Tag Archives: Prayer

Faith and Miracles

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2 Kings 3:9 (MSG)
The king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom started out on what proved to be a looping detour. After seven days they had run out of water for both army and animals.

2 Kings 3:11
But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there a prophet of GOD anywhere around through whom we can consult GOD?” One of the servants of the king of Israel said, “Elisha son of Shaphat is around somewhere—the one who was Elijah’s right-hand man.”

Kings 3:16-17
He (Elisha) then said, “GOD’s word: Dig ditches all over this valley. Here’s what will happen—you won’t hear the wind, you won’t see the rain, but this valley is going to fill up with water and your army and your animals will drink their fill. This is easy for GOD to do; he will also hand over Moab to you.

Does our growing faith depend on a constant supply of miracles?  2 Corinthians 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight—.  Or instead does our faith give us the ability to see the many miracles around us?  Sadly, the Israelites’ faith was only present during and shortly after great miracles of God.  They participated in the crossing of the Red Sea, yet only days later they were grumbling about their present situation.  Even the amazing miracles presented in the Bible were not enough to sustain the faith of the people. 

Our lack of faith often causes us to ask God to show us an outward sign.  We ask for something that only God can do to sustain our faith that He is there.

The real miracle is when God increases our faith in Him; when we completely trust in the unseen presence of God.  

Heavenly Father, remove my desire for outward signs of your presence.  Instead, increase my faith.  Help me to trust in your unseen presence.  Help me, in faith, to dig the ditches You ask me to do. Then as I bring my petitions to you, I will realize that the miracle has already occurred.  Trusting in Jesus, I pray in faith.  Amen.

Supernatural Weapon

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Acts 12:5. So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.

“Do we truly know the power of our supernatural weapon of prayer?  Do we dare to use it with the authority of a faith that not only asks but also commands?  God baptizes us with holy boldness and divine confidence, for He is looking not for great people but for people who will dare to prove the greatness of their God!”  A.B. Simpson

Peter was put in prison by Herod, being guarded by four squads of soldiers, and yet through the power of prayer, he was miraculously released.  Do I pray with the boldness that the faithful prayed for Peter?  Do I really understand the true nature of the power of prayer?  Do I pray boldly, commanding the promises of God?

These are all questions I ponder.  I believe in prayer, but are my prayers fervent, like the prayers offered for Peter?  My hope is that by continuing in prayer each day, the Spirit will provide.

Heavenly Father, remove any doubt, increase my faith, give me boldness as I pray.  Make my prayers worthy of Your greatness.  Praying in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Thy Wiser Determinations

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If it be consistent with thy eternal counsels, the purpose of thy grace, and the great ends of thy glory, then bestow upon me the blessing of thy comforts;

If not, let me resign myself to thy wiser determinations.

(from the Valley of Vision, page 11)

Over the last several months, I have had to be resigned to God’s wiser determinations.  When a trial begins suddenly, it causes us to take stock.  Yet even during a period of challenges, God’s blessings still come through.  I have been amazed at the daily comfort provided by the Holy Spirit, by the outpouring of prayer from church, family, and friends.  I thought initially it would test my faith, yet it has instead strengthened my faith.  It has drawn me closer to those that I love.  Miracles have happened, many miracles.  Yet, the trial continues and I now am able to thank God for it.  His mercies are never ceasing.

The quote from the Valley of Vision is hung over my desk.  I refer to it many times each day.

Father, thank you.  Praying in the matchless name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior.  Amen

Justice Has Been Satisfied

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Job 8:3 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?

Romans 8:33b  God is the one who justifies

From the hymn, “He Will Hold Me Fast”, Justice has been satisfied; He will hold me fast.  We are told in scripture that God loves justice, that one of His attributes is justice, that we are justified by faith in Jesus, that God demands justice for all that is done against Him.  Without the satisfaction of justice, without the penalty paid, we are hopelessly lost.

Father, thank you for your many perfect attributes.  Thank you for justice that was paid for by your Son.  Holy Spirit, sanctify me each day into the image of Jesus.  I know I have a long way to go, but with your help I know it will be accomplished.  Praying in Jesus name.  Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God.

Your Will be Done

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Matthew 6:10. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

The prayer that Jesus taught the disciples were words that He repeated in a prayer to the Father in the garden of Gethsemane.  “May your will be done”.  I have prayed the Lord’s Prayer many times telling God that I want His will be to be done.

Yet, I forget that the result of Jesus accepting God’s will meant that He would suffer terribly.  He could have walked away from it.  He could have commanded a legion of angels to come to His aid and carry Him back to the Father.  But He didn’t.

So, when we pray for God’s will to be done, we shouldn’t be surprised that it might include our  suffering.  But it’s not suffering for punishment.  It is suffering to bring a future joy.  It is suffering to grow our faith.  It is suffering that draws us into a closer relationship with Him.  It is suffering that brings a bright future that we may never see, yet it will glorify God.  It is suffering that may not be about us, but about those around us that are changed by it, bringing about their repentance and love for Jesus.  Many possibilities – and all good and perfect in God’s plan.

Jesus, forgive me for never wanting to suffer for You.  I forget that the blessings You have for us include bearing the cross.  Forgive me for only wanting the easy road to salvation.  Help me to embrace all of your will to be done in my life.  Praying in the name of the one who suffered to bring salvation to the world, Jesus my Lord and Savior.  Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God. 

Sorrow and Joy

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Matthew 26:29.  But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

Matthew 26:39.  And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Matthew 26:42.  He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.”

Yesterday’s sermon from Matthew 26 was a beautiful picture of Jesus in his last hours before his death on the cross. We were reminded that, while the disciples fell asleep, Jesus did not. And He doesn’t sleep today. He is always there during our tribulations, always able to hear our prayers, always able to take the thoughts we cannot put into words and present those requests to God.

Jesus was also a mixture of sorrow and joy. He was sorrowful for what He was to face, even asking the father to take that cup of wrath from Him. Yet as he prayed the second time, still asking for relief from the cross, He understood that it was the Father’s will for Him to take on the sin of the world. However, even as He was sorrowful, there was joy. He knew that the result of what was coming was the redemption of God’s people. He knew that because of what He was about to do, we would be with Him in paradise in the Father’s kingdom.

Everyone goes through tribulations in life. But only those that know and love Jesus can have true joy during those times. Those that don’t know Him can only know sorrow. Sorrow without joy. What a blessing it is to know Jesus.

Father, thank you for the joy that you provide during times of sorrow. Thank you for the love of the Son that brings us comfort. Thank you for the Holy Spirit that watches over, sustains, keeps, and upholds us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen

Always praying for the glory of God.

Infinite

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Isaiah 55:8. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.

John Calvin expressed it as “finitum non capax infinitum”, the finite cannot contain the infinite.

God is holy. When we think of being holy, we often consider it as a state of purity, without sin. But holy also means “set apart”. God is different than us in ways we cannot understand. His ways are are completely different.

Yet, when I consider the verse in Isaiah, I think of how I am different than another person. How my thoughts are different, my ways are different than others. But Calvin helps to express it in a way that doesn’t get confused with our simple human understanding of being different. We are finite and we cannot contain, understand, or comprehend the infinity of God.

When we face trials in our life, we may question God. Why did God allow this to happen to one of his children? When we do this, we have tried to fit God within our finite understanding. We temporarily forget that God is good all the time, that God’s plan for us is perfect, that God is truly infinite and we cannot understand all of what He is.

Heavenly Father, forgive me for trying to put you in box that contains only me. Forgive me for questioning your good intentions. Help me to trust and obey. Praying these things in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Leaning on You

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Psalms 119:116-117 Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope. Uphold me that I may be safe, that I may have regard for Your statutes continually.

When we need support, He is able. We can lean on Him. His embrace is complete. His love will sustain us. His place is always safe. Go to His word. Pray without ceasing with the hope you have in Jesus.

Jesus, I pray that I will never forget that You are always there ready to steady me. I can always lean on you. Your mighty right hand is always there to uphold me. I am reaching for it right now. I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen

Always praying for the glory of God.

Wait

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Hebrews 6:15 And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.

Have you ever had to wait patiently for God? I’ve recently been asked by Him to wait. Wait for an answer to prayer. Wait for His providence to be fulfilled. Wait for the answer that is best for me and for all those around me.

Waiting patiently is probably not my best attribute. However, what I have found is that He doesn’t expect us to wait, resigned to whatever may happen. God wants us to wait expectantly. Wait by praying our supplications with thanksgiving, letting Him know what we want.

So, I have been praying each day Philippians 4:4-9, asking God for healing. He will answer as I patiently wait.

Heavenly Father, with thanksgiving I patiently wait for You. Your timing will be perfect and Your answer will be the best one. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen

Always praying for the glory of God.

God’s attributes – Mercy

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Psalms 103:8

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Exodus 34:4-7

So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first. And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone. The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

Mercy is not something God has, but something that God is.  So, the mercy of God has no beginning, has no end, and is eternal and perfect.  But, as there are many mysteries regarding God, he does not forgive the guilty.  Mercy and judgement work perfectly together within the Godhead.  It was His mercy that brought Christ from heaven to take on the guilt of our sin, allowing God’s mercy to work perfectly in our lives.  When we run to the cross, we receive salvation.  If we don’t, then His judgement will be served.

I don’t pretend to understand how all of that works, only that it does.  We can’t, because our understanding of mercy isn’t perfect.  We dispense mercy and justice in our lives and then attempt to transfer that understanding into how that works with God.  It just doesn’t work.  Fortunately, God’s mercy is perfect, eternal, and can never be exhausted.

Father, thank You for your mercy.  Forgive me when my lack of understanding causes me to question it.  Help me to trust that mercy and justice are perfect in You.  Thank You for your free gift of salvation.  I pray for those that have yet to accept it.  May they see the cross of Christ and run to it.  I pray all this in Your name.  Amen.