Thoughts on prayer...

I was going to post about the "whatsoever" list in Philippians that tell us the things we should think about.  But, instead, I am going to write down some thoughts instead.  Thoughts about prayers and praying.

Prayer is one of the necessities of life to a Christian.  
I don't know why God uses prayer like He does.
I mean... after all... He is God... 
He already knows everything.  
And, He already knows the best way to solve any situation.
But, He is God.  His game, His ball, His rules.

Bishop Thomas Muthee spoke once about prayer being the life's breath of our soul.  We breathe out all the cares of life and we breathe in refreshing strength from the Holy Spirit.  Without breathing, our body will suffocate and die... without prayer our soul can too.

Do you ever feel like your prayers hit the ceiling and then just crumble right back down on your head?
We all have felt this way.
But then, out of the blue... something I have been privately speaking to God about starts to come about!
Like a rose... it is just a little bud at first, then the bud starts to open... slowly over time it opens and the thing that was meant to be happens!  The flower that was inside the rose bush all the time is there out in the open!

And, then I see that prayer does amazing things for me...

• My faith in God increases.
• My desire to spend time in God's word increases.
• I want to talk with Him more and more.  Not just asking Him for "things", but getting to know Him. 
• I have a message of hope that I can pass to others around me.
• And, when you pray for others and tell them you are praying for them, it is a way of connecting with others that is so special!  People love to know that God cares enough about them to have one of His children pray about their lives!

And, His word says that our prayers do amazing things for God as well!

• It is a way we can personally honor God.
• They are like a sweet smelling incense to Him.
• Our prayers are precious to Him.  
• He loves our prayers. 
• It is something that you can actually do that goes right there in front of Him in the very seat of heaven!!!

Revelation 5:8 "And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people."

When you pray and your mind is telling you that you are wasting your time.  Ask yourself...

• Who would tell me not to pray?  
• Who would tell me it is a waste of time?

It is NOT God who would tell you that.  He wants us to know that our prayers can change the world!

James 5:16   "Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]." (Amp.)

Do not give up on praying.  No matter what your "feelings" at the moment are... keep on.  It is important that we are persistent in our prayer life.  If prayer was not so important and so powerful the enemy of your soul would not fight so hard to keep you from praying.  

And... he will fight to try to stop you.  He is subtle.  
Don't believe his whispering into your mind...

• That you are wasting your time. 
• That you are not holy enough or good enough to pray and expect an answer.
•  That it is taking too long.  God is NEVER going to answer that prayer.
• Telling us we don't have time to pray.  (I have two words for anyone who thinks they don't have time to pray...  Susanna Wesley

Your prayer life is important to the kingdom of God.  It is the one way you can absolutely make a difference in this world.  And to be quite frank, you do not have the right to give up on your prayer life.