On Prayer

Hello All! Today is a great day even if it's damp and raining! Had a great time at church. Something struck me that the Pastor said today (ok a few things).

1) When you tell someone you will pray for them---are you praying for them? Are you expecting God to hear and answer?

2) How Demas (Colossians-with Paul on missionary journeys) could be still drawn to the world after living a Christian life and doing missionary journeys/work.

3) How we need to stop complaining about each other & encourage each other.

And then our presiding Elder topping it all off with: What are you bringing to the Body?


I really want to address #1. When you tell someone you will pray for them.....

Are you really going to? I hear it all the time: "Oh I am praying for you" "Pray for such and such" "We just gotta keep praying for them" ARE WE PRAYING? I know I have found myself in particular situations where I have told people that I would---and then forget--I can go on forever & blame on my own flesh, my weak humanity......Really???? Well, then I got a check in the spirit : "buy a notebook" what an epiphany!?!?!?!? Really???? Why haven't I thought of that before?? So years ago I bought a notebook. In that notebook I put prayer requests. I don't use real names or I have a nickname for people I pray for....If I see a situation I believe needs prayer, I don't wait for someone to request it---I write it down and pray---and ohhh you can see prayers get answered. I can name many......We must go to Him believing He will hear us....Do we get that????

It took a long time for me to come to terms about God hearing what I am saying....This awesome God, who holds the universe in place, wants to listen to me? Why? There are wars, starvation, destitution...homelessness, people in much more need than I am .....and then a Brother said to me "There is no such thing as more need, you are either have a need or you don't. There's no such thing as a big or little need." Changed my focus. Then there was the "Oh I have been approaching Him with that for years" and thinking He don't want to hear anymore....well, the Bible corrects me on that...He does....He delights in us...He loves hearing from us....I can't imagine a day my daughter does not talk to me.....Wow....to think God thinks the same thing....."I can't imagine a day Lill does not talk to me".....because I am His daughter am I not?

His Word talks all the time about 'ask, seek, knock', go to the throne of Grace with all your 'prayers and petitions' 'approach the throne boldly' (for those of you who would like the Scripture on this , there is a great Bible search tool on my blog or a concordance in your own Bible and/or just ask me)....He doesn't say "Lill, didn't you already ask me for that?" or "Lill didn't I already hear about that?" No, He doesn't, we grow in faith by approaching Him....I know I have ....I know I have seen many miracles in mine and others lives because of prayer---from the direct approach---from just putting it all before Him and waiting on the answer. His Word does not return to Him empty....He is an awesome God...

Stay faithful in prayer. Talk to Him often. If you tell someone you are going to pray for them, do it. Get excited about the results.....