Matthew 21:22 "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
Prayer is one of the major areas of our Christian life. Without it we will become stagnant and cold on God. I pray this will help someone. I think we all have a problem or lack in this area of believing God for the things we pray for. We have the mindset that He will do it for someone else but not for us. I can say this because this has been true in my own life. And I still battle it occasionally.
Acts 12:5 "Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him."
Unfortunately...today's average church is a prayerless church. Peter was in prison and the Christians were earnestly seeking God on Peter's behalf. They were asking God to somehow release him from prison. Being freed from jail...Peter went to the house where the church was gathered. As he knocked on the door...a young lady by the name of Rhoda answered...and when she saw Peter she couldn't believe it. She was so excited that she forgot to let him in. She ran back into the house to tell the others that Peter was released...and the people looked at her like she was crazy. Acts 12:15 "And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel."
That's how many of us pray isn't it? We have loved ones who need Christ...we have miracles we need God to perform...we see the liberal state of our country...and we pray...but we don't really believe God will answer. Instead of standing around discussing what can't be done...where are the Christians who will diligently come to the throne of God's heavenly grace and ask Him for His help?
How many of us are praying for something and if it were to happen we would be like this church and not believe it when it did? And before you think you are so spiritual as to think that wouldn't happen to you...it happened to me when my sister called and said she had gotten saved. I didn't believe her when she told me. I had been praying for 10 years and when she told me I questioned her for 30 minutes to see if she did. I didn't believe what I had been praying for had really happened.
We need to just pray and believe that God will do what we are praying for. He promises it to us in His Word!!
18 comments:
I love to pray and see just how God will work this or that out. He has never failed me yet. I don't believe He ever will. He see the bigger picture and sometimes I have prayed for things He knew was not going to be good for me and at the time I did not quiet understand but in the days ahead it usually became very clear.
I love your music. connie from texas
I think that sometimes we get so in the habit of praying for something... that it becomes somewhat automatic words... as we continue to pray week after week, and month after month... then when the prayer is answered we do not even recognize it as having been answered.. as you were with your sisters salvation....
sis. connie....Amen!! He has never failed me either. And I know He never will. I'm glad you heard the music. I debated putting it on my site but thought I'd try it. I wasn't sure anyone would notice it.
sis. mimi...You are so right. When we pray over and over for the same thing that our prayers become mundane and without fervency. With my sister I just never thought I'd see the day when she would answer to God's dealing with her heart. I'm so thankful the Lord showed me that He is listening when I pray and that He will answer.
"We have the mindset that He will do it for someone else but not for us"
I have a HUGE problem with this!! I really do try to pray without doubting, but then my flesh gets in the way, and says "God won't do that for you" It is crazy how I can pray for others and say "I know God will work in your situation" but then turn right around and pray for my own situation, and say "God where are you? Are you going to answer my prayer?" I think most of us struggle with this though. I guess it is just the by-product of us being saved, but having a flesh that fights against us!
I was praying the other day (about a certian situation, that you know about) and the Lord said to me "If I answered this prayer today, would it suprise you?" I thought about it, and I had to hang my head and answer... "Yes, Lord it would" Most of us would *self-righteously* want to say "Oh, no I would say, I knew God was going to answer prayer!" But if we would be honest... too many times we would think "Wow, God actually did it!" I want to get to where I believe that God is going to work in this situation so much, that when it does happen I will rejoice and say "Praise God, I knew He would answer prayer!!"
Thank you for this post, that really helped me!! :)
Please continue to pray for me!! :)
Love you,
Jessica
jessica....its as if you are speaking through me....this is exactly how I feel alot of times about things I pray for. I know others battle the same thing but it is nice to see someone else that does. I'm glad this post helped you....it reminded me of God's faithfulness and His promise. I love you!!
Oh Julie what a great post. "I think we all have a problem or lack in this area of believing God for the things we pray for. We have the mindset that He will do it for someone else but not for us." This statement is me in a nutshell.
Wonderful post as usual.
Love and Hugs, Lyndy
PS How is your hubby tooth doing?
sis. lyndy...His tooth must be doing better. He hasn't complained about it recently and I haven't seen him rubbing his cheek. Thank you for asking Sis. I love and appreciate you!!
What a true, true post. I have struggled with this from time to time and it was so good to just read this post and the comments. And have a reminder that God will answer prayers.
Ginger
ginger...I'm so glad this served as a reminder to you. We all need reminding don't we?
Dear Julie -
I am a Christian homeschooling mom who came across your site through Courtney's a short while back and have been reading it along with hers, Jessica's, and some others, and have really rec'd some blessings! (I just need to take the time to leave some comments now!) This is a wonderful post and one I needed to read! Thanks so much for this and the rest of your blog.
I like your music, too. It is very peaceful.
Thanks again,
PamelaK
pamelak...Thank you for coming by and for leaving a comment. I'm thankful you have received a blessing from what is posted here. I pray you will come again soon. Courtney's mom is a very good friend of mine and I've known them for about 7 years now. Jessica is my son's fiance'. So I can definitely highly recommend their sites to anyone.
Hi Julie,
This is a subject that needs to be talked about more, the lack of prayer. Do we just go to the Lord in times of trouble,I think sometimes we do and that is so wrong. We need to go to prayer in everything we do. Thank you for posting such an important post to be heard.
Cristina
cristina...thank you for leaving a comment. You are so right about prayer...I do not believe there is a person alive that is praying as much as they should or could. May we all improve in this area of our lives.
I remember hearing my dad preach a sermon about our lack of faith. To think while they were praying for a certain outcome, it happened, but when it came down to it, they didn't believe it coule be answered! Oh how convicting for me! I've dont the same so often!
Loved the music on your blog by the way!
sis. pam...thank you so much for sharing your experience with this sort of thing. I think we can all say we've experienced this thing.
Thank you for the comment about the music. I really didn't think anyone would notice it. I know I usually have my volume down when I visit sites so I don't hear their music. But Jessica had this playlist on her site so I decided I'd get one too since I could choose the songs I wanted on it. I'm glad y'all are enjoying it.
This was such a blessing for me to read. It is something I have been struggling with myself but didn't fully realize it. I try and read your site along with Jessica's and Courtney's daily. You are all truly and inspiration for me.
Tiffany
tiffany...thank you for leaving a comment. I'm glad this post touched your heart.
Post a Comment