PRAYING AND REACHING GOD

“Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” (Selah: Stop and think about that). Whatever is going on with you: pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father.

Lately a painful development in my abdomen has been waking me early in the morning. I must get up, because sleep is impossible. After a visit to the Emergency Room, after CT scans, many Ultrasounds, and other tests, I am thankful that no serious, life-threatening results have come back. But pain is a lonely experience. So, I pray. It’s before daylight and I am learning to discern the cause…it is coming, I believe.

This experience has done something refining and good. I know more clearly what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote: 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 “…there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Can I, a “Health Nut” and believer in the health recommendations in Scripture glory in this? Well, I can pray for that kind of a heart!

What pain also does is humble you! Pain might make you and me more conscious of the sadness and pain of others. Compassion for others is a gift from God.

So, to pray in a way that God hears pray according to His will. How do you know what it is. Scripture, in one way or another will teach you. Here are prayers from the Bible that are powerful encouragements and have given me hope.

This prayer is repeated three times and will give you hope!

Psalm 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

Psalm 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 43:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Remember to give God His due of Praise.

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, honor, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Matthew 6:9-13 Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Psalm 20 The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; Send thee help from the sanctuary and strengthen thee out of Zion; Remember all thy offerings and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah. Grant thee according to thine own heart and fulfil all thy counsel. We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set upset up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. Now know I that the LORD saves his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen but we are risen and stand upright. Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call. 

Psalm 4 A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me and hear my prayer. 

O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. 

But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. 

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still. Selah. 

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and put your trust in the LORD. 

There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 

Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makes me dwell in safety.

Here is a powerful secret: the Word of God changes you. 

1Timothy 4:15,16 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 

Begin and end your day this way…and every time in-between when you have a minute.