March 29
The Courage of Praying
"…Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you."
II Samuel 7:27
Prayer is not a formula but rather it is a conversation with our Heavenly Father; with the One Who is greater than any need or burden we may have. So often we wait until our situation is hopeless, until we have exhausted all other means to an end before we bring our situation to God. I’m sure you’ve heard it said before or even spoke it yourself; "well we’ve tried everything else, now we just need to pray". Prayer should never be our last resort; it should be our first resource. It’s vital that we remember that God longs to meet our need. He waits for us to run to Him with even the slightest care and place in it His all sufficient hands of power and provision. The truth is, most of us do not run to God with our needs first and foremost because we find it far easier to try and fix it ourselves rather than find the courage to lay it down in prayer.
Prayer requires faith and trust, trying to fix it ourselves doesn’t. Until prayer becomes like breathing to us, we will continue to allow the stress of "fixing" to thrive in our life. Anxiousness and stress are both fertile grounds for stumbling and disappointment. There is a harvest that comes in its season upon the fields where anxiety has been sown. The fruit of independency, that trying to fix everything yourself mentality, will never satisfy and never sustain in the winter months when our soul so desperately needs feeding.
True prayer does not require an elegant tongue or even scripture memorization; it only demands a sincere heart. God longs to hear His child utter His name, "Father, Papa, Daddy" in child like trust desiring no one but Him. His heart responds to this name, this relationship between father and daughter. He moves quickly to secure her heart and to enfold her in His infinite embrace of tender mercy. He wants to be our hero, our security, hope, strength, joy, supply and anything else our soul shall desire or need. Until all other security, hope, heroes, strength, joy and provision are taken from us He will never be given the chance to become this for us.
The question that each of us must ask ourselves is, "do I really need God in my life"? Your lifestyle will unfold before others how much you need God – really need Him. Some of us know no other way of life than turmoil, unrest and anxiety so we fear the change of letting go of these all too familiar companions. But God desires better things for us. I believe if we were to take an inventory of our emotional companions there would be some He would recommend us to ditch. Praying brings comfort and even peace because it is the remedy for all anxiety. Prayer is medicine to the troubled soul. Prayer has been His design from the very beginning; Him speaking His love to us and hearing our love spoken to Him. His perfect will is to fellowship with us where we are, in our garden, in the land where He placed us to labor and live for Him. Prayer is the fulfillment of His heart’s greatest desire; to commune with you, the love of His heart, every day we live.
Volumes have been written, no doubt, on prayer. Upon their pages the urgent message arises for the Church of God to pray, to seek the face of the Lord. These faithful writers have discovered this message upon the eternal pages of the Bible. It’s the constant call of Heaven for every Christian to take up spiritual arms and pray. Though it is a constant, it’s often the most neglected. Woven through the pages of Holy Scripture is the urging to pray, the power of praying, and a faithful God Who answers every prayer offered by a believing heart. Prayer is clearly revealed as God’s urgent will for every child of His. Yet it is still clothed in Holy wonder, veiled for those eyes who have yet to look Heavenward for anything and everything. It’s been said, "One should never initiate anything that he cannot saturate with prayer." Sidlow Baxter said, Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers." A woman is never more powerful than when she is on her knees before God in Holy Communion seeking His face no matter the cost. No sweeter life will she find than that of unbroken dialogue with Him; living, thinking, breathing, working and ministering out loud to Him and for Him.
Those who have left the deepest imprints upon the timeline of history have been men and women of prayer.
Pearls of Grace is a book of devotions for the entire year, including a read through the Bible in a year calendar, broken down for every day. Beautifully written with encouraging words of hope and empowering words of joy and strength for every woman. Pam draws from the truth and richness of God's Word and gives real life examples in her down to earth style. A must have in your library, click here for more information.
For more from Pam Jenkins and Jabbok Ministries, please visit www.jabbokministries.com!
Listen to Pam Jenkins's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com.
For more from Pam Jenkins and Jabbok Ministries, please visit www.jabbokministries.com!
Listen to Pam Jenkins's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com.
