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Prayer Matters

The first thing I want you to do is pray.
Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.
1 Timothy 2:1 The Message


When you speak...God hears.

Those who pray keep alive the watch fires of faith. For the most part we don't even know their names. Such is the case of someone who prayed on a day long ago. His name is not important. He is important not because of who he was, but because of what he did.

He went to Jesus on behalf of a friend. His friend was sick, and Jesus could help, and someone needed to go to Jesus, so someone went. Others cared for the sick man in other ways. Some brought food; others provided treatment; still others comforted the family. Each role was crucial. Each person was helpful, but no one was more vital than the one who went to Jesus.

John writes: "So Mary and Martha sent someone to tell Jesus, 'Lord, the one you love is sick'" (John 11:3, emphasis mine).

Someone carried the request. Someone walked the trail. Someone went to Jesus on behalf of Lazarus. And because someone went, Jesus responded.

In the economy of heaven, the prayers of saints are a valued commodity. We can and must repeat the phrase in manifold ways. "The one you love is tired, sad, hungry, lonely, fearful, depressed." The words of the prayer vary, but the response never changes. The Savior hears the prayer. He silences heaven so he won't miss a word. The Master heard the request. Jesus stopped whatever he was doing and took note of the man's words. This anonymous courier was heard by God.

You can talk to God because God listens. Your voice matters in heaven. He takes you very seriously. When you enter his presence, the attendants turn to you to hear your voice. No need to fear that you will be ignored. Even if you stammer or stumble, even if what you have to say impresses no one, it impresses God--and he listens.

You are the someone of God's kingdom. Your prayers move God to change the world. You may not understand the mystery of prayer. You don't need to. But this much is clear: Actions in heaven begin when someone prays on earth. What an amazing thought!

When you speak, Jesus hears. And when Jesus hears, the world is changed. All because someone prayed.


...an excerpt from Max Lucado's book 'For These Tough Times'.

I posted a photo of tulips today...even though the tulip season for this year is long past.  They remind me of someone in my life who is a great prayer warrior.  Over the years she has assured me time and again that she is praying for me...and for my family.  Last fall she was diagnosed with cancer...and she knew her days were numbered.  She asked us to pray for her...that she might live to see the tulips of spring once again.  We prayed.  Earlier this year...we had a tulip tea party in her honour.  She is still enjoying life....and counting every day as a gift from God.  Yesterday she celebrated her 89th birthday.  Her prayer since spring has been that she will live to see her son and his wife return from a service assignment in Kenya at the end of August.  We have joined her in this prayer. They will be home this week and Frieda is so looking forward to seeing them again.

Our prayers matter! It is a wonderful experience, to pray for each other and to see how God answers. When we speak...Jesus hears.

9 comments:

  1. Blessings Judy! I will pray for you friend. Thank you for this beautiful message this morning. Words that my heart needed to hear and be reminded of. God bless you.

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  2. DITTO TO THE ABOVE. GREAT LESSON TODAY. GRANNY

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  3. Oh how very special that Frieda's prayers and the prayers said for her will be answered once again! How great is our God!

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  4. Thank you very much for posting this inspiring message! I am a firm believer in prayer; definitely a prayer warrior! Ditto to the above comments. Blessings.

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  5. Guess this will be a day of ditto comments! Thank you for this post. Thank God for all the Friedas in our lives. I too will be praying for Frieda. Please tell her that she has blessed us by her testimony.

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  6. I love your picture of that special, different and beautiful tulip amongst tulips! How wonderful that Frieda's prayers are being answered in these ways. What an inspiration she is!

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  7. Oh how I needed to read this today, thank you! C. S. Lewis said, ""I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." I believe likewise as well as in prayer...because I believe God answers prayers...in His own way, His own time. Another Lewis quote, ""When I lay these questions before God I get no answer. But a rather special sort of 'No answer.' It is not the locked door. It is more like a silent, certainly not uncompassionate, gaze. As though He shook His head not in refusal but waiving the question. Like, 'Peace, child;you don't understand.'" Both quotes are from A Grief Observed, written when Joy, his wife, died and bring me comfort since Dave, my husband, died.

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  8. I too needed this today. Thank you so much for ministering to me. And for reminding me that He loves me and that my prayers are important to Him.

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  9. Thank you so much for sharing!! Your words, reminders from God himself was much needed to hear. God Bless!!

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