Prayers

below Ramsey Cascades

I ran into a situation that required a little coping;
I determined my approach and proceeded with it, hoping.
Hoping that I was right in what I attempted to do,
Hoping that I would have the patience needed to see it through.
Well, the situation was testy, and I experienced a little frustration,
but I started the very next day with even more determination.
Again, I felt defeated but couldn't see where I had gone wrong,
so the next morning my prayers included a request for God to make me strong.
I felt better for having asked the Lord to strengthen my endurance,
and I started that day with confidence and more calm assurance.
But once more as the day wore on, I felt my efforts were failing--
It seemed that no matter how hard I tried, aggravation was prevailing.
I sat back and looked things over and wondered why I'd had no success;
it seemed that all my efforts had just made a bigger mess.
So I asked the Lord what had happened and just what He expected me to do,
and then He answered my question and suddenly I knew!
I realized that I should have asked for His direction in the beginning,
instead of taking it upon myself and ending up chagrining.
I had never asked the Lord whether my approach was right--
I had simply asked for strength while I struggled with all my might.
Well, I prayed about the situation and put my worries on the shelf,
and soon I saw that the problem was taking care of itself!

Our Lord is always with us and sees the problems we encounter, and He is anxious for us to let Him guide us through each situation. Whether the problem is a situation at work or a personal decision that needs to be made, God has all the answers. Nothing is too small for God to handle! Often, the small decisions in life make a big difference, and our Lord wants us to make the right ones!

"And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat by bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not." Isaiah 58:11

From November 8, 1983

Recycle Christmas... Pray!

Call me a miser, but I'm dismayed at all the beauty we throw away each Christmas. The wrappings, ribbons, and bows that get trashed seem like such a waste. Needless to say, I'd like to congratulate the person or persons who have made the beautiful, reusable gift bags so popular throughout the year.

Call me a pack-rat, but I tend to save many of the greeting cards I receive on various occasions. I keep them for sentimental reasons or because I hope to use the artwork as references for craft illustrations. I'm a die-hard saver of Christmas cards, too! Someone once showed me how to fold a Christmas card to make a tiny gift box decoration or ornament. The designs can sometimes be cut and used the following year as gift tags. However, the neatest use for Christmas cards concerns prayer!

At meal times during the holidays we can share Christmas cards we've received. We can pray for those folks and then display the card until after Christmas. Once the cards are taken down after the holidays, they can be put in a box and kept at hand. Throughout the year at mealtimes, we can pull out a single card and pray for the person or persons who sent it.

The Christmas card prayer tradition often is very timely in the way that a person's name is remembered on a day when prayer is needed. Consider it a holiday suggestion. Recycle Christmas... and pray!

"I thank my God in all my rememberances of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all." Philippians 1:3-4

From December 21, 1992

The Faith of Friends

I told a friend goodbye today
Our paths may never cross again
He's moving on... beyond... away---
His life is turning a new bend.
The roads we travel are not the same;
our direction is different, too
We differ in destination, in aim,
and in the walking that we do.
The road I walk is on higher grounds,
for the Lord has lifted me
to a place where His promises abound,
a plane my friend can't see.
My friend has never walked this path
nor known the Master's guiding hand.
He has never glimpsed the glory
of that precious Promised Land.
But God has allowed me the chance to share,
to show the signs of His love,
to forgive, to comfort, to strengthen, to care,
to tell of Heaven above.
My friend has surely seen the signs,
but the choice is his to make
He is aware of the route divine,
but which road will he take?
I'm not sure if I'll ever have other chances
to show my friend the way;
I can only be thankful for past circumstances.
I can only pray
that along life's road a new walk will begin
in the journey of my friend
and some sweet day we'll be reunited
at our journeys' end

Sometimes we feel discouraged in our efforts to minister to others, especially to a close friend or family member who seems disinterested. However, we must continue to pray and know that God hears our prayers. In this way we are like the paralytic's friends who carried him to Jesus that he might be healed (Mark 2: 3-5). It was the evidence of their faith that helped to make the difference. Verse 5 says, "When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven" Continue to pray!!

From August 5, 1986

Offering Prayer

During a time when I was troubled
and my heart was heavy with concern,
I wore my worry upon my face,
a half-hearted smile -- downturned.
A caring Christian acquaintance
saw the sorrow in my eyes,
and though the reason of my cares
she did not realize,
she offered a word of comfort;
she promised a word of prayer,
and I wrapped her smile around me
and found so much solace there.
I had requested prayer from others
who knew the reason why,
but I could never know who actually did
or upon whom I could rely.
However, in that one warm person
who had offered to pray for me,
without knowing what the problem was
or asking what it might be,
I found faith and confidence
and assurance of concern
and I was so thankful for her
as a more cheerful smile returned.

Although we shouldn't let our concerns burden us down, we often worry and let our problems get the best of us. God's Word tells us in many passages that we should take our cares to our Lord in prayer, and that we should lift each other up in prayer also. Sometimes we know that a friend is experiencing trials and tribulations, and yet, the person is too shy or embarrassed to request prayer and we are too shy to offer a word of concern. We might be depriving each other of a blessing! As a Christian family, we all need each other!

"Wherefore comfort yourselves together and edify one another, even as also ye do" I Thes. 5:11

From October 18, 1983

Boundaries

Turn the other cheek. (Matt. 5:39)
Keep no record of wrongs. (I Cor. 13:5)
Forgive seventy times seven. (Matt. 18:21-22)
If someone takes what's yours, don't ask for it back. (Luke 6:30)
Control your anger. (Eph. 4:26)
Love your enemies and pray for them. (Matt. 5:44)

I gotta admit, I used to think that the fruit of the Spirit described as self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) was all about the things I wasn't supposed to do in response to other people. And then I read the book called Boundaries, by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend, and realized that Jesus did not intend for us to be doormats. That certainly was not His example.

He overturned the tables in the temple. He rebuked. He cursed the fig tree. And even though He came to die for us, He didn't allow the mob to throw Him off the cliff before it was His time to die.

The fruit of the Spirit called self-control is not only about keeping yourself from climbing over other people's fences but also about keeping others on the other side of your fence when necessary as well. It takes wisdom and discernment to know when and how to do that, but to be a doormat is not only unhealthy, it does not honor God.

"... your tormentors, who have said to you, 'Lie down that we may walk over you.' You have even made your back like the ground. And like the street for those who walk over it. Awake, awake! Clothe yourself in your strength..." Isaiah 51:23 - 52:1

Christians and Politics

Some would argue that as Christians, we have no place in the world of secular politics. For some, the "separation of church and state" seems to imply a two-way barrier that should never be crossed.

Unfortunately, many history books seem to support that theory. In reality, many of our nation's founding fathers were Christians whose ideas and principles were directly quoted from or credited to the Bible as they formed the shape of our government. "Separation of church and state" is actually a phrase coined only within recent history. Those three key words don't even appear in the Amendments. Originally, the intent was to protect the church from the government, not the government from the church. Our nation seems to have lost sight of some things.

It's true that often it's much easier to build a new wall where none stood before, than to rebuild among the ruins of a former one. However, Nehemiah, through God's direction, showed us how it can be done. As Christians, we must take concern for and participate in the process allowed us. Once God had placed the burden in his heart, Nehemiah spent days in prayer and fasting in preparation. The task was not easy, and it was met with opposition. As the people worked, they labored with one hand and held a weapon with the other. At one point, Nehemiah writes, "When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: "Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses." Nehemiah 4:14

I suggest that our task is to rebuild foundations, and as we labor (become informed, vote, and be vocal and active) the weapon we hold with our other hand is prayer.

Psalm 119: Revive Me

Psalm 119 is special in many ways. It is the longest chapter in the Bible (176 verses). It is an acrostic that uses the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet (all eight lines in each of the 22 sections begin with that same letter in the original Hebrew). It is God's Word in praise of God's Word.

The writer of this Psalm expresses great desire to know and be committed to the Word of the Lord. Many terms are used to describe God's Word: law, saying, commandment, statutes, precepts, ordinances and testimony. Reading Psalm 119 is a wonderful way to prayerfully begin each daily quiet time with our Heavenly Father.
"Revive me according to Thy word."
"Revive me through Thy righteousness."
"Revive me according to Thy loving kindness."
"Revive me, Oh Lord, according to Thine ordinances."
"Revive me in Thy ways."

These petitions and their variations are repeated throughout the Psalm. The sincerity of the psalmist's heart is reflected in his approach and his requests:
"With all my heart I have sought Thee." v.10
"Thy word I have treasured in my heart." v. 11
"Open my eyes..." v. 18
"Teach me..." v. 26
"Make me understand..." v. 27
"Strengthen me..." v. 28
"Incline my heart..." v. 36
"Sustain me..." v. 116
"Uphold me..." v. 117
"Establish my footsteps..." v 133

These are the words and this is the attitude of a person seeking the Lord's revival in his/her heart. Does Psalm 119 reflect our own? The psalmist didn't wait until he had manufactured his own longing for God -- he asked God to create it: "I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Thy servant..." v. 176.

Praying with Confidence for One Another

God tells us many things about effective prayers. He encourages us to join together in a bond of prayer (Matt. 18:19-20; James 5:14-16) We must ask according to His will (I John 5:14-15). We must ask in Jesus' name (John 14:13-14). We must ask in faith (Matt. 21:22). We must ASK (Matt. 7:7; James 4:2)!

We can see many examples of what the Lord does in a church where believers bond together in prayer for the same thing, applying the principles mentioned above (Acts 2:42-47; 4:23-35; 6:1-8; 12:5-17). This is the type of unity that Jesus asked the Heavenly Father to give us in John 17. It is the same type of unity that Paul spoke of in 1 Corinthians 12 & 13.

We can pray for one another by name the same prayer that Paul prayed for the members of the church at Colossae. It is a prayer we know is in accordance with God's will for our lives. This is a prayer we can pray in faith. This is a prayer God will answer:

Lord, May _____ be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that he/she will walk in a manner worthy of You, to please You in all respects. May _____ bear fruit in every good work and may he/she increase in the knowledge of You. Lord, strengthen him/her with all power, according to Your glorious might, that _____ might attain steadfastness and patience. May _____ give thanks to You, our Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (Col. 1:9-12)

Fervent Prayer

My prayer life was weak and feeble, it had become a dull routine.
My concern was only half-hearted, and therefore, the results were lean.
And then during a moment of good intention, I asked God to burden me
with the names of those around me with troubles that I couldn't see.
My eyes were slowly opened to needs that only God could meet;
my heart began to ache for others, and my prayer life became more complete.
I realized more of my own shortcomings, and my list of concerns grew longer.
I found more time to talk with my Lord, and I felt my faith grow stronger.
Prayers of praise and thanksgiving began to balance the prayers of requests,
and every time I called upon God, I felt that my heart had been blessed.
My concerns were no longer "burdens" -- they were opportunities to put a privilege to use --
The privilege of bringing a problem to God and seeing what joy He produced.
My Lord has taken my feeble prayer life and shown me that I have so much to learn.
I just pray that God will continue to strengthen me and deepen my concern.

"Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sings psalms.
Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayers of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 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." James 5:13-16

Growing

As children grow older, they search out ways to increase their maturity, often seeking to make their own mistakes or their own accomplishments. Parents cooperate by giving them more opportunities to make their own decisions, and often must restrain themselves from intervening when they sense a failure is coming. This is the way in which we all grow wiser, more confident and stronger. The same is often true in our Christian lives, as God smiles at us and watches us grow.

Today I know God smiled at me, and eventually I smiled at myself,
but it took me a while to see the humor and put my pride on a shelf.
I started my day with an earnest prayer and sincere desire to grow;
I realized so many shortcomings - so many things I wanted to know.
I asked the Lord to strengthen me, that I might be more as I should,
and I had faith that with God's help, grow indeed, I would!
Well, shortly after I arrived at work, things began to go wrong,
and the hopes I had of having a good day didn't last very long.
I ran up against some tough personalities - my temper, I admit was tried,
but I managed to keep a steady voice, although I was shaking inside.
It seemed that I needed to be in fifteen places all at the very same instant.
I only wanted a calm reprieve, but everything went against it.
I almost cried; I almost screamed; I almost threw up my hands in despair,
but eventually the work day was over, and I could forget about my cares.
At home I reflected on the events of the day and suddenly remembered my request.
Why had the day been so disappointing, when I had wanted to give it my best?
The reason was made quite clear to me, as I thought a little longer --
only through meeting with resistance is any muscle made stronger.
I had asked my Lord to give me strength, and I had met obstacles along the way.
I suppose these are the little ways in which we grow...
Yes, I know God smiled at me today!

"...but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulations worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope." Romans 5:3 & 4

What I Need

Lord, help me see that others
have their problems, too;
help me to feel for my brothers
and lift them up to You.
God, help me understand
that I'm not the only one
who needs your gentle hand
and the promises of your Son--
that if I ask, it shall be given;
that if I request, I will receive;
that if I repent, I'll be forgiven,
if only I believe.
Lord, grant me a loving spirit.
Lord, make mine a forgiving heart.
Your will-- may I hear it.
Patience-- may I learn the art.
Wisdom-- might I seek it.
Your guidance-- might I trust.
The Truth, God, help me to speak it;
help me to be bold when I must.
And in my daily living,
may I grow to be more like Christ.
Might I learn to do more giving,
and with temptation not be enticed.
I guess, Lord, what I'm saying
is that I'm willing to sacrifice;
if You'll just listen as I'm praying,
I'm willing to pay the price.
Bend me, God, and break me;
mend me, Father, I ask.
Mold me, Lord, and make me
fit to carry out the task.
Whatever you'd have me do,
wherever You might lead,
might I live my life for You.
Master, show me what I need.

In Christ's name, Amen.

"Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Romans 8:26

Prayer

What is recorded in the Bible about the kings and prophets of Israel and Judah appears not only as testimonies of what happened, but as testimonials of what CAN happen through prayer!

In the example of Elisha and his servant under the Aram army's siege in 2 Kings 6:8-23, when Elisha's servant saw they were surrounded by the Aram King's army, he was despaired. However, Elisha prayed, "O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see," and indeed, then the strength of God's army was revealed. Next, Elisha prayed that the enemy would be blinded and confused, and through God's answer to this prayer the enemy was overcome.

In 2 Kings 18 & 19, we learn about the threat of the Assyrians upon King Hezekiah of Judah, how they mocked and scorned the power of the Lord and demanded the surrender of His people. Hezekiah prayed that God would intervene, "that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou alone, O Lord, art God." Hezekiah had led his people into revival, and God answered his request by again disheartening the enemy, this time by merely exposing them to rumor!

Is the church in America scorned and despaired? Do our enemies taunt us with examples of our defeat? When we look at the mockers in this world, are we overcome by their apparent strength? Elisha said, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 2 Kings 6:16

Pray that the eyes of Christians will be opened to God's power and that the enemy will be blinded and confused. We must know that the Lord is greater than any prayer concern!

Mother's Knees

When I was a young mom, a friend once asked me if I had experienced the symptoms of "mother's knees" yet. She laughed and explained to me that "mother's knees" were dry, red, sore knees, resulting from kneeling over the bathtub every night to bathe children! I began to think of all the kneeling that a mother does for her children throughout the years, and I came up with quite a list. Among the bathing, trying shoes, picking up toys, and other daily tasks of a Christian mother, is praying for her children. I've heard many mothers speak of the time they've spent on their knees in prayer for their children, and it seems that the less time is spent attending to their needs, the more time is spent in prayer for children as they grow. Now that our children are pretty much grown, I'm convinced of it!

I know that many mothers spend more time in prayer for their children who are teenagers and are becoming more independent. I also know that "mother's knees" is a condition that continues even after the children leave home and are no longer under their mother's care. I once knew a great-grandmother who bought a new mattress and two well worn spots were discovered on the edge of her old one when family members replaced it. The spots were worn out by her elbows, she explained, as she knelt by her bed each night to pray for her children, who were then grandparents!

For years now, I have participated with a group of friends who take turns offering a daily prayer via email for our children. When the recent fatal shooting took place in a Knoxville high school, a few of my friends' children were directly affected by the trauma. One mother remarked that our daily prayers meant so much in the midst of that event, knowing that other moms were praying specifically for her kids.

We never know who is praying for us, or what our lives would be like if others were not praying for us. Kneeling in prayer is not the sole responsibility of mothers for their children. I've heard of neighbors who pray for the teenagers living nearby as they hear the car leave in the evenings, and how they thank God for their safe return when they come home. Having Christian parents who have prayed for us is something wonderful to be thankful for, and we should take time to return thanks for them and others who have prayed for us. We should become aware of the rewards of "mother's knees" and consider the amount of time that we spend praying for our children and others.