The Force of Prayer By Debra Courtney

The LORD is far from the wicked: but He hears the prayer of the [consistently] righteous (the upright, in right standing with Him). Proverbs 15:29 AMP

Do you sometimes forget that prayer is not a right, but a privilege that we get to participate in from God? God is not obligated to hear the prayers of anyone. He will reject the prayers of the wicked. But he will hear the prayers of the righteous, and he will answer them according to his will and timing.

And that is why I want to pray the right kind of prayers. Don’t you? Yes we can pray to our Father in heaven our own words and what is on our heart, and there is nothing wrong with that; however, we can also pray the right kind of prayers right out of the word of God? I love to pray the Psalms that David prayed and also I pray the prayers that Paul prayed. Sometimes they just have the words that I want to say to my Heavenly Father.  

I have experienced the fact that you can’t wink at God on Sunday and live like you want to the rest of the week!  

People who ignore the warning signs and convection of the Holy Spirit will not be blessed or comforted. That’s just not me. I want my prayers answered. I want the blessings’ of God in and on my life and my children and my children children.

I am more and more intentional to have the right things coming out of my mouth so I can have the right things coming in to my life!

When our rebellion against God gets so offensive, he will laugh and mock us when we do need him. Even our sacrifices will be an abomination to him. I make it a priority to examine my heart and life to make sure that I am in right standing with him. He wants to answer our prayers! I have learned the hard way to just go ahead and humble myself, pray and ask God to forgive me of my sins by confessing them with my mouth. He always hears me and delivers me and then he blesses me! He will do the same for you too!

Prayer is mine and yours greatest weapon on earth! God commands us to pray. He expects it daily.

“ALSO [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up)”. Luke 18:1 AMP.

It pleases God when we pray. He wants to be involved in our life every day. Prayer changes things. By prayer the hand of God can move people around you and miracles start to happen!

PRAYER IS A FORCE THAT CHANGES OUR LIVES!

Debra’s life goal is to inspire and motivate women globally to become all they have been created and designed to be by using the guiding principles of their Creator’s word in gaining wisdom, understanding their designed-given personality identities & create their purpose!  You can contact Debra at dwcscc@yahoo.com. 

 

“…, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice…”

                                                      Song of Songs 2:14 

When All Else Fails… ~ A Guest Post by Terence Allen

Photo by Amelia Grace Photography

Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

For some reason, the Allen men were born directionally challenged. Whatever else we may be good at, finding our way from Point A to Point B is not one of them. Praise God for GPS systems, on-line mapping programs, and the humility to ask for directions (no matter how much it wounds our pride and self-esteem).

I can’t say that it’s because of plain faulty wiring in my brain, some genetic predisposition (curse would be more accurate), or we are just a family of men who can’t find our way out of a paper bag without our wives’ gracious, generous, gentle help (did I lay that on thick enough?)

Regardless of the reason, I am constantly consulting some help or aid to find my way to my destination. Just as I am often clueless in finding my way across town, I can be even more clueless navigating life. It is much too complex, challenging, difficult, and evil for me to think that I can figure it out on my own.

Just as I sometimes need to ask for guidance in finding physical direction, I need to do the same to find my way spiritually. There is no need for false pride or posturing, no reason to hesitate or delay, and no reason to expect anything but the right answer. I might not like the answer. I might not like where I end up or how I get there, but that doesn’t change the need to ask. We must pray – consistently, continually, passionately, and resolutely. We must trust God for the right answers at the right time.

When all else fails, pray. And next time, don’t wait until you’ve tried everything else.

 

Terence Allen is a writer, pastoral counselor and founder of Gideon's Sword Christian Counseling. He is preparing for ordination as a Pastor of Counseling. He works at and attends Cumberland Community Church in Smyrna, Georgia.