On another wall, someone said that prayer is, "almost like talking to ourselves." I shared a few thoughts on prayer and I wanted to pass them on to you.
IT IS DEFINITELY TALKING TO GOD
As co workers with God, in the work of reconciling a lost world to Him, our part includes praying. It is interesting, all we have to do is pray and He will answer with miracles, yet, so few are willing to pick up their end of the load. If we don't pray, there are some things God won't do. Just as God will not save us if we do not repent, confess and believe, neither will He do some things in reaching a lost world unless we do our God assignment.
We must live it, witness it and pray it.
If we don't take the message to them, they may not not get the message.
If we don't beseech God to do certain things, those things may not get done.
Prayer is not an act of self help or self improvement, it is PART OF OUR PART in personal growth, world evangelism and other assignments God has given us.
1 Corinthians 3:8-9
8 Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9 For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
2 Corinthians 6:1
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 Corinthians 5:18-20
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
PRAYER IS WORK
1 Corinthians 3:8-9
8 Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9 For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
2 Corinthians 6:1
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 Corinthians 5:18-20
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
PRAYER IS WORK
Sometimes it is hard work.
Sometimes it involves extended periods of time (years, not minutes).
Sometimes the answer to our prayer is delayed.
Sometimes the desired outcome never happens, since the ones we pray for are still free to accept or reject God's provisions.
It is easy to get tired, distracted, discouraged. How sad. God gives us an assignment, which He knows we can handle, and we give up.
It is easy to get tired, distracted, discouraged. How sad. God gives us an assignment, which He knows we can handle, and we give up.
How sad, there is a treasure awaiting us, at the end of our assignment, and we give up.
How sad, there are other people depending on our faithfulness, and we give up.
HOW SAD.
Galatians 6:9
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
I mentioned recently, "For the want of a nail, they lost a shoe, for the want of a shoe they lost a horse, for the want of a horse they lost a battle, for the want of a battle they lost a war and lost a nation; All for the want of a nail."
Galatians 6:9
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
I mentioned recently, "For the want of a nail, they lost a shoe, for the want of a shoe they lost a horse, for the want of a horse they lost a battle, for the want of a battle they lost a war and lost a nation; All for the want of a nail."
Don't lose a soul, for the want of a prayer.
Don't forget, while all of the promises of God in Christ are Yes and Amen (2 Co. 1:20), God's answer to our prayers can be YES or NO or WAIT.
We pray, call on God, not because He is reluctant to grant our request, but because He expects us to work together with Him. Sometimes prayer is the battering ram that breaks down the wall of resistance. If we stop too soon, we will not collapse the barrier to success. Consistency, importunity is sometimes the key to answered prayer (Lk. 11:8). Remember, it is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom (Lk. 12:31-32).
Verses...
2 Corinthians 1:20
20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
Luke 11:8-13
8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Luke 12:31-32
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Don't forget, while all of the promises of God in Christ are Yes and Amen (2 Co. 1:20), God's answer to our prayers can be YES or NO or WAIT.
We pray, call on God, not because He is reluctant to grant our request, but because He expects us to work together with Him. Sometimes prayer is the battering ram that breaks down the wall of resistance. If we stop too soon, we will not collapse the barrier to success. Consistency, importunity is sometimes the key to answered prayer (Lk. 11:8). Remember, it is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom (Lk. 12:31-32).
Verses...
2 Corinthians 1:20
20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
Luke 11:8-13
8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Luke 12:31-32
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
