Prayer Changes Things (Day 4)

Texting God. 

Colossians 1:3‭-‬12 CSB

An article in The Washington Post told about a 15-year-old girl who sent and received 6,473 cell phone text messages in a single month. She says about her constant communication with friends, “I would die without it.” And she is not alone. Researchers say that 90 percent of people worldwide text at least once per day, and more than 350 billion text messages are sent each month.

To me, this ongoing digital conversation offers a remarkable illustration of what prayer could and should be like for every follower of Christ. Paul seemed to be constantly in an attitude of prayer for others: “We have not stopped praying for you” (Col. 1:9). “Be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere” (Ephesians 6:18). “Never stop praying” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). But how can we possibly do that?

Frank Laubach, a missionary in the Philippines, described his habit of “shooting” prayers at people as he encountered them during the course of each day. In a sense, he was “texting” God on their behalf, staying in constant communication with the Father.

Laubach believed that prayer is the mightiest force in the world, and said: “My part is to live in this hour in continuous inner conversation with God and in perfect responsiveness to His will.” Never stop praying. Perhaps what Paul urged us to do can be done. 

Prayer should become as natural as breathing.

Shalom

Writer: —David McCasland

Prayer Changes Things (Day 3)

Listening. 

Matthew 14:22‭-‬36 HCSB

During a concert, singer-songwriter David Wilcox responded to a question from the audience about how he composes songs. He said there are three aspects to his process: a quiet room, an empty page, and the question, “Is there something I should know?” It struck me as a wonderful approach for followers of Jesus as we seek the Lord’s plan for our lives each day. Throughout Jesus’s public ministry, He took time to be alone in prayer. 

After feeding 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish, He sent His disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee by boat while He dismissed the crowd (Matt. 14:22). “After sending them home, [Jesus] went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone” (v. 23). If the Lord Jesus saw the need to be alone with His Father, how much more we need a daily time of solitude to pour out our hearts to God, ponder His Word, and prepare to follow His directions. 

A quiet room—anywhere we can focus on the Lord without distractions. An empty page—a receptive mind, a blank sheet of paper, a willingness to listen. Is there something I should know? “Lord, speak to me by Your Spirit, Your written Word, and the assurance of Your direction.” From that quiet hillside, Jesus descended into a violent storm, knowing exactly what His Father wanted Him to do (vv. 24–27).  

Taking time to be with God is the best place to find strength to press on.

Shalom

Writer: —David McCasland

Prayer Changes Things (Day 2)

Bless Others. 

Nehemiah 1:1-10 HCSB 

The room was splashed with an assortment of enchanting colors as women in beautiful saris scurried around, completing the final touches for a fundraising event. Upon hearing about the financial situation of a Christian school for autistic children, these women from India not only heard the need, but they also took it to heart and responded.

Nehemiah did not allow his comfortable position in life as cupbearer and confidant to the most powerful man at that time to nullify his concerns for his countrymen. He talked to people who had just come from Jerusalem to find out the condition of the city and its citizens (Nehemiah 1:2). He learned that “those who returned to the province of Judah . . . are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire” (v. 3). Nehemiah’s heart broke. He mourned, fasted, and prayed, asking God to do something about the terrible conditions (v. 4).

God enabled Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem to lead the rebuilding effort (Nehemiah 2:1–8). Nehemiah accomplished great things for his people because he asked great things of a great God and relied on Him. May God open our eyes to the needs of those around us, and may He help us to become passionate and creative problem solvers who bless others.

Those who walk with God run to help with the needs of others. 

Shalom

Writer: Poh Fang Chia 

Prayer Changes Things (Day 1)

Be Specific.

Mark 10: 46-52 HCSB

On the day before a major surgery, I shared with my friend that I was really scared about the procedure. “What part scares you?” she inquired. “I’m just so afraid that I won’t wake up from the anesthesia,” I replied. Immediately, Anne prayed: “Father, you know all about Cindy’s fear. Please calm her heart and fill her with Your peace. And, Lord, please wake her up after surgery.”

I think God likes that kind of specificity when we talk to Him. When Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, called out to Jesus for help, Jesus said, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said, “My Rabbi . . . I want to see!” Jesus said, “Go, for your faith has healed you” (Mark 10:51–52 HCSB). We don’t need to beat around the bush with God. While there may be a time to pray poetically as David did, there are also times to say bluntly, “God, I’m so sorry for what I just said,” or to say simply, “Jesus, I love You because . . . .”

Being specific with God can even be a sign of faith because we are acknowledging that we know we’re not talking to a far-off Being but to a real Person who loves us intimately. God is not impressed by a flurry of fanciful words. He is listening for what our heart is saying.

The heart of prayer is prayer from the heart.

Shalom.

Writer: Cindy Hess Kasper

Prayer Changes Things

Introduction

Beloved, we may be passing through a bad time in life, the storms of the life's sea may be raging beyond our control and capability, though we may be passing through  the time of fruitlessness, and thinking all hope is lost, thinking we have come to dead end road of our life time. Beloved, I'm glad to tell you that, even in that dead end road, there is hope and not just hope, but solution. Because, everyone one of us don't just appear on this planet Earth, there's someone behind our journey down to earth and He's also here with us in this journey, ready to go with us irrespective of what we are going through, and why are going through it. He know why we are here and what He planned for us. Yet, He's always ready to listen to our views concerning every situation of things. He hears our crying, sighing and thoughts. yet, He want to hear us talk to Him concerning that situation.

This is the why it pleases God to take us through a series of lesson from His word that talks about communication between Him and us (Man and His Maker), and The communication is what we called "Prayer". everyone need to understand this, because, there's a saying from an old man that says "Man need to Pray,  for him not to be a Prey".

The prayer of David rescued him from the counsel of Ahithophel. (2 Samuel 15:31 & 2 Samuel 17:14)

Jabez changed his personal predicament into testimony through prayers. (1 Chron. 4:9-10).

And many people have through prayers of Faith turn life around and things works as expected by them.

Therefore, this is why I am glad to share with every reader, a series of devotional from "Our Daily Bread Devotional",  titled; "Prayer Changes Things". 

Prayerfully follow this devotional and your good long expected desires will be fulfilled in the name of Jesus our Mediator. Amen.

Shalom.