Over the past few months, I have heard many very good messages on prayer and have been encouraged to "do it" more. Through the years, I know that I have given up on praying for people or certain requests right before GOD answers. I've knocked upon the door of heaven, then ran to hide... like a childish game. This past week has been the beginning of a special journey that I am taking with GOD and pray it continues until my death. This journey has been encouraged and experienced by many others before me... I desire to see what GOD can/will do in, with, and through me to HIS glory.
In Sunday's sermon, Dr R G Smith, challenged our church to have a prayer journal... I have always had a prayer list containing many requests that have been written down and other requests that have been kept within my heart, but not a day by day journaling. This has been and is an eye-opening experience... I've learned just how little I really know about prayer and praying. The quote was given... "Prayer, without a promise, has no real/sure foundation." I was challenged to review the scriptures on prayer, look for the promise, and claim the promise for myself. In my past praying, I had included praying scripture back to GOD, but I'm learning to do this in a very different way... I realized I had been arrogant in how I had used it.
As a mom, I was thinking about where to begin and my mind was drawn to Matthew chapter 7, but not in the order the scriptures were written down. I went to verse 13 first... "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" I thought of the pleasure and joy that it gives me to "give " to my children and others especially when it is something they have asked for... I would move heaven and earth to grant those requests, yet I am limited, but GOD is not limited nor can/should HE be. The phrase, "... how much more shall your (PERSONAL) Father which is in heaven (HIS POSITION) give good things things to them that ask him?" (HIS PROMISE). Promises, usually, yield a result and we can be assured that GOD'S promises are always going to be kept. My part is to "...ask him". HE is always available, approachable, and awaiting my petitions. As a child, I know I bickered with my siblings when we wanted something or to go somewhere with a conversation like-- "you, ask him/them... No, you, ask him/them" referring to my parents. Would it make any difference who did the asking? We ALL belonged to the family and there were no favorites... this is, also, true with GOD. I went to verses 7 & 8, looking at the three "action verbs" and their results--"ask=receiving, seek=finding, and knock=a door is opened/barrier is removed." When these words are written down in acrostic form they form the word "A-S-K, again." Do I think this is a coincidence? No, it assures me that GOD is never bothered nor gets tired of hearing me ask for things. I can be very graphic and specific to HIM.
The following comment was given by my pastor, Bro Bobby Thomas, at Wednesday night's service--"There is nothing within my own power, in my pocket/purse, or in my pantry to meet my need, but GOD has plenty." HIS storehouse can never be emptied. I, ONLY, NEED TO DEPEND UPON GOD... I do not need to share my requests and needs with anyone else. HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN MEET THEM ANYWAY. I am truly desiring that prayer becomes the greatest and most beneficial exercise, in and to my life. May GOD be glorified!!! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete