The
Effectiveness of Prayer
How effective are we
Christians in our prayer life? When it comes to taking a poll, how
do we measure up? What is the percentage of results that are positive, vs.
results that are negative? Does God hear ALL prayers? I have heard Christians
state that they have prayed for over twenty years for something, and they have
yet to see an answer. The sinner states that he/she prays all the
time for something, but not sure that God even hears their prayers.
There are many things
that can be said regarding effective prayer, but it all boils down to
this. For the SINNER, the only prayer heard by God from you
is the Prayer of Genuine Repentance. If you pray, and you get answers,
Someone says, "God
doesn't answer my prayers, but He does the neighbor next door. Perhaps He
likes that person better. God doesn't EVER, show respect of persons. So
then, We must look at some things that are
important, to find out why God seems so silent, when it comes to Our prayers.
1- What is our attitude
when we come to prayer?
2-What can we say is the
status of our Faith?
3-Did we seek for the
Will of God? or did we pray for Him to know Our Will.
4-Did we think that we
should, or could, Command God to do what we asked?
Just what is the problem
with getting through to the Father?
We say, "I could
have more faith, if God would just do what I ask." Not
necessarily. Because then we would have God over a barrel, and we would always
remind God that we needed that extra proof that he loved us enough to do what
we want. It only matters that my will is met.
As Far as Commanding God, We
don't have that right. The only commanding we have a right to do is to
command the devil to get out of God's way and leave God's people alone.
I am reminded of a story
once heard, where a mother sat beside the bedside of her dying son. The
son was a Christian, ready to go home, but the mother was unwilling to accept
anything but what she wanted. She daily, many times a day, commanded God
to heal her son, so finally, God did what she wanted. The son got better,
was released from the hospital, only to walk away from the Lord, get into
trouble and end up in prison for the rest of his life.
Folks: Talk to God
like you would talk to your neighbor, or family. He likes that one on one
relationship. But approach Him with an open heart and mind, and ask that
His perfect will be done in all situations. If you have
ought against a friend or family member, make it right before going to
the Father. It does make
a difference.
Prayer really works when
we are willing to step out of the way, and let God work. When His perfect will
is done, everything is great in the end, even when the outcome wasn't exactly
what we thought it should be.
God bless you as you
victoriously abound in Him.
I Love you all.