Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 ESVIf I'm depressed, grumpy, stressed, or deeply concerned about something that is out of my control He wants me to pray and pour out my heart before Him.
Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8 ESVGod wants me to rejoice in the Lord all the time. Rejoicing in Him means rejoicing in who He is, not in who I am or what my circumstances are.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4 ESVThere is so much in life that God really intends for me to use as a channel to prayer but it is so much more easy for me to go to fake substitutes. Rarely do I go to the One that truly satisfies. But honestly only He satisfies. Sure, I may not find that my needs are "met" right away but every time I feel the ache I pray and God hears, and God is there. Even when life is dreary I can always go to His smiling face.
Praise is due to You, O God, in Zion,
and to You shall vows be performed.
O You who hear prayer,
to You shall all flesh come.
When iniquities prevail against me,
You atone for our transgressions.
Blessed is the one You choose and bring near,
to dwell in Your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
the holiness of Your temple! Psalm 65:1-4 ESV
Lately I've been thinking about a story I read from Amy Carmichael's life. When Amy first went over seas to serve as a missionary she was shocked when she learned that not all missionaries got along with each other. When I learn something like that I find it sad and depressing. I don't want to be like that and I hope to do differently. But Amy didn't just contemplate it and purpose to do better. It drove Amy to pray. It drove her to dig into the Word and pray. Pray about the situation. Pray that God would help her to love everyone around her.
Amy took this difficult situation as a channel to prayer. But this wasn't the only time she took that opportunity. Amy was deeply grounded in Christ. She had a personal relationship with the Lord, and she would spend hours upon hours if need be to seek the Lord in this or that area. This is what I'm challenged by.
Lord, please don't let me miss the channels to prayer that You give me. Please help me in my weakness in praying. Thank You for always being there. A simple yet amazing promise that You will never, ever forsake me. ♥-----
The prayer power has never been tried to its full capacity. If we want to see mighty wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of weakness, failure and disappointment, let us answer God's standing challenge, "Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not"!
-J. Hudson Taylor
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