Prayer
Good Morning,
We have moved quickly through the year, and I hope we have all kept some spiritual “resolutions” — to resolve to read our Bibles, pray, be faithful to church, to break the ties of certain besetting sins — all of which are good to improve upon.
Though I would like to suggest something upon which to focus — prayer.
Even though we reach the point at which we read our Bibles daily, we still tend to miss the quiet moments of talking with God. There is more power with God in prayer than any of us understand.
Luke 18:1 “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”
Here is a simple order from our Saviour: ALWAYS PRAY! Prayer ought to be a part of our lives all day long. We ought to seek God’s insight at every turn, learning to “walk in the Spirit.”
Prayer helps us avoid trouble.
Luke 21:36 “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”
Prayer helps us avoid temptation.
Mark 14:38 “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.”
Luke 22:46 “And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”
In those verses, God gives us two incredible reasons to pray: to avoid temptation and trouble. PRAY!
Read the parable in Luke 18, and you will see the entire story. We are to consider prayer as our bothering God. Persistent, non-stop prayer is the way to get things we desire -- for others.
Luke 11:8 “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 needeth.”
Prayer ought to go on often throughout the day.
Psalm 55:16 “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.”
Psalm 55:17 “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”
Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”
Prayer is the pathway to peace in troubled times.
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.”
vs. 7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
The “Peace of God” — what a precious possession to have in this world of sin and hurt -- that passes all understanding. It comes to us partly through committing everything to God in prayer.
Pastor