DOES PRAYER REALLY WORK?
JJ Daniel, Washington
John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that
if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that
he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we
desired of him.
Ever hear: “The family that prays together stays together” or: “Prayer changes things”? We say things like that, but do we believe
it? I hear people say things like this all the time: “I’ll pray about it” or “I’ll pray for you” -
but I wonder if we really understand the POWER of prayer. So often we try every avenue to
get what we need… then when all
else fails, we try prayer. True?
.
“God helps those who help themselves” and…
“You do everything you can do, then God will take over”
is NOT found in the
Bible. The Father likes for His kids to
RUN to HIM first! Amen?
.
When I was a child fear dictated my life, and I was
unable to pray out loud (couldn’t
talk to more than one person at a time either, and even that was very
difficult; PRAISE GOD – HE STILL SETS PEOPLE FREE!!! But that’s another story). In my teen-years I read a book that lead me
to believe that what ever is going to happen in this life – is just going to
happen, and there is nothing in the world a person can do about it. I decided then, that I wouldn’t waste my
time praying; I’d just accept everything that came my way, and thank God for
it. (This is one reason that I am still very
careful what books I read, or recommend to others). Not everything that
happens in this life is FROM GOD! It was some time before the Word of God
broke through that lie that came
to rob from me. (Although… when
I look back at it – the only thing it really robbed me of was setting a
specific time of prayer each day, and watching the clock; Jesus has been my
very Best Friend from childhood, and I never stopped talking to Him. So haha
devil!!!!)
.
When we realize that prayer is not a ‘task’ or some
kind of ‘works’ that we are required to perform… but simply talking to our Heavenly-Father
and spending time with Him – it does change the feel of it a bit. He really doesn’t ask us to do anything
‘hard’ – it’s the enemy’s lies that try to make us feel like we ‘don’t know how’ or
‘don’t have
time’ or “don’t have enough time.’ Two places that I always spend time with the
Father is in my car and in the shower. Actually – there is no place, and no
time in your day that you can NOT
talk with Him. If He sits on the throne of your heart - He’s waiting to hear
from you.
.
We should be talking with our Heavenly-Father before
we even get out of bed each day… before there’s a problem. Amen? If we set our day in motion by asking the Father what He has in
mind for that day – the day comes together MUCH easier, and we don’t get so wrapped up and distracted by all the
unfruitful stuff!
.
I have a Niece who has five children. When she had
three teens and two babies in the house, and worked part time – it was really difficult for her to find
that “quiet time”
with the Father. She asked Him to help
her find that time, and He taught her how to do that; He pointed out to her
that she had 15-minutes in the shower, 5-minutes here, another 10 or 15 there,
and so on. It is not an uncaring
taskmaster that we’re talking about here; He is a loving caring, kind and
awesome Father, who simply desires time with His children.
ABRAHAM PRAYED:
Genesis
20:17: So Abraham prayed unto God: and
God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare
children.
JACOB WRESTLED WITH AN
ANGEL:
Genesis
32:24-29 tells the story of how Jacob
fought for a blessing – wouldn’t let the angel go until He had blessed him.
MOSES PRAYED; GOD CHANGED
HIS MIND!
In Exodus 32 we read about Moses on the Mountain talking to God; God was angry with
the people and ready to kill them all – Moses pleaded with God… He even ARGUED
with God… and God LISTENED!! Moses was INTERCEDING (praying)
for the People… God paid attention – and He didn’t kill the people!
DANIEL PRAYED THREE TIMES
A DAY:
Daniel chapter six tells us the story about Daniel
being thrown into the lion’s den – because he refused to stop praying; he must
have thought it important! It’s funny… the king who had him throne to
the lions said… “Your God will deliver
you!” ha!! And He DID!!
ZACHARIAH PRAYED – AND
GOD GAME HIM A SON:
Luke
1:13 But the
angel said unto him, Fear not, Zachariah: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear
thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
EVEN JESUS PRAYED!!
When Jesus walked this planet – He prayed!
Today Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, INTERCEDING for you and me. It seems pretty simple… doesn’t it? If Jesus did it… we do it!
JESUS TEACHES US HOW TO
PRAY: Matthew 6:9-13
AND JUST A FEW DAYS AGO:
It was time to put this March issue of the magazine
together, and I was unable to get into my web-shell to do that. I have had
several pc problems since the first of the year, and unable to get onto the
Internet most of February. I sent out an email asking our prayer-team to help
me pray about this situation; The VERY NEXT DAY… I got just the right instructions, was able
to understand & follow the instructions (that’s a BIG ONE!!!), and was immediately able to get into the
sites that I have been unable to get into, including the websites that I
manage. (This is the short version of this story; I’d tried
several suggestions from several friends trying to bail me out. Guess it was
the combination of it all that finally fixed the problems. THANK YOU FATHER FOR
ANSWERING PRAYER, AND ALSO FOR GOOD FRIENDS WITH PATIENCE..)
PRAYING GOD’S WORD
IS POWER!
Ø
He says Put me in
remembrance of My Word. (Moses did
that: Ex32:11-14 )
Ø
We are coming into
agreement with, and praying His will.
Ø
His Word never
returns to Him void, but does exactly what it’s sent to do.
Ø
Isaiah 55:11 Mark 13:31 Mark 16:20
PRAYER WORKS!!
.
Prayer is a really interesting topic to study. Many
prayers in the OT were answered, and Paul gives a great deal of instruction to
the church on the topic, in the NT; he even gives us specific prayers to pray: Ephesians
1:15-23 & 3:14-21
WHAT WILL HINDER PRAYER:
.
Ø
“We don’t ask” -
James 4:2-3 Matthew 7:7-11 Matthew 18:19 John 14:10-16
Ø
“We ask amiss” - James 4:2-3 Mark7:13 Matthew 6:33-14
Ø
“Don’t know His Word” John
15:7 Mathew 13:18-23 + 13:18-23 Mark
5:19 Luke 4:4
Ø
Luke
8:15, John 1:1 14:23
Ø
“We don’t believe” - Matthew
21:22 John 14:10-15 1John 5:14-15 Mark
11:23-24
Ø
“We waver in our faith” - James 1:5-7 Luke 11:28
Ø
“No fruit in our life”- John 15:16
Ø
“Un-forgiveness / disunity” - Mark 11:24-31 1Peter 3:7 1John 3:22
Matthew 18:19
Jesus Christ, the same
yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 If He did it once, He’s still doing
it today!! Amen?
.
PhilIPPIANS 4:6: Be careful for
nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known unto God.
.
MAtTHEW 21:13: And said unto
them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer;
.
MATtHEW 21:22: And all things,
whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
JAmEs 5:15: And the prayer of
faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have
committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
.
EphESIANS 6:18: Praying always
with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all
perseverance and supplication for all saints;
.
JAMEs 5:16: Confess your faults one to another, and pray
one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much.
God bless you, as you RUN after Jesus, and serve His kids.
JJ Daniel
