Trust in the Lord with your Prayers - He Hears!

It is hard to know how or what to pray at times, but God cares whether I know how or not. He just wants me to share my honest feelings with Him, and He will take it from there. Nothing is too small or too big to pray about; My words just need to come from my heart.  God works in small ways, and He works in big ways. God understands! God hears! God listens! 

     I look to John 14, where Jesus says, “Whatever you ask in my name, that will I do so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything, I will do it.” 

     At the same time there are other verses which tell me that if I do not receive, it may be because I ask with the wrong intent, or without forgiveness in our heart, or God has determined it is not in my best interest, or even that it is not in God’s timing. I just have to understand that there will be times when I may be disappointed with unanswered prayers. This only teaches me patience, courage, and a continuing trust in the Lord. I just need to keep praying!

     I also look at Jeremiah 1:6-9 “But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, I am a youth, because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them…vs 9 “Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.”  

In Need Of Prayer

Life gives me opportunities, if I take the time to look for them. Just this week I discovered at least 2 if not more. 

     I was busy and had projects at home I wanted to do, but I also needed to meet with an advisor. I really did not want to make the drive and could have initialed it by a phone call from home, but I do believe the best results are gained by face-to-face contact. During the visit we both took time sharing personal information. He did not say as much, but his family stories and life told me he was a Christian. What was most important was that his wife struggled with an illness. This is my main point. Because I listened, I picked up the fact that here was a lady who needed prayers. I Could Do That! 

     The next day I wanted to stay at home and do “my thing,” but I also felt the need to support a family member who was committed to helping a friend with a “minor medical” procedure which did not turn out to be so minor. Instead of a few hours in the hospital, it turned into an all-day process. Also, we had to deal with unexpected car issues. Without telling the whole story, the one having the procedure stated, “I am scared.”  It was then I realized that, here again, this was someone that needed prayers.  

     Life can be busy- life can get hectic---but there is always someone who needs prayers.  I just have to take the time and look for them. It can be a part of "running the race that is set before us (me)."  

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." Hebrews 12:1 KJV 

Prayer's Continued

Yesterday, I talked about The Lord’s Prayer which is a wonderful example given me in Matthew 6 on how to pray. There are other prayers given in scripture that are also good examples. I especially like the prayer Jabez prayed in 1 Chronicles 4:10:

 

“Oh, that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not greive me!  And God granted him that which he requested.” 

 

     I love this prayer. It tells me that it is okay to ask for God’s blessings although I must continue praying for others and their well-being. I am, however, a little afraid to pray the next part about enlarging my coast, because God may give me more to do than I want, but this is part of being a child of God; He is my Shepherd! "He maketh me lie down in green pastures. He leaders me beside still waters. He restores my soul." 

     The third part of Jabez's prayer is asking God to be with me and protect me from going astray. What a wonderful feeling it is to know with confidence that God is my Protector and Shepherd! I have to note the assurance in the last sentence, “And God granted Jabez his request.” I cling to those words, knowing God will grant me my request, if they are within His purpose for me. 

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Do Prayers Expire?

     When I woke this morning and started planning the day, I decided my task for the day would be to toss out those expired salad dressings, relishes, and other food items that had accumulated in the shelves of my refrigerator door.  Then I would tackle the medicine cabinet.  This seemed like a good plan, but first I needed to make a trip to the gym for a good workout. 
    On the return trip home, I spotted a sign on the church parking lot which read,  "Prayers Do Not Expire."   Since expiration  dates were on my mind, I was a little awed by this simple reminder on prayer life and expiration dates.
     You might ask, "If prayers don't expire, why are they not always answered?"  All I can say is that God already has a plan for us, but he still wants us to pray.  "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."  (Jeremiah 29:11-13)   We are also told to "Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

      In researching prayer further, I also came across a few in Revelations.  I interpret these verses to mean that our prayers are on record forever; they do not expire.   Read these verses and you decide.  

      Revelation 5:8, "And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.

      Revelation 8:3 "Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne."

     Revelation 8:4, "The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand."

     When I see Jesus, face to face, my desire is that my prayers be filled with praise for Him, that they be filled with thankfulness, that they not be just about me, my wishes and desires, but about others as well, and that they be filled with God's desires for all mankind.