides guidance and instruction. Books provide a snack, morsel, or a spark but the real banquet and the real energy force is found in spending time getting your supply from the author of life, the Bible.
 
Q. I have been told from an early age that God loves me. How can I really love God back?

A. By actively loving others. Jesus said “Love your neighbor as you do yourself and in doing so, you are loving me and if you love me, then you love the Father."

Q: I just wanted to say thank you to Marie for mentioning the tithe of “time” last week. I hear so much about the financial yet this is supposed to be the least…right? I don’t hear too much about tithe of talent and time.

A: Thank you for the positive feedback. I have found that if you give every area of your life over to God (talents, time, and money), then He can use them because you’ve released them all to Him. At that point, measuring how much and how long is no longer an issue. We are the ones with the measuring spoons, not God. Though he recommends with guidelines how to be successful and productive, He still will take anything anyone offers.
 
Q: If I pray in my mind, in English or tongues, is that considered prayer? Even if I don’t speak it out? Can God hear me? Is this acceptable?

A: It is acceptable. Any way or time you communicate with God is fine if your heart is right and your attitude and motive for doing so is pure.
 
Q: What does a person need to do to have the manifestation of it to come quicker? Is it more people in agreement? Worshipping? Giving more in the offering like precious seed?

A: It is not a method that will get your direction or manifestation. God may have already given the answer and we may not like that answer so we want to try a different method to get a different answer. Spend time with God and ASK HIM what is keeping the manifestation. He will guide you into all truth and sweetly steer you in the right direction.
 
Q: When I’m praying in the Spirit out loud, I’ve always been confused about what I should be doing with my conscious mind. Am I to think about what I hope I’m praying out in tongues? Am I to try and quiet my mind and listen for God’s voice and leading or meditate?

A. Sometimes our minds want to center in on something else and that’s when you reign it in like a cowboy/roper at a rodeo does when he ropes in the calf, takes it down, and ties up his feet. He renders it immovable. We need to do that with our minds by concentrating on Jesus, keeping our thoughts centered on Him and what He wants us to be thinking on at that time. Sometimes I just use my mental imaging (imagination) to see myself before His throne, loving Him, adoring Him, and praising Him. Other times, I do ‘see’ in my mind’s eye, some picture of what I am praying about. 

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