The Prayer Of Faith

And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick...

[James 5:15, ESV]

Many have the idea that when we come to God and make our requests, it is expected that He will give us what we want if we have enough "faith". The prayer of faith is not a prayer to change the will of God or to make God do contrary to what He has planned. The prayer of faith is worshipfully coming to Him, humbly acknowledging His sovereign authority and loving wisdom, openly telling Him our needs, committing our way to Him, and patiently allowing Him to answer our requests as it seems best to Him. The prayer of faith is about an unwavering confidence in God, a belief that He will do what is best, and a cheerful committing of our needs into His hands. We need to always remember that He already knows what He wants to accomplish and when.

Prayer that pleases your loving Father is a prayer where the attitude is "not my will, but Yours, be done" [Luke 22:42]. Prayer is a means by which He exercises His decrees hence your prayers are not in vain. Your loving Father answers every faithful prayer, but not always in the way or time you think best. Sometimes, His answer may be opposite of what you prayed for. But as long as you have said the prayer of faith, praying that His will be done, you will see that eventually His answer is for your own good.

Prayer: My Loving Father, thank You for the lessons I learn from Your Word. As I come before You in prayer Lord, I lay aside my will and pray that Your will be done in my life. I believe You will do what is best for me and I gladly commit all that concerns me into Your hands. May I be able to recognize Your will in response to my prayers. In Jesus Name, Amen.

In Quietness.....

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:    

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength,
   but you would have none of it.
You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’Therefore you will flee!
You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’Therefore your pursuers will be swift! 

[Isaiah 30:15-16, NIV]

Life tends to be extremely busy sometimes, the older we become, the higher we climb up the ladder, the greater the responsibilities. We wake up laden with deadlines to meet and we go to bed thinking of the loads of things still unattended to. Most times we fall into the trap of believing there is no time for anything else, we tell ourselves that we need to create more time for work. If we could, we would add extra hours to each day so that we would break even. Slowly we let our walk with God take a back seat, prayer becomes to us a hurried arrangement of humbled words as we rush out the door each morning.

At those moments when we think more time for work is what we need, God thinks otherwise, He invites us to a quiet place, a place of silence and calm, a place where we're willing to slow down the pace and listen. A place where He is willing to give to us "hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places"(Isaiah 45:3), a place where He would quicken the Spirit within us with insight from above (Job 32:8).

So take a look at the past week or month, have you given time to the one priority that exceeds all else? Take a deep breath and slow down, seek the presence of the Father and watch Him take the lead for you, that's what He does best.

Prayer: Lord, I know I have not really spent much time with You lately, forgive me father, some days i get so carried away by all I have to cater to and it overwhelms me. Today, I want to find my way back to your presence, for in Your presence is where I really want to be. There I find more grace, there I receive Your wisdom for direction.

One-Year Daily Bible Reading Plan - Nov. 28 2010 - Psalms 57-58 (OT) , Matthew 14 (NT).

You Are Not Forgotten

God remembered us when we were down,

His love never quits.

[Psalm 136:23, MSG]

As the year draws to an end, there might be times you may want to take stock of where you are compared to what you hoped to achieve this year. If you find out that some key things you wanted to have this year do not seem to have manifested, it becomes discouraging. You may have received words, promises from the Lord, even confirmations, and you know that the fulfillment is just around the corner, yet it seems like it is so close yet so far. Such may make you feel that God has forgotten you. Beloved child of God, God can never forget you. His love endures forever.

The word "remembered" in today's scripture originates from the Hebrew word "zakar" which means to mark (so as to be recognized). It means to be mindful, to recount or to make mention of. The bible gives accounts of times when God "remembered". Just to mention a few, He remembered Noah [Gen. 8:1]. He remembered Rachel [Gen. 30:22]. He remembered Hannah [1 Samuel 1:19]. He remembered His covenant [Psalm 105:8]. None of these imply that God had forgotten. The time had come for Him to fulfill His promise and what He had "marked", He recalled. 

Your loving Father is not a man, that He should lie [Numbers 23:19]. Whatever He has promised you, He will fulfill. Maybe you are waiting on the promise of a new beginning, a restoration, a heart's desire or a breakthrough. Maybe God may have put a ministry in your heart, but you are experiencing doubts or opposition. God is faithful. Wait on Him. Those who trust in and wait on the Lord will find new strength. It is in the waiting that you will see God's promises fulfilled. You are too close to give up.

You are not forgotten. Your Loving Father always remembers and He will fulfill His plans, purpose and promises in your life.
 

Prayer: My Loving Father, I thank You for the reassurance that I am not forgotten. You are mindful of me and You remember me, even when I am in a state of weakness or when I am down. You remember Your promises to me. I hold on to Your faithfulness, Your steadfastness and Your promises. May I learn to wait on You and trust You with all that I am. In Jesus Name, Amen.