We live in times and seasons which were foretold millennia ago. As Jesus birth was first mentioned in Genesis 3:15, so days in which we now live were foretold by faithful prophets, servants of the LORD and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
(Links at end for this)
In such troubled times it’s most important to have an Anchor, a stronghold in the day of trouble.
The most important thing you will ever do is PRAY.
PRAYER is submissive communication with One far above mere humans.
It's all God.
Not of us.
Not me or you.
All God..
"for of Him, and through Him and by Him are ALL things: to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."
Romans 11:36
MOST IMPORTANT is PRAYER.
We are apt to underrate PRAYER.
One is heard to say, “Oh well, at least we can pray!”
As if it’s a last resort, a stop-gap.
However as Jesus said PRAYER moves mountains.. when mixed with fasting. (See Matt 17:21)
PRAYER saves souls
PRAYER keeps souls
PRAYER grows souls
PRAYER is ETERNAL, it will never pass away, it is Spirit-breathed and life (this thrills me 😊).
PRAYERS are lifted to heaven, whether we keep on praying them or not. (Rev 8:4)
If uttered in true faith to our Father, in Jesus name, prayer will not fail.
In hard, sad times it’s a great comfort of heart to remember, to remind myself of the great power of prayer.
In our prayers and their answers, we can trace the hand of God’s great love for us. Prayer works!
But they can never run from your prayers.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26
PRAYER finds lost things, temporal or eternal. If prayed humbly to our God.
PRAYER will alter the course of this ship of life upon which we are sailing now!
May I never ever forget that.
Neglect it at our peril.
PRAYER, believing, God-honouring God-fearing prayer is the ANSWER TO EVERY DILEMMA.
Without prayer, no one will ever trust Christ.
Our first act as a believer is a halting, stumbing prayer. One of the most precious prayers I've heard was a 78 yr old lady praying earnestly in halting utterance for salvation:
"Be merciful to me a sinner."
This is of course is the prayer of the publican or tax collector in Jesus' parable (Luke 18:13). I'm quite sure dear Fran didn't consciously know that story. She had attended church all her life, but did not realise her personal need of a Saviour from sin, till attending our little church.
In her prayer, Christ was present, indeed, in the heart, if not in word.. that's meeting God's standards, not ours for our God looks on the heart. Her life showed her heart faith.
No one will ever come to pray a repentance prayer of salvation, unless they’ve been prayed over. All believers in Christ have indeed been prayed over...
The greatest prayer chapter to me is John 17, where our Saviour lifts us all up to His and our Heavenly Father in prayer.. read it HERE, meditate AND just think this was PRAYED over two thousand years ago in the garden of Gethsemane - for you and me!
I've often mentioned Bro. Mac who'd pray 7 to 8 hours a day over a map of the world.
Now he did not know names of all those people, who lived in all the countries upon the earth at that time - but our God did. As our Saviour, the dear LORD Jesus knew us when He prayed for us, 2,000+ years before!
We serve the all wonderful EL SHADDAI, the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.
Infinite. Eternal.
Not limited.
*Omniscient *Omnipotent *Omnipresent.
So don't hold back, pray in Faith as brother Mac did, praying for all, everyone everywhere to repent. It’s not impossible. Pray BELIEVING that all things are possible.
With God ALL things are possible.
Praying on 🙏🙏 dear ones, our Heavenly Father hears the softest cry of His little sheep. ❤️🙏🐑
Men ought ALWAYS to PRAY, not to faint. Luke 18:7
I'm praying and trusting in the God of miracles, as so many have before.
Bless, LORD God of glory, bless us ALL, in spite of our great sinfulness, we have fallen so far short of Thy Holy righteousness, we live in wicked, idolatrous nations, save souls today, now, for ETERNITY’s sake, please, with Thy holy mercy abounding, for Thy Eternal glory. In Jesus name, Amen.
Link to Article on How Will the Tribulation be Shortened?
Link to article “God’s Prophetic Plan”
*****
We should never, ever underestimate the power of prayer, Shaz. Thank you for reminding us here that prayer is an integral part of our faith journey.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
I just listened to a sermon by Dr. Stella Emanuel last night that moved me to my core. She was talking about how we need to be on our faces in prayer to God and how we need to let go of the world. I keep feeling in my spirit that God's people have not really humbled themselves, as a whole. Back in my dear mother's day, the saints of God would fall prostrate on their faces and cry out to God in repentance and for His mercy. Nowadays, people won't even kneel in churches, let alone fall on their faces before God. The Charlie Brown meme in your post is spot-on. The only way to reap God's healing and blessing upon our nations is to meet HIS conditions. Just like Israel in the Old Testament had to humble themselves and pray and seek God's face and turn from their wicked ways, that is the only remedy for us today. The sad part is that even as desperate and awful as times are now, "the church" is still for the most part asleep, lazy, spoiled, and unwilling to pay the price God is requiring of us. Few will really seek God's face - there is a difference between praying and seeking God's face. If there weren't, the Bible wouldn't separate the two in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Seeking God's face requires more than just prayer, and few will pay that price, nor do they even want to. The apathy is so oppressive and real, and it is just hard to see any change because of the lethargic conditions. Jesus' letter to the Laodicean church sounds like it was written to the 2021 church and describes things so perfectly. But, who will anoint their eyes with eye salve? Who even wants to see their true selves, at this point? Not asking these questions for you to answer them, just speaking out loud and agreeing wholeheartedly with your post.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning, Shaz! This was beautifully written and a needful reminder in this day and age.
ReplyDeleteI had a personal relationship with God my whole life, even as a young child. When I was about 35 I found out that my great aunt had dedicated me to The LORD and prayed for me when I was 6 months old.
I absolutely agree with you! Hallelujah!
Oh this is so true...how the missing part to many prayers is the repentance from sin, which is why our lands are not healed. So many just continue on in what is "right in their own eyes"...not taking the effort to search their ways by the Word of God, and turn from their wicked ways. Oh that I might search my own heart and ways, along with all of God's people, and turn from anything displeasing Him. America is just as steeped in wickedness as your nation. Will seek to join in the day of prayer for your country. Thank you for this post!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post Shaz. Repentance and prayer, and reading God’s word.
ReplyDeletePowerful post Shaz - the power of prayer should never be underestimated!! It is incredibly powerful and is not limited by our words, the resentment/unbelief of others or physical boundaries!
ReplyDeleteStay safe
Blessings
Maxine
It was so good to see your post this morning on my computer. It not only means that you are feeling well enough to post, but also well enough to preach! This sermon that you wrote on prayer is so needed today. I'm as guilty as the next person. I should spend more time in prayer each day. I tell myself I will, but I think that is just like waving a red flag at the evil one. He is determined to cut off my lifeline with the Lord and I will NOT let that happen. I agree with what Cheryl said. We have become apathetic and now are reaping the rewards as a world and a country.
ReplyDeletePraying for health and peace for you my friend as you continue along in your ministry.
Blessings,
Betsy
It is true. I am found out for my apathy in prayer which is woeful. We cannot expect to live a Godly life if we do not want to live a holy life. That can only come through complete surrender and communion with our Heavenly Father, yet so many of us struggle. May we be convicted and fall on our knees not for our sakes, but for the sake of others
ReplyDeleteI'm slow in responding, but this is a very powerful post and so vitally needed. Thanks Shaz.
ReplyDelete