There is power in prayer. Last week we shared that PRAYER is an act of FAITH based on our TRUST in the LORD. So why pray even when it seems hopeless? Prayer draws us closer to GOD, allows us to commune with Him and brings revelation of His grace in our lives.
The day of my first surgery was filled with many surprises. For one, I didn't know what to expect and neither did my family. I was blessed by the many, many family members who turned up to show their support and to pray. The surgery lasted 8 1/2 hours and throughout the length of the day, my mother and aunt met a lady whose daughter had been in the ICU on life support for quite some time. The doctors had told the mother that her daughter's case was hopeless, that she should disconnect her from the machine and prepare for the worst. My aunt decided to visit the young lady and begun to pray in the name of JESUS. She prayed in faith for the young woman to rise to live and not to die. She prayed fervently. The young lady rose to live. I received a call from her this summer and our families have kept in touch.
In Acts Chapter 12 the church is once again under persecution. Herod the king has already killed James the brother of John, and imprisoned Peter. The Bible says that, "Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church,"Acts 12:5. Peter was bound in two chains between two soldiers, with guards keeping watch before the prison door. An angel of the Lord was sent by God to deliver Peter from prison and set him free. When he appeared to the church members who had been praying for him, they were in disbelief. "But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of prison," Acts 12:17. Prayer changes things.
The Bible exhorts us to pray always:
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." James 5:16
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." Ephesians 6:18
Please share with us what prayer means to you and how GOD has acted on your behalf. Click on the comments link below to add your comments. We know that sometimes our prayers are answered based on what we want and sometimes they are answered differently to how we prayed, yet one truth remains:
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
3 comments:
That is an amazing story Natasha about your aunt and the miraculous healing of the girl. Wow. Just amazing. I pray that everyone reading will have ALL their prayers answered!
For some reason, last night I was led to a verse in the gospel of John (5:17) before going to bed. It says: " In his defense Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working."
God showed me last night that he is at work in my life -- right to the very minute! (I had had a bit of a set-back in a prayer request too that day, as something didn't pan out the way I prayed it would) I re-read that verse this morning again. This time the wording "..at his work" stuck out. God's work and my work (goals) are two different things! God is at work in my life for my character! -- whereas if the truth be told, I am at work (in prayer) for 'things' answered!!
He is so wise, so patient and so yes -- thorough!!
Remember, you can't see God, but you believe he exists. Am I right? Well you also can't see what he's doing regarding your prayer requests, but he's at work! Do you believe that too!? I do! Praise His holy name!
Anonymous,
Thank you so much for your post! The reminder that GOD is indeed at work is very powerful. He knows our hearts, He is the Potter and we are the clay, He is the Gardener and we are the branches. When we pray, He is indeed working it out, for our best.
Just today, I was reading Acts 14 & 15. After Paul made his first missionary journey throughout Antioch, Lyconium, Destra and the other regions, they returned to find out that the Pharisees who believed in Jesus had begun to preach circumcision & the Law of Moses to the Gentiles.
In Acts 15:8-11, Paul replies,
"God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
Then I thought about this one sentence in verse 8..."God, who knows the heart..." Yes, it is as you said, 'God is at work in my life for my character!' He knows our hearts, and indeed answers prayers according to what is best for us. My husband, Andrew, reminded me this afternoon that I am to trust God as a child trusts a parent. May God be praised for His faithfulness always! I love Him and trust Him.
Hello everyone!
Once again I am "wowed" by everything I'm reading on the site today, and I'm even getting goosebumps which I was told was a sign that the Holy Spirit is at work!I may not be able to see God at work, but I believe that I can feel Him! Reading Natasha's post about her experience of her surgery, and about the young woman who was without hope according to the doctors was incredibly encouraging and could only have been so perfectly timed by my /our God!I believe that we must never forget that "All things are possible with God", and that fervent prayer increases our faith thereby making the all the more possible. It's also vital that we always remember that just as Anonymous made the point that our work and God's work are not coming from the same perspective, He may not always answer our prayers in the way we expect! In our service today Pastor Lott made the point, among others, about how we should have child-like faith!
As far as God at work is concerned, I am completely convinced that He is working through this Web Site, and I thank you all for blessing it and me with such frank and honest sharing!
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