Praying

I was thinking of something that I think pertains to each believer. We all need one another in this battle that we are facing if we are going to be victorious. Read what it says in the book of Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

This reminds me of a true believer’s marriage there is the husband and wife and the Lord is in the center of that marriage, a threefold strand is not easily broken and also these verses relate to how we need one another and how important it is to meet one another’s needs by blessing each other and encouraging each other.  And think of this, what Jesus said in Matthew 18:19-20, “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

It is good to pray corporately but don’t forget there is nothing wrong with praying alone either.  Read what Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 6:5-8, “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

This is how Jesus taught them to pray in the same chapter in verses 9-13, “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

This prayer is what many believers call the Lord’s prayer and it is very   important also.  And like I said corporate prayer is very important too.  One thing we should never do and that is to pray with the wrong motives, then we will be acting like the Pharisees.  If we pray that way, we can expect nothing from the good Lord.  The same thing happens when we pray without faith, we can expect nothing from the good Lord!!

Read James 1-5-8, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Faith is a must in any ministry, but it is essential in prayer.  Sometimes we get discouraged after we have prayed for something more than once and the answer doesn’t come when we think it should.  In that situation our faith can falter and then we need someone to hold our hands up, so to speak, kind of like Moses; read Exodus 17:10-13, “So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.”

In corporal prayer we have others that can hold our hands up, so to speak, and that should encourage us to not give up.  It seems like there are three answers to prayer; one is yes, one is wait and one is no, not at this time.  Sometimes we don’t know what the answer is going to be because we don’t always know what the Lord’s will is!!  For instance, we know that Paul had a lot of faith.  But it seems like he didn’t always get his prayers answered like he would have wanted to.  Think of this Timothy was like Paul’s son, it seemed like he would have prayed for him for his many illnesses, but if he did, he must not have gotten healed because why did Paul say this in 1 Timothy 5:23, “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.”

Now read 2 Timothy 4:20 where Paul left a man sick.  “Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.”

Here is another example of where Paul prayed for himself, but he didn’t get what He wanted, read 2 Corinthians 12:6-9, “For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Jesus himself prayed three times in the garden that God would take the cup of suffering from Him, but He also said, “not my will but thine be done.”  It wasn’t His Father’s will and Jesus was willing to lay His life down if that was what it would take, and He did!!  Sometimes God’s will isn’t the same as ours and we need to accept that.  To sum this Tidbit up, I think it is very important to pray the will of God, if you know what that is in the circumstance and pray without ceasing and always with faith, believing you will receive what you are praying for and pray corporately and privately.

Enough said my prayer is that this will be an encouragement and a blessing to you.  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you all have a super, super day!!  Don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord for He is truly worthy!!