There is no scripture that tells us if we always follow a certain formula of prayer we would always receive answers; however, by consistent and prayerful reading of God's Word and prayer, the Holy Spirit will begin to reward a believer with insights or nuggets of truth that reveal pointers on why and how prayers are answered.
In Mark 5:23-34 is one of those stories that tell why and how prayer was answered. It's a story of a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years. Though she visited many doctors, none of them could help. By Jewish law she was considered ceremonially unclean so she could not go Jerusalem during those years. She could not be in crowds. When she heard Jesus would be passing her way she mentally blocked out every rule of law and started on her journey to Him. Quietly she made her way behind the disciples and said, "If I may but touch His clothes, I shall be whole" and reaching around the feet of the disciples and the crowd, she reached for Jesus and touched the hem of His garment. Immediately, she felt her issue of blood was dried up! She knew she was healed!
Scripture says that Jesus immediately knew that virtue had gone out of Him! (Mark 5:20). "Who touched Me?" He asked. The disciples answered, "A crowd is pressing and pushing and you ask 'Who touched' you? We all did!" But note Jesus' asked who "touched" Him, not who "pressed" against Him. Note also that she touched Him whereas Jesus usually touched those who needed healing. She may have thought if the disciples knew her condition and remembered that the law prohibited anyone in her condition to be in public, she had only one opportunity to be included in the healing that day and she reached in faith. Jesus recognized her faith! Turning, Jesus reassured her, "Your faith hath made you whole!" And today He is still healing all who reach out and touch Him by faith.
Note the insights found in this story:
1. "She said....." is a powerful truth often overlooked. Jesus taught "Have faith in God For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, HE SHALL HAVE WHATSOEVER HE SAITH." (Matthew 11:23). "Believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them." (Matthew 11:2). "She said"...with faith....and received her healing!
2. She could have allowed discouragement to overrule and decide it was too difficult to go to Jesus. But she arose by faith with expectancy and went to Jesus. It was her confession that became her prayer and her faith that made her whole.
3. No one could have prevented her from going, reaching and touching Jesus but her own self. Think of that!
Do we prevent our own healing sometimes? We CHOOSE whether we will or will not reach out and touch Jesus with our needs. Our choice makes the difference. It may take time to receive healing but while we are trusting and believing, our faith is also growing!
When you pray, quote the Word of God: Father,your Word says "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we ARE healed." (Isaiah 53:5.) Quote that same verse again and place your name in the Word this time, "and with His stripes, I (your name) am healed!" Pray it several times if necessary until a higher dimension of faith rises in your heart. God promises His Word will not return unto Him void.
Many joys are waiting yet for those who persevere in prayer. Persevering prayer with faith is the answer!
Friday, August 24, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
A Reason for Being There.
We are living in the greatest time in history for His Church! Travel has made it possible to reach the most remote areas of the world. From one to four adults are watching Christian TV and untold thousands have been moved to accept Christ! George Barna says it is possible that the internet will be the church of the future. It appears that we have finally been able to reach our world with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ so that most of the people in our cities are getting saved. True? FALSE!
There are more disfunctional families today than ever before and some of them are in our churches. We prayed for years that the Holy Spirit would reach the backsliders and bring them back to the Lord, and they are coming but only after their lives have been broken or messed up. When they returned they thought they would be welcomed by the same warm church family they left behind. But in the meantime the praying people they once knew moved away or went Home to be with the Lord. New believers replacing them in the church didn't know what to do, assumed someone else would take care of the need or were not prepared/taught, so the hurting, wounded restored believer slowly left the church again, marking time and wondering what to do next.
Several years ago, a beautiful young woman in England who grew up in a Full Gospel church and had a glowing personal testimony, left her church against the pleading and counsel of her pastor. She wanted to try the luring calls of the night life and planned to return to the church at a later day. After much prayer by her mother and the church prayer group nearly eight months later, she did return and was eventually restored to the Lord again; however, her life was so changed that people in her home church did not welcome her. The Mother and daughter visited other churches in their city and nearby towns but the daughter was not welcomed at those churches either. The Mother wrote to Dr. David Yonggi Cho of the Yoido Full Gospel (Assembly of God) Church in Seoul, Korea asking him to pray that they could find a church that would welcome and help her to feel accepted. I was still working with Dr. and Mrs. Cho in Korea at that time and I received that letter. As I read it, I felt the pain of that Mother's heart. We prayed and sent the letter to Prayer Mountain where hundreds of Korean Christians meet for prayer every day. Several months later Dr. Cho received a second letter from the Mother thanking him for praying. They found a Holy Spirit filled church with Holy Spirit filled people who loved the daughter all the way back to wholeness and she was living a victorious life again!
Though the people of Dr. Cho's church did not know the young woman, they rejoiced with the Mother because many of them had experienced the same pain with their own daughters. As I observed the Koreans' response, I saw it was those who lived the Spirit filled life daily, who had the powerful prayer life, bathed with compassion, that made the difference in completing the unfinished areas of restoration for the young woman.
The body of Christ needs to look again through the eyes of the Holy Spirit and remember that Jesus loves the sinner! He never changed! The Word of God reminds us, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!" It is the churches whose prayer groups exemplify the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit like the one in England, that have the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit to help the backsliders, the broken and the wounded to be fully restored.
The Holy Spirit will give to and work through every Christian who deeply desires this power in his life. There are so many people who are still broken and struggling. Have we as a body of believers fully obeyed the Word, "God was in Christ,reconciling the world unto Himself.....and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation?" (2 Corinthians 5;19.) I believe there is a need for us to reconcile men and women to Christ whenever a needy person crosses our path. This is our reason for being here. This kind of preparation comes through faithful prayer.Do you believe it?
Joseph was a stranger in the vile land of Egypt, but God wanted him there to save His people.
Esther was a queen in a land that hated the Jews, but God wanted her there to save His people.
Daniel was jailed in a den of vicious lions, but God wanted him there for a testimony.
Jonah groaned in a watery grave inside a great fish, but God wanted him there to learn a lesson.
Paul and Silas suffered in a prison, but God wanted them there to lead a soul to Christ.
Peter also lay in prison, but God wanted him there to show God's power in answering prayer.
John was isolated on a lonely, rocky island, but God wanted him there to write the Revelation of Christ.
Why does God have YOU where you are today?
(If these entries are meaningful to you, feel free to share them with others.)
There are more disfunctional families today than ever before and some of them are in our churches. We prayed for years that the Holy Spirit would reach the backsliders and bring them back to the Lord, and they are coming but only after their lives have been broken or messed up. When they returned they thought they would be welcomed by the same warm church family they left behind. But in the meantime the praying people they once knew moved away or went Home to be with the Lord. New believers replacing them in the church didn't know what to do, assumed someone else would take care of the need or were not prepared/taught, so the hurting, wounded restored believer slowly left the church again, marking time and wondering what to do next.
Several years ago, a beautiful young woman in England who grew up in a Full Gospel church and had a glowing personal testimony, left her church against the pleading and counsel of her pastor. She wanted to try the luring calls of the night life and planned to return to the church at a later day. After much prayer by her mother and the church prayer group nearly eight months later, she did return and was eventually restored to the Lord again; however, her life was so changed that people in her home church did not welcome her. The Mother and daughter visited other churches in their city and nearby towns but the daughter was not welcomed at those churches either. The Mother wrote to Dr. David Yonggi Cho of the Yoido Full Gospel (Assembly of God) Church in Seoul, Korea asking him to pray that they could find a church that would welcome and help her to feel accepted. I was still working with Dr. and Mrs. Cho in Korea at that time and I received that letter. As I read it, I felt the pain of that Mother's heart. We prayed and sent the letter to Prayer Mountain where hundreds of Korean Christians meet for prayer every day. Several months later Dr. Cho received a second letter from the Mother thanking him for praying. They found a Holy Spirit filled church with Holy Spirit filled people who loved the daughter all the way back to wholeness and she was living a victorious life again!
Though the people of Dr. Cho's church did not know the young woman, they rejoiced with the Mother because many of them had experienced the same pain with their own daughters. As I observed the Koreans' response, I saw it was those who lived the Spirit filled life daily, who had the powerful prayer life, bathed with compassion, that made the difference in completing the unfinished areas of restoration for the young woman.
The body of Christ needs to look again through the eyes of the Holy Spirit and remember that Jesus loves the sinner! He never changed! The Word of God reminds us, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!" It is the churches whose prayer groups exemplify the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit like the one in England, that have the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit to help the backsliders, the broken and the wounded to be fully restored.
The Holy Spirit will give to and work through every Christian who deeply desires this power in his life. There are so many people who are still broken and struggling. Have we as a body of believers fully obeyed the Word, "God was in Christ,reconciling the world unto Himself.....and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation?" (2 Corinthians 5;19.) I believe there is a need for us to reconcile men and women to Christ whenever a needy person crosses our path. This is our reason for being here. This kind of preparation comes through faithful prayer.Do you believe it?
Joseph was a stranger in the vile land of Egypt, but God wanted him there to save His people.
Esther was a queen in a land that hated the Jews, but God wanted her there to save His people.
Daniel was jailed in a den of vicious lions, but God wanted him there for a testimony.
Jonah groaned in a watery grave inside a great fish, but God wanted him there to learn a lesson.
Paul and Silas suffered in a prison, but God wanted them there to lead a soul to Christ.
Peter also lay in prison, but God wanted him there to show God's power in answering prayer.
John was isolated on a lonely, rocky island, but God wanted him there to write the Revelation of Christ.
Why does God have YOU where you are today?
(If these entries are meaningful to you, feel free to share them with others.)
Friday, August 10, 2007
Preparing Your Heart for Prayer
Do we really need to prepare our hearts before we pray?
Anyone who desires to visit the president of a nation or head of state of a country must first prepare himself before an audience is granted. His passport must be valid. His background will be checked by police and the CIA Department, and he himself will be checked in other detailed ways for clearance. After the first part of preparation has been completed, arriving at the designated palace or place he will be met by Security Secret Police. He must present matching ID and documents to prove who he is and confirm the purpose of his visit. He will walk through detector machines and finally be led into the presence of the person he made plans to visit. His clearance, approval, purpose, agenda and ID are absolutely first because they are not only proof of who he is but will assure him that the purpose of his visit will be heard!
Just as protocol and customs dealing with diplomatic formality demand preparation before meeting important heads of state, there must also be a time of preparation for believers before approaching God for effective prayer. Some people may be tempted to think this doesn't apply to them because they found a way to hurry their prayer and be finished for the day. We cannot come barging in with "I'm in a hurry today....I have a few minutes before I begin my day...." mentality. God has a plan to meet you, too. Do you have time for Him to share His heart? Did He talk with you today? Psalm 24:3 asks, "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His Holy place?" Then the Psalmist gives the answer: He that hath: (1) clean hands, (2) a pure heart (....a prepared heart), (3) who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity (4) nor sworn deceitfully (or claim to have something he does not have.) This is an eye opener to the reason why some believers receive answers to prayer and others do not.
David gives us some clear insights concerning the necessity for personal preparation before entering God's presence:
1. "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and (enter) into His courts with praise. " (Psalm 100:4)
a. Thanksgiving is acknowledging with gratefulness the many ways God has blessed and cared for you.
b. Praise is worshipping Him for Who He is: The Mighty God of our universe Who is in control of His World, and you! This scripture implies that we need to meditate on the Lord so that thanksgiving and praise arise naturally from our heart. God draws near when He hears words of praise and thanksgiving. They tell Him that He still holds first priority in our lives!
2. Humble yourself.
a. "I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." (Isaiah 57:15.)
b. Do you feel a need to be revived before you can pray from your heart?
c. Humbling yourself is an important step in being revived as you prepare for prayer. Sometimes pride tells us we don't need to take time for this because we know how to pray just enough to keep in touch with the Lord. Do we?
3. Repent.
a. "Who hath blessed us with ALL spiritual blessings." (Ephesians 1:3. )
b. Many Christians today confess they do not have the spiritual blessings believers should have, even though they pray often. The reason is usually due to sin or they learned how to ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit they once felt in their life. Dr. David Yonggi Cho, Senior Pastor of the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, Korea tells his people often if they are sick, repent! If they have financial problems, repent! If there are relationship problems in the marriage, with family, with children or in their business world, repent! Why? Because somewhere a door of disobedience to the Word of God was opened that permitted the enemy to draw near and the enemy enclosed them on all sides with his darkness. We sin in "specific" ways over specific issues; therefore, we must confess and repent for each "specific" sin.
If you missed God's will or did not understand it clearly, ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you again. He will speak as often as you need Him to speak, but when He knows that you know and understand God's will and what you should do, He will not speak again but He will wait for you to obey before your relationship will be fully restored!
As soon as one recognizes the blessing of the Lord is absent, he should repent quickly! Confess the sin, ask for forgiveness, turn away from that sin and turn back to God.
c. We cannot negotiate with the Lord. Our way to restoration is to confess, repent, be cleansed and be restored.
4. Recall former answers to prayer.
a. "I remember the days of old........" (Psalm 143:5.) When in trouble, David recalled how God intervened and miraculously helped him before. It encouraged him and strengthened his faith. It will do the same for you!
b. Recall the lessons you learned from the last time you repented. Recall the purpose of His disciplines. Recall the blessings you received, His intervention, healing, direction, warnings, protection and wisdom for difficult situations. Recalling again His dealings and blessings in your life will become like nourishment to increase your faith.
5. Make your Requests Known to God.
a. "He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them." (Psalm 145:19. ) "Call upon Me in the day of trouble and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not."
b. God is faithful and full of compassion to forgive, heal, bless and answer prayer so ask with confidence now.
Take note again of the four steps needed before you can effectively present your needs to God!If you have followed these, you will perceive the unseen "channel" between you and the Lord has reopened. Now when you pray, you will have the assurance that your worship, thanksgiving, praise and petitions will go straight through to the throne room. Don't skip any one of the steps. Each is important in prepartion for an unhindered entrance into the presence of your Lord: the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! He delights in meeting everyone who has prepared his heart according to His Word!
Little by little you will be able to follow these steps more quickly, yet thoroughly, and experience consistent results in your prayer life. I still follow them everyday. And, yes, I repent everyday to be sure I will always have an unhindered audience with Him!
Anyone who desires to visit the president of a nation or head of state of a country must first prepare himself before an audience is granted. His passport must be valid. His background will be checked by police and the CIA Department, and he himself will be checked in other detailed ways for clearance. After the first part of preparation has been completed, arriving at the designated palace or place he will be met by Security Secret Police. He must present matching ID and documents to prove who he is and confirm the purpose of his visit. He will walk through detector machines and finally be led into the presence of the person he made plans to visit. His clearance, approval, purpose, agenda and ID are absolutely first because they are not only proof of who he is but will assure him that the purpose of his visit will be heard!
Just as protocol and customs dealing with diplomatic formality demand preparation before meeting important heads of state, there must also be a time of preparation for believers before approaching God for effective prayer. Some people may be tempted to think this doesn't apply to them because they found a way to hurry their prayer and be finished for the day. We cannot come barging in with "I'm in a hurry today....I have a few minutes before I begin my day...." mentality. God has a plan to meet you, too. Do you have time for Him to share His heart? Did He talk with you today? Psalm 24:3 asks, "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His Holy place?" Then the Psalmist gives the answer: He that hath: (1) clean hands, (2) a pure heart (....a prepared heart), (3) who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity (4) nor sworn deceitfully (or claim to have something he does not have.) This is an eye opener to the reason why some believers receive answers to prayer and others do not.
David gives us some clear insights concerning the necessity for personal preparation before entering God's presence:
1. "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and (enter) into His courts with praise. " (Psalm 100:4)
a. Thanksgiving is acknowledging with gratefulness the many ways God has blessed and cared for you.
b. Praise is worshipping Him for Who He is: The Mighty God of our universe Who is in control of His World, and you! This scripture implies that we need to meditate on the Lord so that thanksgiving and praise arise naturally from our heart. God draws near when He hears words of praise and thanksgiving. They tell Him that He still holds first priority in our lives!
2. Humble yourself.
a. "I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." (Isaiah 57:15.)
b. Do you feel a need to be revived before you can pray from your heart?
c. Humbling yourself is an important step in being revived as you prepare for prayer. Sometimes pride tells us we don't need to take time for this because we know how to pray just enough to keep in touch with the Lord. Do we?
3. Repent.
a. "Who hath blessed us with ALL spiritual blessings." (Ephesians 1:3. )
b. Many Christians today confess they do not have the spiritual blessings believers should have, even though they pray often. The reason is usually due to sin or they learned how to ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit they once felt in their life. Dr. David Yonggi Cho, Senior Pastor of the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, Korea tells his people often if they are sick, repent! If they have financial problems, repent! If there are relationship problems in the marriage, with family, with children or in their business world, repent! Why? Because somewhere a door of disobedience to the Word of God was opened that permitted the enemy to draw near and the enemy enclosed them on all sides with his darkness. We sin in "specific" ways over specific issues; therefore, we must confess and repent for each "specific" sin.
If you missed God's will or did not understand it clearly, ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you again. He will speak as often as you need Him to speak, but when He knows that you know and understand God's will and what you should do, He will not speak again but He will wait for you to obey before your relationship will be fully restored!
As soon as one recognizes the blessing of the Lord is absent, he should repent quickly! Confess the sin, ask for forgiveness, turn away from that sin and turn back to God.
c. We cannot negotiate with the Lord. Our way to restoration is to confess, repent, be cleansed and be restored.
4. Recall former answers to prayer.
a. "I remember the days of old........" (Psalm 143:5.) When in trouble, David recalled how God intervened and miraculously helped him before. It encouraged him and strengthened his faith. It will do the same for you!
b. Recall the lessons you learned from the last time you repented. Recall the purpose of His disciplines. Recall the blessings you received, His intervention, healing, direction, warnings, protection and wisdom for difficult situations. Recalling again His dealings and blessings in your life will become like nourishment to increase your faith.
5. Make your Requests Known to God.
a. "He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them." (Psalm 145:19. ) "Call upon Me in the day of trouble and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not."
b. God is faithful and full of compassion to forgive, heal, bless and answer prayer so ask with confidence now.
Take note again of the four steps needed before you can effectively present your needs to God!If you have followed these, you will perceive the unseen "channel" between you and the Lord has reopened. Now when you pray, you will have the assurance that your worship, thanksgiving, praise and petitions will go straight through to the throne room. Don't skip any one of the steps. Each is important in prepartion for an unhindered entrance into the presence of your Lord: the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! He delights in meeting everyone who has prepared his heart according to His Word!
Little by little you will be able to follow these steps more quickly, yet thoroughly, and experience consistent results in your prayer life. I still follow them everyday. And, yes, I repent everyday to be sure I will always have an unhindered audience with Him!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
God is Never in a Hurry
God is never in a hurry because He knows how fast He can do things once He begins. His concern is for His people to be ready for Him to work. Are you praying about an issue concerning God's will for you? A comment Dr. David Yonggi Cho of Seoul, Korea often makes is, "I listen and obey." This is one of his secrets of success and it's a good word of counsel to follow.
After your prayer time, take additional time to sit still in quiet praise and meditation and listen for the Holy Spirit to speak to you about readiness. You may not hear Him speak the first time you ask but as you develop the time of waiting before Him, you will begin to recognize that still small voice in your heart. Hearing direction from the Holy Spirit is a wonderful reassurance that God is leading you in your important decisions of life.
After your prayer time, take additional time to sit still in quiet praise and meditation and listen for the Holy Spirit to speak to you about readiness. You may not hear Him speak the first time you ask but as you develop the time of waiting before Him, you will begin to recognize that still small voice in your heart. Hearing direction from the Holy Spirit is a wonderful reassurance that God is leading you in your important decisions of life.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
When Should I Pray?
New Christians often ask, " When is the best time to pray?" I often tell them, "When you especially feel 'drawn' in your heart to pray, that's the time to find a place to be alone with God and pray. Your new Friend and Senior Partner Who is the Holy Spirit, is letting you know God desires you to take time to talk with Him now or as soon as possible.
"Now that you are in the family of God you will notice a desire to discover all you can about your new relationship. There's a new excitement in your life! With your sins washed away and an unexplainable peace in your heart you will be in awe at the wonder how 'Old things are passed away and all things are (now) become new! (II Cor. 5:17)' To keep this wonderful peace, you need to maintain a fellowship/friendship with the Lord just as you maintain friendships with your closest friends. At times you will feel a need to to pray, so begin where you are in your new relationship (or restored relationship) and pray/talk with your heavenly Father."
A young child does not have a great vocabulary. Though his Mother and Father understand what he needs before he begins to talk well, they still desire him to come and talk. In the same way, your heavenly Father knows what you need before you begin to pray but He still desires you to come and share everything with Him. Share your new joy, your concerns, a severe mess of a problem, the new peace that you experienced since you surrendered your life to Him, and anything else. You may always talk with a Christian friend but you now have the privilege of talking directly with God. That's awesome! The more you talk with Him, the more you will be aware of Him actually walking and talking with you. He already knows all about you ( Psalm 139) but He desires you to know all about Him. He desires you to know He has a destiny planned for you. He wants you to know He is the Master Planner of your life and that destiny, and that He can turn anything around as you share your needs and desires with Him! Remember how I prayed as a child and how God answered my prayer? (see the last entry "A Child's Prayer")
Scripture says, "No man cometh unto the Father except the Spirit "draw" Him." It's important to recognize the drawing you feel is the Spirit of God Himself wanting you to know He desires to have a time of fellowship with you. He desires you to go aside for prayer as soon as possible, so obey His nudge or call. It could be the beginning of learning to have a daily appointment with God. You would learn tremendous things He is doing in you during your personal growing experience. He will talk with you about the things you pray for. So, be sensitive. Respond to the times you feel "drawn" to pray. This is a powerful truth I learned early in my Christian experience and I pass it on to you.
Great things are ahead for those who obey the call of the Spirit! It's not by might nor by power but by His Spirit that you will grow strong in the faith. It comes through the Word of God and prayer!
Blog: www.lifechangingprayer.blogspot.com/
"Now that you are in the family of God you will notice a desire to discover all you can about your new relationship. There's a new excitement in your life! With your sins washed away and an unexplainable peace in your heart you will be in awe at the wonder how 'Old things are passed away and all things are (now) become new! (II Cor. 5:17)' To keep this wonderful peace, you need to maintain a fellowship/friendship with the Lord just as you maintain friendships with your closest friends. At times you will feel a need to to pray, so begin where you are in your new relationship (or restored relationship) and pray/talk with your heavenly Father."
A young child does not have a great vocabulary. Though his Mother and Father understand what he needs before he begins to talk well, they still desire him to come and talk. In the same way, your heavenly Father knows what you need before you begin to pray but He still desires you to come and share everything with Him. Share your new joy, your concerns, a severe mess of a problem, the new peace that you experienced since you surrendered your life to Him, and anything else. You may always talk with a Christian friend but you now have the privilege of talking directly with God. That's awesome! The more you talk with Him, the more you will be aware of Him actually walking and talking with you. He already knows all about you ( Psalm 139) but He desires you to know all about Him. He desires you to know He has a destiny planned for you. He wants you to know He is the Master Planner of your life and that destiny, and that He can turn anything around as you share your needs and desires with Him! Remember how I prayed as a child and how God answered my prayer? (see the last entry "A Child's Prayer")
Scripture says, "No man cometh unto the Father except the Spirit "draw" Him." It's important to recognize the drawing you feel is the Spirit of God Himself wanting you to know He desires to have a time of fellowship with you. He desires you to go aside for prayer as soon as possible, so obey His nudge or call. It could be the beginning of learning to have a daily appointment with God. You would learn tremendous things He is doing in you during your personal growing experience. He will talk with you about the things you pray for. So, be sensitive. Respond to the times you feel "drawn" to pray. This is a powerful truth I learned early in my Christian experience and I pass it on to you.
Great things are ahead for those who obey the call of the Spirit! It's not by might nor by power but by His Spirit that you will grow strong in the faith. It comes through the Word of God and prayer!
Blog: www.lifechangingprayer.blogspot.com/
Friday, July 6, 2007
A Child's Prayer
It was in a children's Sunday School class that I first learned that God would answer prayer. I was eight or nine years old. My Dad had a serious case of diabetes and I had bad tonsils that became inflamed every Fall, causing a high fever and delirium. All six of us children began to pray for Dad to be healed. It didn't matter to me that he had diabetes ten years, that his diet was very strict, and that he had to work 15-16 hours daily. It didn't seem impossible that God could remove my tonsils either, so I prayed two or three times every day. My faith seemed to be in the Scripture our Sunday School teacher taught, "All things are possible to him who believeth." In my childlike way I reminded God these were His words and I didn't want my Daddy to die. I also reminded Him how painful my tonsils were every year.
On an ordinary day my Dad commented that he was feeling better and that he wanted to visit another doctor. At the doctor's office the first set of tests determined there was no diabetes. My Dad asked for the tests to be administered again and the second time the tests came back, "no diabetes." Needless to say the family was excited. It meant God had answered our earnest prayer! After the second set of tests my Dad told the doctor he had suffered with this problem ten years but that God had healed him. The doctor only smiled and offered no comment. The diabetes never returned.
In the meantime, I had many bouts with sore, swollen and ragged tonsils. But I continued to ask the Lord to heal me.
Again, on another ordinary February day about two years later, I suddenly realized Fall came and went and I didn't have tonsilitis. Excited, I ran to our one and only mirror in the bathroom. I opened my mouth wide and to my shock and surprize my throat was as smooth as a baby's skin! I didn't know what happened or how, but I knew God had answered my prayer. All the children in my Sunday School class and all the people who attended my church heard the testimony of this child and the awesome answer to prayer.
What brought the answer to the two urgent needs? First of all I learned as a child that God answers prayer. I learned that if I prayed specifically I would receive a specific answer. Secondly, if I prayed God's Word, He would always honor it.
Many many years have come and gone. My needs have been varied, but I will always remember these two points. Sometimes we stop praying too soon, become discouraged and the faith that would have moved God was set aside. Yes, we stop praying too soon! I encourage you to dare to believe God. Your miracle is still on the way.
Email: Lydiahenryswain@aol.com
Blog: www.lifechangingprayer.blogspot.com/
To Comment: Press "Comment" at the end of entry.
On an ordinary day my Dad commented that he was feeling better and that he wanted to visit another doctor. At the doctor's office the first set of tests determined there was no diabetes. My Dad asked for the tests to be administered again and the second time the tests came back, "no diabetes." Needless to say the family was excited. It meant God had answered our earnest prayer! After the second set of tests my Dad told the doctor he had suffered with this problem ten years but that God had healed him. The doctor only smiled and offered no comment. The diabetes never returned.
In the meantime, I had many bouts with sore, swollen and ragged tonsils. But I continued to ask the Lord to heal me.
Again, on another ordinary February day about two years later, I suddenly realized Fall came and went and I didn't have tonsilitis. Excited, I ran to our one and only mirror in the bathroom. I opened my mouth wide and to my shock and surprize my throat was as smooth as a baby's skin! I didn't know what happened or how, but I knew God had answered my prayer. All the children in my Sunday School class and all the people who attended my church heard the testimony of this child and the awesome answer to prayer.
What brought the answer to the two urgent needs? First of all I learned as a child that God answers prayer. I learned that if I prayed specifically I would receive a specific answer. Secondly, if I prayed God's Word, He would always honor it.
Many many years have come and gone. My needs have been varied, but I will always remember these two points. Sometimes we stop praying too soon, become discouraged and the faith that would have moved God was set aside. Yes, we stop praying too soon! I encourage you to dare to believe God. Your miracle is still on the way.
Email: Lydiahenryswain@aol.com
Blog: www.lifechangingprayer.blogspot.com/
To Comment: Press "Comment" at the end of entry.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Hello from Lydia
Greetings fellow traveler,
This is a new blog to share news of what prayer has accomplished to change life situations. Do you have a situation that needs changing? Changes have come to millions of people who have followed instructions given by my Senior Partner and Friend, the Holy Spirit, through His Word, the Bible. Here are powerful Words that helped me and I pass them on to you>
Email: Lydiahenryswain@aol.com
Blog: www.lifechangingprayer.blogspot.com/
To comment, press "Comment" at the end of entry and a new screen will appear for your comment to be recorded.
This is a new blog to share news of what prayer has accomplished to change life situations. Do you have a situation that needs changing? Changes have come to millions of people who have followed instructions given by my Senior Partner and Friend, the Holy Spirit, through His Word, the Bible. Here are powerful Words that helped me and I pass them on to you>
Email: Lydiahenryswain@aol.com
Blog: www.lifechangingprayer.blogspot.com/
To comment, press "Comment" at the end of entry and a new screen will appear for your comment to be recorded.
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