| Author | Message | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 517 Registered: 8-2004  |
"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17 We think rightly or wrongly about prayer according to the conception we have in our minds of prayer. If we think of prayer as the breath in our lungs and the blood from our hearts, we think rightly. The blood flows ceaselessly, and breathing continues ceaselessly; we are not conscious of it, but it is always going on. We are not always conscious of Jesus keeping us in perfect joint with God, but if we are obeying Him, He always is. Prayer is not an exercise, it is the life. Beware of anything that stops ejaculatory prayer. "Pray without ceasing," keep the childlike habit of ejaculatory prayer in your heart to God all the time. Jesus never mentioned unanswered prayer, He had the boundless certainty that prayer is always answered. Have we by the Spirit the unspeakable certainty that Jesus had about prayer, or do we think of the times when God does not seem to have answered prayer? "Every one that asketh receiveth." We say - "But . . . , but . . ." God answers prayer in the best way, not sometimes, but every time, although the immediate manifestation of the answer in the domain in which we want it may not always follow. Do we expect God to answer prayer? The danger with us is that we want to water down the things that Jesus says and make them mean something in accordance with common sense; if it were only common sense, it was not worth while for Him to say it. The things Jesus says about prayer are supernatural revelations. --My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers I needed this reminder today. I pray it will be a blessing to you as well! Blessings, Mary | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4041 Registered: 12-2003  |
Wonderful quote, Mary. Thank you. Colleen | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 2215 Registered: 11-2002 |
Thank-you for sharing that, Mary. The sister who runs the Monday evening Prayer and Praise group that I attend likes to say that their prayer group has a 100% answer to their prayers. Of course, when I mentioned this on the Richard O'Fill website a year ago I was admonished that satan, too answers prayers. Prayer without ceasing gives one the peace that being under and in GRACE gives. I know I am a sinner, always has been, is and will continue to be. Living with a prayful heart without ceasing means that should I meet my maker sooner than I'd planned and really didn't have the time to partake in last communion or confession, etc. well, I've covered. this is possibly the most wonderful thing that I've learned from the Lutheran understanding and teaching on grace. It's not an in and out revolving door of forgiveness like I was taught growing up SDA but rather there is the assurance of salvation and living in a prayful state is a blessing beyond words. | ||
| Lynne Registered user Username: Lynne Post Number: 414 Registered: 10-2005 |
Yes - Pray without ceasing! Many of my prayers have been answered, just not how I thought they would be answered. And I'm sure there is more mystery in my future for prayers not yet answered. I will pray without ceasing. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2555 Registered: 3-2004  |
Thank you Mary. I, too, will pray without ceasing. I know God always answers prayers, just not the way I want them answered and they are answered in His time and not mine. I will try not to complain about that. Diana | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 2220 Registered: 11-2002 |
Several years ago the pastor where I attend had his sermon about prayer. Oh, he had great faith when he was a little boy. He grew up Lutheran and for as far back as he can remember he just wanted to be a minister when he grew up so he could share Jesus with everyone he met. He had great faith. He was about eight years old and Christmas was approaching. He had great faith that he'd get a new bicycle for Christmas. Every night while saying his prayers he'd remind Jesus of his need for a new bicycle. His faithful and loving parents knew his prayers were reminding God of the bicycle he thought he needed. He honestly believed he'd get a beautiful shiny new bicycle on Christmas morning. He had faith. He got up Christmas morning all excited about riding around on his new bicycle and you know what? There was no bike waiting for him. He waited all day thinking maybe the best would be given to him later for the grand fanalie. Finily he realized he wasn't getting the bike he had such faith that he'd get and he was so sad, devistated, emotionally crushed. He asked his parents how come God didn't do what He said He'd do, that if we have enough faith we can move mountains. It seemed to him if faith can move mountains then faith for sure could have gotten him a new bike. His dad told him God takes care of our needs and wants only what is best for us. Maybe God had reasons he didn't know about to not bring the bike. Like, God could have known a new bike would be flaunted in a bragging an unhumble way before the non-Christian children in the neighborhood and that would not be a good wittness for Jesus. So, his sermon ended that just because God doesn't give us what we want God gives us what is in our best intesest and we are to not loose faith because God knows best. He then told us that years later his dad had told him that him and the mother had really prayed about if their child should be given that bike or not and they believe they were guided to making the right decision. Even the devotion of his parents was astounding to me-that they knew how disapointed their child would be but a greater lesson was to be learned. |
