Pray With Faith

"Whatever you ask for
in prayer with faith,
you will receive.” Matt 21:22

Pray, pray, pray and pray some more. We must be persistent, trusting in God that He will work things out according to His will and in His time. God does indeed answer prayers. Sometimes, it takes a little longer than we would like. Sometimes, it takes a whole lot longer than we would like. But, He does answer them. The answers don't always come in the way that we would like, either. But, they come. God is good and "we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." Rom 8:28

I do love Him. God is good, all of the time!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Proverbs 15 - Gentle Answers

It is very difficult to figure out what to say regarding any of these chapters from Proverbs. They are so filled with words of wisdom. (Please read them!) I could right a few sermons on each and every verse of every chapter! But, I won't; at least not today.

The first verse (NIV) reminds us that "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

You already know this. I know this. But, still... Sometimes, those harsh words just flow from my lips. Maybe, I am tired. Maybe, I have not spent enough time in prayer or hearing the word, but, for some reason their are times when I cannot help but respond with a harsh word. It all just seems to build up after awhile and there goes my quick tongue crushing spirits.

Yesterday morning, the drain in the bathtub decided to quit working on me. I spent the better part of the morning plunging and hoping it would drain so I could get it down low enough to put some drain cleaner in it. It didn't happen. It drained and as I was about to start on the mess, my husband came home and decided to add water to see if the drain was open - a half a tub full of water, again. I did not speak. I held my tongue. It was very difficult for me, but I did it. We did not end up exchanging any words we would be sorry for, because I held my tongue. Instead we watched a movie together. Of course, we have been married for over forty years, so he could probably tell from the look on my face what my tongue really wanted to say. Twelve hours later the tub has finally drained (again) and I can get to work on it as soon as I've written this blog. The point is, holding back from speaking harsh words sometimes takes some of us more years of persistent prayer and practice than others. But, it is well worth the effort to live in peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J

 

Psalm 130 - Persistent Prayer

I wait for the LORD, to hear my prayers and answer. There have been a few prayer petitions that I have been praying for forty, even fifty plus years. Like the persistant widow, (Luke 18) I will not let up.  My whole being waits for the LORD to answer. There are times, when the prayers are answered, and then thanks to the human condition, everything goes back to the way it was before.

Psalm 130 reminds us that God does not keep a record of the sins of those whom He forgives. The problem is that we do. Even though God forgives; sometimes, it is impossible for us to forgive ourselves and we carry along the old baggage, doomed to repeat those things that have separated us from God. We are doomed to repeat those very things which we hate about ourselves.

Through faith in the one who died for our sins, we are forgiven. Believe it so that you might move on. Believe it so that you will be one less prayer petition on someone else's tongue! 

I have seen so many prayers for salvation of others answered. They serve the LORD with gladness. I was one of the prayer petitions for an aunt for many years. The LORD heard her and answered, leading me to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, guiding me beside still waters (Psalm 23). Thanks be to God for this persistent widow! Like the persistent widow, I will not stop crying out of the depths to the LORD for those who are lost. I may never see, with these eyes, the answer to my prayer. But, with the eyes of faith, I know that it is already done.

The LORD forgives you. He has wiped the record of your sins clean. You are free to reverence and serve Him.  Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 102 - Prayer, Crying To God For Help

Ok, I've got a couple prayer requests that I'd like answered rather quickly.  "Hear my prayer, Lord; let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress.  Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly." (Psalm 102:1-2 NIV)

The prayers aren't for me, but they are urgent enough that they are keeping me awake at night as I spend much more time in prayer begging God to be quick to answer for the sake of others. Like the disciples on the night in which our LORD was betrayed, I have often fallen asleep in the middle of my evening prayers.  Sometimes, I've even fallen asleep during my morning prayers.  But, lately, it is taking focused effort to fall asleep. Lately, the desire to see God's answer is more urgent within me and it is difficult to fall asleep as I am, like the persistant widow, (Luke 18:1-8) reluctant to leave my evening prayers.

Our days on earth are so very short, they vanish like smoke.  There is so very little time to waste promoting strife.  So very little time to enjoy the good things that God created and prepared for us. It would be so good, if God's children would grab hold of the good and turn their back on the bad and maybe I (and many others) would not have to be up in the middle of the night praying for the salvation of others.  We might still be up praying.  But, then our prayers would be prayers of thanksgiving as we just talk to our Father and listen to Him.  You know, do what we do when we're in a good and healthy relationship... Communicate...

Our prayers for the needy will continue for as long as the earth exists.  There will come a day, though, when we will no longer groan upon our beds as we pray for those who have gone astray. The earth and all that is in it will vanish, but God is forever.  His children and their children are promised that we should live in His presence forever.

In the meantime, we pray with confidence: We give you thanks O' LORD, for in your mercy, you have heard our prayers and answered.  You have delivered your children from all bondange and bless them with your eternal presence.  Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J

    

Psalm 72 - Conclusion of David's Prayers

"This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse." (Psalm 72:20 NIV)

Yes!  This concludes the prayers of David.  It's been a reminder that God hears those who are persistent in their prayers.  But, I have to say, I was getting a bit worn by all this begging. As I read the last verse, I was reminded of the story from Luke 18 about the unjust judge and the persistent widow.  She kept going back and begging the judge for justice against her adversary, until he finally relented.  "And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?  I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 17:6-8)  

David, the son of Jesse, was definitely persistent in his prayers.  The LORD sure has more patience than I do.  I would have gotten tired of him begging for justice long before just so I wouldn't have to listen to him.

But, today is Christmas Eve, and the answer to all the prayers is about to be celebrated!  The King above all kings, the Savior of humankind, God incarnate, born in a stable to answer the prayers who call upon His name.

Have a blessed Christmas Eve and may the peace of the LORD be with you through this Holy Night. Pr. J