We must always remember the promise in James 5:16-17 that effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man will accomplish great things! God’s Word encourages us in Hebrews 4:16 to always come boldly unto the throne of grace so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. We need God’s Great Mercy everyday and every day we are in need of His Grace to encourage us and strengthen us through the daily trials and tribulations of life!
We are commanded in the Scriptures to make a conscious decision to set aside specific time to talk with our Father in Heaven and to listen to Him as He works in our hearts through His Holy Spirit and His Word. The greatest privilege Our Father gives us is the freedom to approach Him at any time. Not only are we permitted, we are expected to meet with Him through prayer on a regular basis. Great power is available from God if we will but pray in faith, believing. Doctor R. A. Torrey built a message around James 4:2 many years ago, “You do not have because you do not ask.” He said, “These words contain the secret of the poverty and powerlessness of the average Christian, the average minister and the average church.” “Many individuals and churches wonder why they have so little victory over sin. Why am I growing so slowly into the likeness of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? And God answers… “Neglect of prayer. You have not because you ask not.”
Prayer has as much power today when men and women are themselves on praying ground and meeting the conditions of prevailing prayer, as it has ever had. God has not changed and His ear is just as quick to hear the voice of real prayer, and His hand is just as long and strong to save as they ever were. Ask God today to reveal His will for your life and the situation you are facing. Lift the level of your praying and He will show you great and mighty things you have never seen before!
Our Heavenly Father is looking for men and women with a heartfelt commitment to intercessory prayer. This kind of commitment requires an earnest effort, and an energetic approach to praying that dictates the setting aside of specific time to be spent coming boldly before the throne of grace into the presence of our Father with our prayers. We should follow the example of Epaphrus, who according to Colossians 4:12 was always wrestling in prayer for other Christians that they would stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. Epaphrus was a simple humble servant of Almighty God just like you and I. But he determined to make his life count for eternity by obeying with all his heart Colossians 4:2, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Prayer was the first thing on his list for the day. How about you? Is prayer the first thing on your list for the day: or the Last? Or is prayer somewhere in between if it ever happens much at all. The word devote used here doesn’t fully convey the complete meaning of the original Greek, which was giving constant attention to, or persevering.
Our Adversary Satan the Devil is in the business of doing all in his power to prevent us from devoting ourselves to spending serious time in prayer. He succeeds in defeating our prayer lives by getting us so involved in activities of secondary importance that we have very little time or energy left to develop our prayer life! How does your daily schedule reflect your obedience to the scriptures command to pray always! Are you developing the habit of constant prayer?
What are you asking God for? What are you trusting and believing Him for in your life! Are there any obstacles, any mountains you need removed? Call unto Him and He will perform miracles! Do you have a prayer list where you have listed your requests so when God answers you can keep track? If you do not, please begin today. It will be a tremendous encouragement to your faith to look back and see the many victories through answered prayer God has given you! Our Father in Heaven does answer Prayer if we meet the conditions for answered prayer! Scripture tells us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and He will direct our paths. He will give us the desires of our heart.
Too many believers get discouraged and frustrated with life. Many Christians are not experiencing the love, joy, hope, peace, and fulfillment that should be dominant in their lives. Far too many Christians are lonely, some on the verge of hopelessness and despair. A large number are suffering from poor health and feel depression is just a way of life. Many are asking, “Is this the abundant life that Jesus promised us in John 10:10?”
Our wonderful Father in Heaven wants us to live a life with Hope. Not just hope of the future which is awesome, but hopes and dreams for today. A better job, a new career, a home, a marriage partner, a better marriage, children, great health and much more! God expects us, Brethren, to have hope, plans, goals and dreams and to believe Him for great and mighty things! It does not matter how much time is left! We are to occupy till He comes. God is speaking to you and me right now! Are we listening and are we willing to respond to His voice?
Will we have the Faith necessary to be an overcomer? To develop the kind of overcoming Faith and Trust required of every disciple you must seek the Lord in Prayer, meditate on His Word and walk in obedience in every area of life. In Luke 17:5 the Apostles said unto their Lord, “Increase our Faith.” Are you praying daily to have your Faith increased? Begin today by writing it down in your prayer journal and believe He will increase your Faith! Your intake of God’s Word is also very critical to developing a dynamic Faith! In Romans 10:17 we are told that Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. We must become a diligent reader, student and memorizer of God’s Word. Time should be regularly scheduled to meditate upon His Word and allow its transforming power to change our Character and develop our Faith!
Brethren, we all must have hope or life will overcome us and stifle our very spiritual lives! We must believe, have faith and pursue dreams and desires because God expects us to think big! Don’t limit God by having little faith! He is the author of such tremendous promises as Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things you have never seen before!” and Matthew 21:21-22, Jesus answered and said unto them, “Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.” And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Do we grasp the scope of the promises He has given us? They are not limited to these verses alone. In John 16:24 we are promised further, “Ask and you shall receive so that your joy will be complete!” If your joy is not complete James 4:2 says, “We have not because we ask not!”
Psalm 55:1-2
Give ear to my prayer O God, and do not hide thyself from my supplication.
Give heed to me and answer me;”