LAR’S COLUMN OF GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY: The word for today is “prayer”; dictionary definition meaning: A devout petition to God or an object of worship; spiritual communion with God or an object of worship, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession; the act or practice of praying to God or an object of worship; a formula or sequence of words used in or appointed for praying; prayers, a religious observance, either public or private, consisting wholly or mainly of prayer. > Is our prayers always answered? Can we rely on our prayers to get us through life when we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. “Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place (2 Chronicles 7:14-15). --- So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer (Ezra 8:23). --- To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer (Psalm 4:1). --- Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). --- He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him (Psalm 91:15). --- The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them (Psalm 145:18-19). --- The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous (Proverbs 15:29). --- “It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear (Isaiah 65:24). --- ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ (Jeremiah 33:3). > We can pray anywhere; by ourselves to the Lord, and/or when two or three are gathered together for prayer, and when the body of Christ comes together in numbers. Jesus is always present wherever we may be, and at any time! “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly (Matthew 6:6). --- “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened (Matthew 7:7-8). --- “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:19-20). -- “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22). --- “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them (Mark 11:24). --- “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:13). --- “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7). --- “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you (John 16:23). --- Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). ---And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight (1 John 3:22). > God’s answer to prayer is not always answered the way we anticipate it to be; but it is always according to His will in order to glorify the Lord’s name, no matter how it is answered! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:5-7). --- Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one (Colossians 4:2-6). --- And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:15-16). --- And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.
Posted on: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 23:09:12 +0000