Category: Prayer

Whatsoever You Ask

One of my favorite books on prayer is a tiny volume named “The Kneeling Christian” It is written by an unknown Christian however I strongly suspect that Andrew Murray was the author simply judging by its content and style. What a blessing and motivation to prayer this little book has been in my life. Today is 2017 we no less need prayer than when this book was first published more than a century ago. Our churches have full pews but often empty altars. We laugh and sing but who weeps with our Savior and tarries in prayer for the urgent needs all around us? The good news is that there is still a time for prayer. There is still an open door to God’s throne of grace. Jesus is listening and waiting if only we will begin to earnestly pray. This week our Iris burst into full bloom. All year I wait for that day when its petals open and give out their fragrance. In the same way God sees our life as a garden and waits for our prayers to unfold as the full expression of our faith and trust in Him!

"
 God "wondered that there was no intercessor" (Isa. lix. 16)--"none to
   interpose" (R.V., marg.). But this was in the days of long ago, before
   the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ "full of grace and truth"--before
   the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, full of grace and power, "helping
   our infirmity," "Himself making intercession for us" and in us (Rom.
   viii. 26). Yes, and before the truly amazing promises of our Savior
   regarding prayer; before men knew very much about prayer; in the days
   when sacrifices for their sins loomed larger in their eyes than
   supplication for other sinners.

   Oh, how great must be God's wonder today! For how few there are among
   us who know what prevailing prayer really is!"

 excerpt from chapter one "The Kneeling Christian author unknown
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The God Who Hears

I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears Psalm 34:4

In my imagination I sometimes wonder just how soundly asleep Jesus really was during the storm at sea. I have thought that perhaps he was more aware of the circumstances than the disciples knew. Perhaps as He climbed into the boat that day He said something along the lines of,

“Okay while you guys start rowing us across Galilee, I am going to take a nap. Then as He borrowed a pillow and went to sleep He was saying to himself, “I know what is coming next, I wonder how long it will be before they wake me up?”

Then as the wind picked up and the sky darkened with storm clouds the disciples kept rowing as hard as they could. They didn’t want Jesus to have to worry about anything; after all they were all experienced fishermen. Then as the first wave or two sloshed over the side of the boat some may have begun to worry. Finally as wave after giant wave tossed the little boat up and down and it began to take on water panic took hold of their hearts.

“Master, carest thou not that we perish?” Mark 4:38b

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Just like us, they had come to the place where they wondered if God even cared about their fears. But Jesus is in our boat, to be our Immanuel through any storm. He listened to the disciples. He listened to King David. He is listening to you.

If today you are facing your biggest fear God is with you in your boat. He is waiting for us to cry out like David, like the disciples and like countless generations of believers. He is with us and He hears!

Sunrise or Sunset?

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance. 

Psalm 33:12

I have never been able to tell whether a photo is of a sunrise or sunset. I believe that only prayers will determine which it will be for our country. Let’s pray for God blessing and more importantly His will this Sunday. We need Him now more than ever before!

Effective Prayer Part Two

February 23             Effective Prayer Part 2

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much  James 5:16

If we prayed as earnestly for others as we have prayed for ourselves how different might our church be? In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed so earnestly that we are told that “his sweat was as it were great drops pf blood” Luke 22:44
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No priest, no king, no father and no mother ever prayed with the earnestness of Jesus Christ. Yet for all His earnestness Jesus’ request was denied! The Father’s will remained unchanged and then three times our Lord ended His prayers with “not my will but thine be done”

 

And though apparently His request was denied yet the most earnest of all prayers continues to be answered for us today.  God still hears and has always heard earnest fervent prayers. The way He chooses to answer remains wrapped in the mystery of His Sovereign will. We change and our lives fade yet if we forever hold fervently to His promises lives all around us will be changed!

 

 

 

Doorways of Forgiveness

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. Luke 23:34

 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25

Of all the prayers for restoration, none is stranger or more powerful than the prayer for forgiveness. We all know that as Christians we have a duty to forgive. Forgiveness was commanded, and modeled by our Lord. But if you are anything like me forgiving someone who has done me wrong is like eating liver: I know it is good, but I have a tough time swallowing it! But forgiveness is central to God’s work both in our own lives and in the life of others around us. In the past our own sin erected an unbreakable blockade between us and God but then His forgiveness became the doorway through which we were adopted into His family! When we choose to forgive for His sake, then we can also become doorways rather than blockadeskimg0285 in the lives of others. For who will you become open door today?