For the last few weeks I have payed particular attention to doing something I talk about a lot, praying. We all know the pages of the Bible are filled with the thrilling tales of men and women in tough life situations and did the only thing they could do: They prayed. There is no real doubt that “prayer changes things.” One of the beauties of prayer is that imperfect men and women can be heard in heaven.
Jesus Christ, The Son God, spent hours in fervent prayer, even to the point of sweating “great drops of blood.” I honestly cannot conceive of that intense a prayer, but many of the pathetic ones I have sent up, have returned, answered. A few have been answered far above what I had asked for. Others have received a strong” no.”
Jesus used a story of a needy widow. The lady went to a judge, a very secular one that confessed his own lack of faith, but due to the woman’s persistence he finally said, “Ok, I am granting your request.” The point being, we also should persist in prayer as God is more interested in granting requests than a secular judge would be.
The arguments against prevailing prayer are legion and loaded with reasons why prayer is futile, as God’s work goes on whether we pray or not. Yet scripture and history are painted large with God’s moving in miraculous ways in direct answer to prayer.
Years ago, when I first entered the family of God through trusting in the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the importance of prayer to progress in the new life was considered to be the “Mother’s Milk” of the new ones in Christ.
40 years ago I became the pastor of a church that had been and was, going through some very tough times. In the midst of this Steve Goens, now walked on with Jesus, asked the people to make a list of prayer requests on one side of a sheet of paper. On the other side of the paper, note the day when the prayer was answered. We were amazed at the answers the Lord was giving!
The amazing thing about serious prayer is nearly veiled in this statement:
“It is extraordinary to realize that our prayer can change events and circumstances in the world around us. But what is just as remarkable is that when we pray, we change. More often than not we become the answer to our own prayers as we open up ourselves to God in prayer.” John Guest.
There is no doubt about it, when we pray, we are profoundly changed. Saying a prayer doesn’t seem to matter much, but really praying, baring our soul’s needs and desires to the Lord Jesus, does matter and we are the beneficiary even though our prayer may have been for someone else.
Jesus taught, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24.
Copyright 2015 © Larry Lilly
For quality IT work click Oral Deckard
Jesus Christ, The Son God, spent hours in fervent prayer, even to the point of sweating “great drops of blood.” I honestly cannot conceive of that intense a prayer, but many of the pathetic ones I have sent up, have returned, answered. A few have been answered far above what I had asked for. Others have received a strong” no.”
Jesus used a story of a needy widow. The lady went to a judge, a very secular one that confessed his own lack of faith, but due to the woman’s persistence he finally said, “Ok, I am granting your request.” The point being, we also should persist in prayer as God is more interested in granting requests than a secular judge would be.
The arguments against prevailing prayer are legion and loaded with reasons why prayer is futile, as God’s work goes on whether we pray or not. Yet scripture and history are painted large with God’s moving in miraculous ways in direct answer to prayer.
Years ago, when I first entered the family of God through trusting in the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the importance of prayer to progress in the new life was considered to be the “Mother’s Milk” of the new ones in Christ.
40 years ago I became the pastor of a church that had been and was, going through some very tough times. In the midst of this Steve Goens, now walked on with Jesus, asked the people to make a list of prayer requests on one side of a sheet of paper. On the other side of the paper, note the day when the prayer was answered. We were amazed at the answers the Lord was giving!
The amazing thing about serious prayer is nearly veiled in this statement:
“It is extraordinary to realize that our prayer can change events and circumstances in the world around us. But what is just as remarkable is that when we pray, we change. More often than not we become the answer to our own prayers as we open up ourselves to God in prayer.” John Guest.
There is no doubt about it, when we pray, we are profoundly changed. Saying a prayer doesn’t seem to matter much, but really praying, baring our soul’s needs and desires to the Lord Jesus, does matter and we are the beneficiary even though our prayer may have been for someone else.
Jesus taught, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24.
Copyright 2015 © Larry Lilly
For quality IT work click Oral Deckard
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