Luke 18:1
And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint...
Early in my walk with the LORD, I would pray for what I wanted, and when God did not deliver immediately, I would give up. I heard people talking about the power of prayer, and how "prayer changes things" and all that. But it did not seem to work for me. I got to the point where I honestly thought my spiritual gift was giving up!
I remember when my best friend died of breast cancer in 1998. She was a young woman with two small children. A group of friends and I prayed and fasted that the LORD would heal her. We were determined that God would do what we wanted. She called me on Monday evening and we talked for a couple of hours. She was planning a visit to her hometown to spend couple days with her parents. Some of her last words to me were "I'll be back on Friday". She went to visit her parents on Wednesday morning and passed away on Thursday afternoon. Her body was transported back to the funeral home on Friday, just like she said.
I was so disappointed that God had not done what I thought He should do. After all, I prayed, I fasted, I trusted in Him...and my friend still died. I loved her like the big sister I had never had. I could not believe God took her. But I realize now that God did heal her. She is no longer suffering with breast cancer. There are no more chemo treatments, no more radiation, no more nausea, no more bone marrow transplants, no more surgeries, no more isolation because of low numbers. She is completely and totally healed for all eternity. On top of that, she is in the presence of her Savior, whom she dearly loved and faithfully served.
Praise God He has grown me since then. I now understand that prayer changes ME. As I submit my requests unto Him, whether He answers them in the affirmative or not, I am at a point now where I am more willing to submit to His will instead of mine. If God does not come through with something that I ask, it is likely that He has another plan in mind. His plan is always better than mine. And I have no room nor any right to give up on any prayer that I am praying to my Father.
As I write these words, I am reading a very good book on the subject of prayer. It is entitled, "It Happens After Prayer". It was written by Pastor H. B. Charles, Jr., pastor of the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Pastor Charles is a dynamic expositor and excellent writer. I strongly suggest you order this book if you have not read it already.
Luke 18:1
And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint...
Early in my walk with the LORD, I would pray for what I wanted, and when God did not deliver immediately, I would give up. I heard people talking about the power of prayer, and how "prayer changes things" and all that. But it did not seem to work for me. I got to the point where I honestly thought my spiritual gift was giving up!
I remember when my best friend died of breast cancer in 1998. She was a young woman with two small children. A group of friends and I prayed and fasted that the LORD would heal her. We were determined that God would do what we wanted. She called me on Monday evening and we talked for a couple of hours. She was planning a visit to her hometown to spend couple days with her parents. Some of her last words to me were "I'll be back on Friday". She went to visit her parents on Wednesday morning and passed away on Thursday afternoon. Her body was transported back to the funeral home on Friday, just like she said.
I was so disappointed that God had not done what I thought He should do. After all, I prayed, I fasted, I trusted in Him...and my friend still died. I loved her like the big sister I had never had. I could not believe God took her. But I realize now that God did heal her. She is no longer suffering with breast cancer. There are no more chemo treatments, no more radiation, no more nausea, no more bone marrow transplants, no more surgeries, no more isolation because of low numbers. She is completely and totally healed for all eternity. On top of that, she is in the presence of her Savior, whom she dearly loved and faithfully served.
Praise God He has grown me since then. I now understand that prayer changes ME. As I submit my requests unto Him, whether He answers them in the affirmative or not, I am at a point now where I am more willing to submit to His will instead of mine. If God does not come through with something that I ask, it is likely that He has another plan in mind. His plan is always better than mine. And I have no room nor any right to give up on any prayer that I am praying to my Father.
As I write these words, I am reading a very good book on the subject of prayer. It is entitled, "It Happens After Prayer". It was written by Pastor H. B. Charles, Jr., pastor of the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Pastor Charles is a dynamic expositor and excellent writer. I strongly suggest you order this book if you have not read it already.
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