1 Chron 5:20
20 They were helped in fighting them, and God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him. NIV
- They were great warriors as it states in verse 18, but their victory didn’t come from their strength. It says that they trusted in the Lord and cried out to Him, and He answered their prayers. See the Contrast to those in verse 25. Am I trying to go through life’s problems in my own strength, or have I put my trust in God crying out for His help? God, I need your help. I want you to to be the rock that I put my trust in. Ps 62:2;
Mark 6:5
5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. NKJV
- Their lack of faith limited God. God’s power needs a bridge into this world. Mark 5:34. They not only didn’t have faith to form a bridge, but they had unbelief to form a road block vs 6.
- Notice here where there is a lack of miracles that God’s will hadn’t changed Heb 13:8. He still wanted them to be healed. Mark 8:24; Jesus lays hands on a man and he received part of his healing. Jesus laid hands on him again and he received the rest. The disciples prayed for the boy at the bottom of the mountain of transfiguration in Mark 9:17-18, -26 and their prayers seemed to be to no avail. Jesus rebuked them and then healed him. To often we have similar circumstances and draw the conclusion that God doesn’t want to heal them, but I believe these examples make it very clear that even when things didn’t happen, God’s will hadn’t changed, He still wanted to see them healed. In Matt 8:2-3; and Mark 1:40-41; Jesus answered the question: was it His will to see people healed? Isa 53:4;
Jer 42:7
7 At the end of ten days the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. ESV
- So he sought God for direction for ten days. How long will you wait before you give up, before you say there was no answer? How long will you let it ring before you give up? Dan 10:12-13; 1 Thess 5:17;
- Our thinking on seeking God for an answer is horribly skewed. We think you pray hard and if you don’t get an answer today we think that God didn’t answer and we don’t understand why God didn’t answer us. Or we declare that God’s silence is an answer of sorts even if it isn’t the one we were hopping for. I am not declaring that God gives everything we want or that his answers will always be what we want to hear but you see people pushing receiving answers. See Jesus’ parable of the persistent widow Luke 18:1-8.
- I think there have been a lot of things that I have prayed for knowing from the Word that they were God’s will (which is meant to be our assurance 1 John 5:14-15) but I gave up on them anyways because I didn’t see them shortly after my prayer.
- I think there is a lot for me to learn about prayer. God give me the eyes to see the lessons you have and the strength to walk them out.
Acts 12:5
5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. NIV
- Peter was in prison, BUT… but means to forget what comes before it. The way it is stated here implies that the prayers of the church had a direct impact on Peter getting rescued from prison. Then this is not a random act of sovereignty on God’s part but a response by God to the churches prayers as promised by Jesus in the gospels. Matt 21:22; Mark 11:22-24; John 14:13; 15:16; 16:23;
- If this is a response to their prayers prayer is the most powerful force available to us. Through prayer we are connected to the God of the universe. Prayer is available to you at any time what are you doing with it? What are you seeking God about in prayer? Earnetly/fervently = Greek word 1619 adverb from 1618 coming from 1614 intent, with out ceasing, stretched out. Am I praying for anything like that. Is there anything that you are holding onto in prayer intently stretching out for . 1 Thess 5:17
Amos 7:2-3
2 When they had stripped the land clean, I cried out,” Sovereign Lord, forgive! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!”
3 So the Lord relented.
“This will not happen.” The Lord said.
Whoa! Talk about the power of prayer! Amos prayed (which means he spoke to God) for the nation of Israel and God not only heard his cry but changed things to honor his prayer.
God help me to remember the importance of talking to you and please help me stay sensitive to be able to hear your voice. I pray for our nation, that You will forgive our sins and that You would draw this nation to You and give us all a hunger and thirst for You and for Your word.
Prov 28:9
9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination. NKJV
- 1 Thess 5:17;
- What kind of prayer is it if you have turned your ear away from the law? If you are not really interested in God or His word why should He speak. It is when you seek with all your heart that you find. Jer 29:13 Not when you seek yourself with all your heart. Do your prayers seek God’s face or just his blessing for yourself? Prayer is not meant to be a self-centered action. Hos 7:14
Matt 14:13
When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. NKJV
- Jesus took time to withdraw. He spent time with the Father so He would be ready and able to pour out on all the people. If Jesus needed to step away and pray and spend time with God alone how much more so do we need to do the same.
1 Sam 12:23
23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. NKJV
- Samuel says that for him to stop praying for Israelites would be a sin. Are you praying for your nation? If any nation has ever needed prayer our nations needs it. If not praying for our nation is a sin, it is one I have been guilty of it. God please forgive me. Please do a work not only in my life, but in my nation. Lord, please draw our nation after you. Give us hearts that want to please you. Let us see what you see. Give me and our nation a hatred for sin. Help this nation to seek you first over everything else. 1 Thess 5:17
