Hard Work

Praying is hard work, just ask Peter.  "And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."  Jesus speaking in Matthew 26:40,41

Someone asked me to pray for them today, and I gave them my word that I would.  They gave me a specific time to pray, but as soon as the phone call ended, I began to pray.  Did I fall prostate on the floor face down, or stay on bended knee for the entire time spent in prayer?  No.  But I did pray fervently.

James 5:16b tells us, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

So, as I continued to do my chores around the house, I began to pray out loud.  I began my conversation of intercession with my Lord by first confessing my own sin.  Psalm 66:18 says, 'If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.'  I wanted to make sure there was nothing between me and my Lord, and I asked God to hear my prayer for the sake of the one whom I was praying for, and not for my sake.

Then I prayed the request:  wisdom, discernment, protection, physical and mental strength. My prayer was like a mantra, over and over again.  At times I felt urgency to pray for specific things and at times I felt God's peace knowing that He was helping my friend. Then I began to pray Scripture over my friend.  I prayed that this person would have the Fruit of the Spirit based on Galatians 5:22,23.  I prayed that this person would be equipped with the whole armor of God found in Ephesians 6:10-18, that the Holy Spirit would bring into remembrance verses in God's Word, and that the Holy Spirit's presence and peace would envelope this person.

I will be honest.  It was hard work.

But it was worth it.

I later received an email that said, 'Your prayers were answered, quite specifically-Praise the Lord!'

And that my friend is what prayer is all about.  Asking, seeking, knocking-

Going to The One Who has the Authority to answer our prayers-

And then giving Him the Glory for Great things, He has done!

When someone asks you to pray for them, do you?  

I hope so, it will bless you both!

    But that's just me!

"God shapes the world by prayer.  The more praying there is in the world the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil."  E.M. Bounds

'There is a place where thou canst touch the eyes of blinded men to instant; perfect sight;

There is a place where thou canst say, "Arise" to dying captives, bound in chains of night;

There is a place where thou canst reach the store of hoarded gold and free it for the Lord;

There is a place-

upon some distant shore-

Where thou canst send the worker and the Word.

Where is that secret place--dost thou ask, "Where?"

O soul, it is the secret place of prayer!'

Alfred Lord Tennyson