02/01/2024
Prayer, and an unwavering faith; what a great message for today, and applying our faith to our prayers brings amazing power to bear. I must admit that there have been times when I have prayed and even before the words have left my mouth... I have encountered doubt. Satan might whisper to me that the situation is too far gone, the task is too great, this request is too trivial to concern God, or attack me personally by asking a question like… why would God do this for someone as undeserving as you? These are just some of the reasons for doubt that Satan uses to rob us of answered prayer, but if we will remain faithful, and say “get thee behind me Satan”, then we will have won the battle, and perhaps the war.
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”
1 Peter 5:8-9 ESV
“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Mark 11:23 KJV
One night in February of 2016 Ann and I rented and watched the movie "The War Room". I was already familiar with having a quiet place, and my well-worn chair, where I entered into prayer... and yes, I also knew about answered prayer, and the doubts that Satan would like to bring into our prayer lives too. Ann and I strengthen one another, and sometimes we patiently wait on the answer to our prayers together. We know about long suffering, perseverance, patience, and yes, answered prayer.
So, that evening as we watched “The War Room” Ann and I were blessed by the movie’s message, then as we sat there quietly watching the credits roll across the screen my cell phone chime went off. I picked it up and saw that I had received a text message; the text had no words, just a single picture... It was a picture taken during a church service earlier that morning. The picture was of the long standing three man prayer team I was a member of, and we were praying over a grandmother who was standing-in for her grandchild that desperately needed an organ transplant. I was on the left, Jack Hughes in the middle, and John Saucier on the right. It was an affirmation of the movie’s message… and a reaffirmation of the power of prayer.
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”
James 5:13-15 ESV
I tried to include the picture I received that evening because it is indeed a powerful image, but the point is that God hears us and sometimes He even sends us a text message to let us know that our mountain is being moved.
Do we have a firm belief that God hears our every prayer, and that he answers them? Do we hold tight to our faith when Satan enters our War Room and tries to shake us, and tempts us to abandon our expectations? When what we pray for is not within the will of God, or is contrary to His character, do we let the dark one, or an unbeliever, convince us that God is a liar, and isn’t always true to His Word? Well, when this happens we need to lean hard into our faith and repeat what Jesus said to Peter…
“But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
Matthew 16:23 KJV
The War Room movie was a wonderful movie, but it pales in comparison to what happens in our own prayer closets, and prayer chairs, every day as a result of our secret prayers, broken hearted requests, and fervently brought desires. There is no substitute for praying in the name of Jesus (within the will of God), and feeling His presence there with us. There is no greater joy, call to praise, or reason to glorify God, than when He answers our prayers. Even when His answers are seemingly small victories, and aren’t amazing miracles, or earth shaking events, they are His, and will thrill, and warm our souls. Do we have a prayer request that we would like to bring before the Lord today?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for hearing our unceasing prayers, and answering them. Thank you for your Son Jesus who taught us how to pray, and for your Holy Spirit who guides us as we seek out your will in which to pray. You are with us always Lord, and no matter where our prayers are lifted up you are there to receive them. Thrill us with your touch, make us expectant in your will, and warm our souls as we experience the perfection of your character, and wait in you expectantly. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who was, and is, and is to come. Praised be your name as we are in awe knowing that you are walking before us into our prayers, standing with us as the words are formed in our mouths, and remembering every past expectation… at once. You indeed were, are, and will forever be, the fullness of our prayers. In this we trust, and on this our faith rests.
Rich Forbes