|
FOR THOSE WHO NEED OR WANT MORE!
I am often asked to share my belief in the power of prayer. I can’t help but remember my daughter, Shelly and her friends as teenagers. Praise God our house was always full of our son’s and daughter’s friends. They knew our home to be a Christian one and always respected it as such. They also knew Shelly’s Grandmother Scott to be a “prayer warrior”. I thought their friends recognized me as a “prayer warrior” as well. One day, Tiffany, one of Shelly’s best friends was going through a crisis and called Shelly to ask for prayer. Shelly’s response was, “I will have my mother pray for you.” Tiffany hesitated and then replied, “Shelly, I know your mother can pray, but I kind of had your grandmother in mind.” I realized I still had some work to do in my prayer life.
I am happy to say that eventually Shelly’s friends, as they became adults and as I grew in my prayer life, began to ask Shelly to have her mother pray for them. I felt I had truly arrived.
Would you like to strengthen your prayer life? Here is a journey I took to more fully understand the power of prayer and the part it could play in my everyday life. I pray it will be a source of help and an inspiration to you.
Prayer gives me an opportunity to:
Give praise and thanksgiving to GOD “Everyday I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever.” Psalm 145:2 Build a personal relationship with GOD “But you, when you pray, go into your room and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Matthew 6:6 Express dependence and affirm GOD’S promises “It shall come to pass, That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24 Seek GOD’S will and make my requests known to HIM according to HIS will “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” 1John 5:14,15
I believe Prayer is important. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be make known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6
Prayer should be consistent “Pray without ceasing” 1Thessalonians 5:17
JESUS is my role model “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He (JESUS) went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” Mark 1:35
JESUS keeps HIS promise to….Respond to my prayers. “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” John 14:13
The key for me is, “according to HIS will”. HE answers my prayers with “yes”, “no” or “wait”. It is the “no” and “wait” answers that challenge me to trust in HIS good will for me.
Be present “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
His Wisdom “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:12
GOD PROVIDES!
Our physical needs “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear…Matthew 6:25-34 Our spiritual needs “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 Our personal needs “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
Now for the practical application. Try these two steps for 21 days and then let us know the blessings you have received.
STEP 1. Each night read a Psalm of Praise from your Bible. Now write down ten (10) ways God has blessed you that day. Include the little things like finding your car keys as well as the big things like receiving a check in the mail just in time to pay an overdue bill.
You are now free to go peacefully to sleep rejoicing in GOD’S goodness to you.
STEP 2. Each morning, read a Psalm of Praise from your Bible. Now write down everything you need help with to get you through your day.
You are now renewed and refreshed, grounded in HIS WORD and confident that GOD will direct your every step.
Try this simple application of prayer for 21 days. Be sure to share with others the wondrous ways HE is blessing you!
|
