the following is taken from the chapter 'breakthrough moment'
...prayerlessness often coexists with extensive bible knowledge.
only the Holy Spirit can inspire us to pray effectually,
and He uses various means to accomplish his purpose.
first of all, SERIOUS PRAYER is born out of a sense of need,
out of the knowledge that we must ask God to intervene.
the Spirit of God moves us toward prayer by using scripture to show us two things:
our human need and the Lord's promise of provision.
breakthrough prayer isn't born out of an 'I SHOULD PRAY TODAY' attitude but,
instead, out of an 'I MUST HAVE GOD'S HELP' frame of mind...
like worship and hunger for God,
THE IMPULSE TO PRAY IS OFTEN CONTAGIOUS.
we catch it as we watch others presenting their needs at the throne of grace,
pouring their souls out in prayer.
years ago i reached one of the lowest points in my spiritual life.
i was so challenged by the ministry
and so discouraged that i felt dangerously numb.
the Lord seemed remote, too distant to help me,
and i fell into a depressed, prayerless state.
all of this happened while i was trying to pastor a church!
one sunday during a time of prayer,
i noticed a woman standing at the edge of the platform,
sobbing quietly
and then gradually raising her hands toward heaven.
her uplifted face, stained with tears,
reflected the earnestness of her heart.
in her, i saw my answer.
the God she was imploring
was the same one i needed to call on.
i broke down in tears and began seeking the Lord again.
God used that woman to encourage a pastor in spiritual trouble,
though not one word ever passed between us.
that night i found the strength to continue my journey.
this was not a case of emotional excess,
but an example of how the act of prayer itself can inspire others.
i never learned that woman's name,
but another one named hannah,
whose story is told in the bible,
has also provided motivation for my prayer life.
hannah could be called 'the first lady of prayer'
because she's the first woman whose petition is recorded in scripture.
her story is related in some detain,
showing us how God uses deep human need
as a springboard to accomplish his purposes.
whenever he does this,
believers receive answers they can hardly believe.
(hannah couldn't have children
and her husband's second wife-with-children, peninnah taunted her)
'constantly tormented,
with no offspring of her own,
weeping and unable to eat,
hannah seemed mired in a hopeless situation.
in the midst of her pain,
she didn't know what God was about to do.
she had no idea that
He was going to raise up a prophet
who would lead His wayward people
back to Himself.
nor did she know that God would choose her,
among all the women of israel,
to bear that child.
God chose this heartbroken woman
out of compassion and grace.
and he used a remarkable method
to bring about the birth of hannah's son, samuel.
once when they had finished eating and drinking in shiloh,
hannah stood up.
now eli the priest
was sitting on a chair
by the doorpost
of the Lord's temple,
in BITTERNESS OF SOUL hannah WEPT MUCH
and prayed to the Lord.
and she made a vow, saying,
'O Lord Almighty,
IF YOU WILL only look upon Your servant's misery
and remember me,
and not forget your servant
but give her a son,
THEN I WILL give him to the Lord
for all the days of his life. I samuel 1.9-11
this prayer, one of the greatest in the bible,
not only changed hannah's life,
but also altered the history of israel....
incredibly, we have the same potential in prayer that hannah did.
like hannah, OUR 'BREAKING POINT' CAN LEAD TO A 'BREAKTHROUGH''
if it spurs us to call on God.
hannah asked for a son,
but god gave her much more. ..
hannah's encounter with the Lord was not about emotional fanaticism.
her example assures us that a prayer answering God can resolve
seemingly hopeless situations.
if we deny or doubt that fact,
we are the losers.
many times, sons and daughters are wooed back to the Lord
through a mom or dad breaking through in prayer.
great things still happen...
hannah's sorrow, tears, and anguish
showed the earnestness and intensity
of her petition....
like hannah, we sometimes find it difficult
to form the proper words for prayer.
but God hears our heart's cry even when our mouths are silent. ...
..(eli thought she was drunk and rebuked her)
..her experience at this moment points to an important lesson about prayer:
if you pray,
you will certainly become a target of satan,
who will immediately attack you
with spiritual opposition and discouragement.
the secret to prevailing in prayer involves '
'pressing through'
and 'holding on to God'.
don't be distracted
when people accuse you of fanaticism
because you believe God answers prayer.
follow the Spirit's leading
and ignore everything that discourages you
from trusting the Lord....
after hannah explained to eli what was really happening,
she manifested great faith in God.
'eli answered,
go in peace, and may the God of israel
grant you what you have asked of Him.I samuel 1.17
upon hearing that word from the priest of God,
hannah 'went her way
and ate something,
and her face was no longer downcast v18
..she felt sure her petition would be granted...
hannah was sure about God's answer BEFORE she conceived her child...
..some earlier christians used the term
'praying through'
to describe the supplication that stays
at the throne of grace
until this assurance has been granted.
rather than the human centered
'name it and claim it' formula,
this is the 'pray it and know it' cycle..
some problems, of course, will not be resolved by a few moments spent in heartfelt prayer.
these can only be overcome by extended times of prayer and waiting in faith.
..paul understood this in giving instructions about spiritual warfare in his letter to the ephesians,
'pray in the Spirit on all occasions
with all kinds of prayers and requests.
with this in mind,
be alert
and always keep on praying for all the saints..ephesians 6.18f
why must there be 'all kinds of prayer'
'on all occasions'
if God has already decided to help us?
why must we 'keep on praying for all the saints'
if one concise petition can do the trick?..
these are some of the mysteries of prayer that God never fully explains.
still, He gives spiritual insight to those who spend time with Him
at the throne of grace...
hannah did something else that day in the temple
that shows us how to succeed in prayer.
she dedicated the son she prayed for
before he was even conceived..
it seems at first glance
as though she was bargaining with God...
hannah asked for a son
and promised God that
the answer would be consecrated to Him...
A COMMON PROBLEM IN OUR PRAYER
IS THAT WE FOCUS ONLY ON OURSELVES
WITH LITTLE THOUGHT TO HOW
GOD CAN BE GLORIFIED...
(note: when we are desperate enough to say 'i will do x, if You will do y'..
if we are really desperate we may say 'i will do anything You want,
if You will do what You know is best!)
..most christians can quote from memory,
cast all your anxiety on Him
because He cares for you. I peter 5.7
but reciting a verse is different from putting it into practice.
putting a verse in practice means
unloading our burdens through fervent prayer...
but reciting a verse is different
from putting it into practice.
putting the verse into practice
means unloading our burdens through fervent prayer...
'yet i am poor and needy;
may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
O my God, do not delay psalm 40.17
david combined FAITH IN GOD'S CHARACTER
with a prayer for help.
the actual transfer of our anxiety, fear, or sorrow occurs
when we give it to God in prayer.
lack of prayer translates into lack of peace
no matter how knowledgeable we are about the bible.
'do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.
and the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds
in Christ Jesus. philippians 4.6-7
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment