We have looked a some of the prayers in the Bible...by no means are these the only ones. All throughout Scripture we find the God honoring prayers of men and women in very difficult circumstances and in joyous times when their prayers were simply filled with praise and thanksgiving. Scripture tells us to pray...at all times:
"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. " Luke 18:1
"I want men [and women] everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer." 1 Timothy 2:8
"Pray for those who persecute you." Matthew 5:44
"Pray continually. " 1 Thessalonians 5:17
There is no doubt that we are called to times when we need to separate ourselves from the distractions of the world and pray. Prayer is talking with God. Prayer is dialogue, not monologue. Prayer is listening as well as speaking to God. Prayer expresses our dependence upon God. It is God’s ordained means for unleashing His power in our lives and in the world around us.
Often we pray spurred on by the moment. Some people call these "arrow prayers"...short prayers through the day "shooting up" to the Throne of Grace in heaven. Often we find ourselves lost for words as we pray and we just kneel there, quietly and let God's Spirit minister to us. We may be driving or busy at home and God's Spirit reminds of us someone...we stop for a moment and pray. We can be in a moment of depair and cry out to God...that is also praying. The disciples showed us that, in one of the shortest prayers in Scripture...
"Then He got into the boat and his disciples followed him.
Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake,
so that the waves swept over the boat.
But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying,
"Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"
He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?"
Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves,
and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked,
"What kind of man is this?
Even the winds and the waves obey him!" (Mat.8:25).
How often we "feel like we are drowning". The storms of life have swept our emotions and as we look out, all we see are the waves of confusion or disappointment. Our mind is tossed about by winds of emotional anguish...anxiety. ...what is there to do but cry out "Lord, save me! I am going to drown" In this short prayer we have called out to the only one who can calm our fears, change the circumstances (should that be His will) or get in the boat with us and strengthen us. I often think of this passage when I face difficult situations. This storm was a surprise for everyone BUT Christ. He was sleeping...at rest. If you look at a similar passage in Mark 6:45-53 when Jesus sent the Disciples into a boat and another storm broke out. Jesus watched the Disciplines from the top of a mountain...and what did he go to do up there? Pray. I find great comfort in knowing that, as God allows storms in my life. In both these incidents Jesus came in or was there in the boat. Storms are no surprise to God. And Jesus is praying me through and He is even there with me, (in the boat).
Jesus prays for us. He shows us that very truth when He talks to Peter in Luke 22 . Here Jesus is responding to the Disciples discussion about who was the greatest of them. And Jesus says to Peter "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers"
Whenever we begin to think of ourselves to highly, we need to be careful because a fall is soon to come. Jesus knew what was coming for Peter...just as he knew the storm was coming as the disciples got on the boat...and He had already prayed for Peter to come through. It's also interesting to see that Jesus says "Satan has asked to sift you as wheat" Satan's schemes to persecute and destroy God's own have to be approved by God Himself. As I once heard a Pastor say..."satan is God's satan" God has set clear boundaries where he is allowed to work in...and he may not go further. (Job is a good picture of this also)
So what comfort can we draw from this as Christians?
First, arrow prayers go straight to the Throne of Grace. They are quick but powerful!
Second, Jesus is interceding on our behalf. The Father allows the circumstances and Jesus prays for us to persevere and come through so our faith will not fail, but be stronger!
Third, when we come through, we are to encourage one another.
Suffering is never wasted, when we can grow in faith and encourage others.
How can we apply these three thoughts to our lives today?
Pray at all times.
Pray for our children and loved ones to not waste the suffering.
Teach them, when them come through to encourage those who may be going through the same thing. That's part of God's plan for them.
Pray that their faith increases through difficult times.
Praise God for knowing and placing His boundaries on you and them so that the enemy will not prevail!
Arrow prayers are effective prayers...they are our cry out for God's help. We take the right "position" as one in need looking up to the One who can rescue us. It is the lowly calling out to the heavenly.
Next week we will take a look at what to pray when we don't know exactly how to pray.
---------------
Don't forget to take a look at the survey on the left.
And order your book if you want to do the Book Club with us!
"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. " Luke 18:1
"I want men [and women] everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer." 1 Timothy 2:8
"Pray for those who persecute you." Matthew 5:44
"Pray continually. " 1 Thessalonians 5:17
There is no doubt that we are called to times when we need to separate ourselves from the distractions of the world and pray. Prayer is talking with God. Prayer is dialogue, not monologue. Prayer is listening as well as speaking to God. Prayer expresses our dependence upon God. It is God’s ordained means for unleashing His power in our lives and in the world around us.
Often we pray spurred on by the moment. Some people call these "arrow prayers"...short prayers through the day "shooting up" to the Throne of Grace in heaven. Often we find ourselves lost for words as we pray and we just kneel there, quietly and let God's Spirit minister to us. We may be driving or busy at home and God's Spirit reminds of us someone...we stop for a moment and pray. We can be in a moment of depair and cry out to God...that is also praying. The disciples showed us that, in one of the shortest prayers in Scripture...
"Then He got into the boat and his disciples followed him.
Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake,
so that the waves swept over the boat.
But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying,
"Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"
He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?"
Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves,
and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked,
"What kind of man is this?
Even the winds and the waves obey him!" (Mat.8:25).
How often we "feel like we are drowning". The storms of life have swept our emotions and as we look out, all we see are the waves of confusion or disappointment. Our mind is tossed about by winds of emotional anguish...anxiety. ...what is there to do but cry out "Lord, save me! I am going to drown" In this short prayer we have called out to the only one who can calm our fears, change the circumstances (should that be His will) or get in the boat with us and strengthen us. I often think of this passage when I face difficult situations. This storm was a surprise for everyone BUT Christ. He was sleeping...at rest. If you look at a similar passage in Mark 6:45-53 when Jesus sent the Disciples into a boat and another storm broke out. Jesus watched the Disciplines from the top of a mountain...and what did he go to do up there? Pray. I find great comfort in knowing that, as God allows storms in my life. In both these incidents Jesus came in or was there in the boat. Storms are no surprise to God. And Jesus is praying me through and He is even there with me, (in the boat).
Jesus prays for us. He shows us that very truth when He talks to Peter in Luke 22 . Here Jesus is responding to the Disciples discussion about who was the greatest of them. And Jesus says to Peter "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers"
Whenever we begin to think of ourselves to highly, we need to be careful because a fall is soon to come. Jesus knew what was coming for Peter...just as he knew the storm was coming as the disciples got on the boat...and He had already prayed for Peter to come through. It's also interesting to see that Jesus says "Satan has asked to sift you as wheat" Satan's schemes to persecute and destroy God's own have to be approved by God Himself. As I once heard a Pastor say..."satan is God's satan" God has set clear boundaries where he is allowed to work in...and he may not go further. (Job is a good picture of this also)
So what comfort can we draw from this as Christians?
First, arrow prayers go straight to the Throne of Grace. They are quick but powerful!
Second, Jesus is interceding on our behalf. The Father allows the circumstances and Jesus prays for us to persevere and come through so our faith will not fail, but be stronger!
Third, when we come through, we are to encourage one another.
Suffering is never wasted, when we can grow in faith and encourage others.
How can we apply these three thoughts to our lives today?
Pray at all times.
Pray for our children and loved ones to not waste the suffering.
Teach them, when them come through to encourage those who may be going through the same thing. That's part of God's plan for them.
Pray that their faith increases through difficult times.
Praise God for knowing and placing His boundaries on you and them so that the enemy will not prevail!
Arrow prayers are effective prayers...they are our cry out for God's help. We take the right "position" as one in need looking up to the One who can rescue us. It is the lowly calling out to the heavenly.
Next week we will take a look at what to pray when we don't know exactly how to pray.
---------------
Don't forget to take a look at the survey on the left.
And order your book if you want to do the Book Club with us!
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