Prayer for Help in Time of Need

Tip! What really determines the effectiveness of our labor for Christ is the measure of our faith and the fervency of our prayers. If our faith is poor and our praying is indifferent; how can we expect to achieve much for Him?

A poor, humble Christian woman had a claim brought against her on some property she owned in a neighboring State. It was in court, and she was summoned to attend court at a certain time.

Having scarcely money enough for her daily needs, she was obliged to borrow the means to take her there, and pay some cheap hotel room while awaiting the conclusion of the trial. She was positively assured by the lawyers, that she would receive several hundred dollars. She was detained five weeks, instead of one, as she had anticipated, and then the suit was postponed until fall of that year.

She was in agony of mind; in a strange place--owing for board and washing, and no money to take her to her home. Having spent a whole night pacing the floor and calling on the Lord to redeem His promises, she felt the fresh air would do her good, so sadly she made her way down a side street.

She had gone but three blocks when she found a diamond ring. Being accustomed to the ownership of diamonds in her younger days, she knew its value; took it home, watched the newspapers, and that same evening saw a reward of seven hundred and fifty dollars offered for it.

Tip! Approach God in prayer and ask for a fit body. Get clear and visualize your fit body and believe.

We can only imagine that joy lent wings to her feet, and thanksgiving that filled her whole heart. The sum was sufficient to pay her bills, bring her back home and return a portion of the borrowed money.

A Prayer for Supper Answered

Tip! Talking to God This is the one on one type prayer where we converse with God to develop our relationship with him. We may ask him to help us in areas that we need spiritual, physical or emotional support.

An educated, accomplished lady, reduced to the very lowest rung of poverty's ladder, of whom we will call Mrs. Smith, has this unfailing testimony of God's hearing and answering her prayer of faith.

The daughter went up-stairs one day to announce to Mrs. Smith the complete emptiness of their pantry. There was not even a piece of dry bread, nor a drawing of tea; not a potato, not even a bean; and "Charles, poor fellow, will come home from his work at six, tired and so hungry; what shall we do, mother?"

"The Lord will send us something, before he comes," said Mrs. Smith. So, for three hours more the daughter waited. "Mother, it is five o'clock, and the Lord has not sent us anything." "He will, my dear, before half-past six;" and the widow went in the next room, to pray and ask that her daughter might not feel it useless to call on God herself.

In fifteen minutes, the door-bell rang violently, and a gentleman, suitcase in hand, said, "Mrs. Smith, I left the room which I rented from you one year ago, in a great hurry, you will remember; and I owed you fifty dollars. I have not been in the city since that time, and now I am rushing out of it again--I just stopped by to give you this money. Good-bye."

God’s Challenge; Our Prayer

"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
(Job 38:4 NKJV)

IN This mighty chapter, God seems to draw near to the perplexed and stricken soul, who sits brooding over the problems of human life, and points out that mysteries equally insoluble are above our head and under our feet; that we live and move among them.

People fret and despair over a mystery forced on them by sorrow and loss. We cannot interpret it, and we are shaken to the heart; but the whole universe teems with mystery.

We cannot explain the creation of the world, the separation of sky and earth or the reflex influences of the one on the other. Light and darkness, wind and rain, snow and ice, storm and sunshine; the instincts of the animal creation these defy our absolute understanding.

But who frets at the unfathomable mystery which covers these natural phenomena! We use all of them, and make them serve our purpose.

How can we be surprised then, if we discover similar mysteries in God's dealings with us in this life. He does not answer our questions by always telling us His secret reasoning’s. His thoughts and ways are so much higher than ours, as the heavens are higher than the earth, and we could not any more understand His reasons than tiny children can understand the mysteries of human life.

But behind all this mystery our Father's heart is beating and our Father's voice is pleading, that we should trust Him. Little children, you cannot understand, but you are infinitely dear to Me; I have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now; "what I do, you know not now, but you will know them hereafter.'" Trust me, and "let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

PRAYER:

O God our Father, there are so many mysteries in the world, and in human life, and our eyes grow tired with straining into the darkness. Help us to believe in Your unchanging love, and to trust where we cannot see or understand. In Jesus’ name AMEN.

Disobedience on Our Part will Shut the Ear of God Against many of Our Prayers

Tip! The Holy Bible says in (John 5:13) this statement about prayer: And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.

There are many things which would be pleasing to God for us to do that He has not specifically commanded us to do or not to do. A true child is not content with merely doing those things that their father specifically commands them to do. They study to know their father's will, and if they think that there is any thing that they can do that would please their father, they do it gladly, though their father has never given them any specific orders to do it. So it is with us as true children of God. We do not ask merely whether certain things are commanded or if certain things are forbidden. We study to know our Father's will in all things.

There are many Christians today who are doing things that are not pleasing to God, and leaving undone things which would be pleasing to God. When you speak to them about these things they will confront you at once with the question, "Is there any command in the Bible not to do this thing?" And if you cannot show them some verse in which the matter in question is plainly forbidden, they think they are under no obligation whatever to give it up.

But a true child of God does not demand a specific command. If we make it our study to find out and to do the things which are pleasing to God, He will make His study to do the things which are pleasing to us.

Tip! In (Phil. 4:6) we have these words about prayer: Be careful for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.

Here again is where we find the explanation of many unanswered prayer! We are not making it the study of our lives to know what would please our Father, and so our prayers are not answered.

Take as an illustration the questions that are constantly coming up today. There is the matter of pornography, dancing or the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Many who are indulging in these things will ask you triumphantly if you speak against them, 'Does the Bible say, 'Thou shall not look at pornography?' 'Does the Bible say, 'Thou shall not dance?' 'Does the Bible say, 'Thou shall not drink and smoke or use drugs?' NO IT DOES NOT - That is not the question.

Tip! Approach God in prayer and ask for a fit body. Get clear and visualize your fit body and believe.

The question is; is our heavenly Father well pleased when He sees one of His children looking at pornography, at the dance, high, drunk or smoking? That is a question for each of us to decide for ourselves - prayerfully, seeking light from the Holy Spirit. "Where is the harm in these things?" many ask. It is aside from our purpose to go into the general question, but beyond a doubt there is this great harm in many a case; they rob our prayers of power.

Psalm 145:18 throws a great deal of light on the question of how to pray: "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth."

That little Expression "in truth" is Worthy a Study in our Prayers

Tip! 'Intercession' is amplification in prayer; it is going out in broadness and fullness from ones self for others. Primarily, it does not center in praying for others, but refers to the freeness, boldness and childlike confidence in praying.

Psalm 145:18 throws a great deal of light on the question of how to pray: "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth."

That little expression "in truth" is worthy to study. If you will take your concordance and go through the Bible, you will find that this expression means "in reality," "in sincerity." The prayer that God answers is the prayer that is real, the prayer that asks for something that is sincerely desired.

Much of the prayers today is insincere. People ask for things which they do not wish. Many a woman is praying for the conversion of her husband, who does not really wish her husband to be converted. She thinks she does, but if she knew what would be involved in the conversion of her husband, how it would necessitate an entire revolution in his manner of doing business, and how consequently it would reduce their income and make necessary an entire change in their method of living, the real prayer of her heart would be, if she were to be sincere with God:

"O God, do not convert my husband."

She does not wish his conversion at so great cost.

Many churches are praying for a revival that does not really desire a revival. They think they do, for in their minds a revival means an increase of membership, an increase of income, an increase of reputation among the churches, but if they knew what a real revival meant, what a searching of hearts on the part of professed Christians would be involved, what a radical 3transformation of individual, domestic and social life would be brought about, and many other things that would come to pass if the Spirit of God was poured out in reality and power; if all this were known, the real cry of the church would be:

Tip! Asking of God and receiving from the Lord - direct request to God, immediate connection with God - that is true prayer.

"O God, keep us from having a revival."

Many a minister is praying for the baptism with the Holy Spirit who does not really desire it. He thinks he does, for the baptism with the Spirit means to him new joy, new power in preaching the Word, a wider reputation among men, a larger prominence in the church of Christ. But if he understood what a baptism with the Holy Spirit really involved, how for example it would necessarily bring him into antagonism with the world, and with unspiritual Christians, how it would cause his name to be "cast out as evil," how it might necessitate his leaving a good comfortable living and going down to work in the slums, or even in some foreign land; if he understood all this, his prayer quite likely would be "if he were to express the real wish of his heart,"

"O God, save me from being baptized with the Holy Spirit."

But when we do come to the place where we really desire the conversion of friends at any cost, really desire the outpouring of the Holy Spirit whatever it may involve, really desire the baptism with the Holy Spirit come what may, where we desire anything "in truth" and then call upon God for it "in truth," God is going to hear.