Don't Worry, Pray

FaithWalkDaily October 17, 2008

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ~ Philippians 4:6

Just this morning my husband admonished me to stop fretting and turn my problem over to God. Boy is that easier said than done!

Human nature is such that we tend to stress, fret, ponder, try to fix, make things worse, yell, cry, throw tantrums and when all else fails, we pray. Wouldn't it just be easier to pray first?

When faced with a situation that I couldn't help someone with, I used to say, well at least I can pray. Isn't it amazing how we put prayer down there at the bottom of the list, as if it were dirty laundry? Prayer shoud be the first and is always the best thing we can do.

So, we finally get to that pulling our hair out moment that forces us to our knees, and proceed to fret and stew some more. O we of little faith!

Can you imagine calling the moving men to come to pack up your furnishings for a move and then when they get there, you do all the packing yourself and load the truck for them? Not only would I not do a good job of packing, I'd surely run out of space in the truck for loading improperly, and then go to bed with a backache. When we call on God in prayer, pour out our troubles and ask for His help, shouldn't we then get out of the way and let Him manage our problems?

So what does that look like? I really have to consider this because submitting my needs to the One who has all the answers and then pursuing my own path is clearly not working for me.

First, I need to evaluate my situation. What am I able to do and what do I need help with? What do I need to wait on?

Second, I need to pray with Biblical reference and with sincere faith. God's word is full of promises that help us connect. What good is prayer if it's nothing more than lip service? God knows my heart. I can fool myself but I won't fool my Father.

Finally, I need to spend some quiet time listening, with my journal at hand. When the Holy Spirit speaks, I need to take notes. If I don't get any immediate impressions through my Scripture reading or the still small voice within, I need to commit to being attentive to His leading as I go about my day and week. The answers will come. All things work to the good of those who love Him and are called to His purposes. So I know I can rest after I've given it all to His care.

Heavenly Father, You are all-knowing God, able to do all that we can ask or imagine. Forgive me for trying to live as though I don't need you. Forgive me for bad choices and bad reactions. Help me today as I lift up every circumstance that troubles me, to be quiet enough to listen, to search Your word diligently and store it in my heart and to respond as the Holy Spirit leads. Precious Jesus, thank You for paying the price for my sins, so that I can come before our Father with my petitions. Thank You for forgiving me, for growing me and for every good thing and every trial in my life which strengthens my faith and draws me closer to You. In Your precious name I pray, amen.

The Special Gift of Prayer

FaithWalkDaily October 6, 2008

Our church has a wonderful little group of folks who stay after the worship service to pray for those in need. Yesterday as I waited for someone to be available to pray with me, a sister sat on the pew next to me. The only person available to pray was tied up with the needs of another for quite awhile. After a time, my friend asked if I would like her to pray for me, with a disclaimer, "I'm not a prayer warrior but would be happy to pray for you."

This caused me to ponder, what exactly is a prayer warrior? Who can pray for another? Who should pray? Do I need a special gift to pray?

1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray Continually. Incessantly. Nonstop. There's nobody's name attached to that admonishment. No particular group assigned to pray. It doesn't even say "those with the gift should pray." The first message of Paul to the Thessalonians isn't even addressed and his second message is addressed to "the church of the Thessalonians." So are only the Thessalonians to pray without ceasing?

Romans 12:12 tells us to "be faithful in prayer." Here Paul is addressing the Romans, telling them that faith is demonstrated by prayer.

We can go all the way back to Genesis and see God's people calling out to Him in prayer. So as I did a quick search and study of the subject, I came to the conclusion that prayer is not a special gift God bestows on a chosen few to intercede for others. God's gift is the work done on the cross so that all may come freely to Him with our praise, thanksgiving, confession and petition. Prayer is a special gift for all.

What can we expect from prayer?

Sometimes our prayers are answered instantly. More often than not, as life unravels, I see the hand of God as He weaves a new pattern for me through circumstances, people and events as a result of long term prayer.

He gave us a model for prayer and for acceptance as Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before He was arrested and crucified. Ask for anything, but trust the will of God for the outcome, even unto death. There is never a need to question the sovereign will of God. Had Jesus questioned the Father, we would all be lost forever. So he ended His prayer, "not my will but thine be done," so that we could be saved.

Jesus is the special gift of prayer. He has given us that gift. Use it wisely.

Lord, thank You for providing the way for us to come to You freely with our requests. Holy God of the universe, we love and adore You. Holy Spirit, prompt us continuously to pray in the spirit, our desire spawning from Your imprint on our hearts, our hope in You alone. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

How Much Can We Endure?

FaithWalkDaily 9/9/2008

Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested. ~ Hebrews 2:18, NLT

In our reading of John 16 this morning, I was overwhelmed with the depth of God's perfect plans surrounding the crucifixion of Christ. Jesus promises His disciples that although He's leaving them, it's for their benefit - that only by leaving will the Holy Spirit become manifest in their lives to guide them always.

Jesus was born of a young, naive, teenage girl, was raised in a poor family that was probably somewhat shunned as a result of the virgin birth that many may not have truly believed, worked hard training under His adoptive father's tutelage, lived a life of total trust on God for every provision after He began His ministry traveling from town to town preaching and teaching, and even providing for the crowds He ministered to. Knowing His own fate, He was obedient to the last step, as He was beaten, tortured, taunted, carried His own vehicle of death the long road to Golgotha and finally was laid out on that rough hewed, splintering cross while brutal spikes were driven furiously through His wrists and feet. Jesus suffered more than you or I can ever imagine. We shudder to think of it; Mel Gibson's graphic depiction in The Passion of Christ was difficult to watch, but we will never know the true nature of Jesus' suffering.

And He did it for our sakes. He did it in order that when He came to us in the form of the Holy Spirit, we might somehow grasp the depths of His love for us, to help us when we face our own inevitable trials as we walk this earth.

Do you get that? Wow. What more can be said?

Lord God of mercy, O Jesus sweet Savior, what have You done? Can we even begin to fathom the depths of Your love and sacrifice? Father, would we meditate on these thoughts today, on the power of Your love, on the reaches of Your compassion, that we might be obedient with each step we take. Give us hearts to be attentive to the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit who never forces us but promises blessings if we but follow His lead. Jesus, be our guiding light every step of the way, for Your word is a light unto my heart, a lamp unto my path. In our test You are all the help we need. In Your holy name we pray, amen.

Clinging desperately to the cross...