Don't Promise To Pray .. Pray Now

My Utmost For His Highest

“He…wondered that there was no intercessor…” —Isaiah 59:16

“The reason many of us stop praying and become hard toward God is that we only have an emotional interest in prayer. It sounds good to say that we pray, and we read books on prayer which tell us that prayer is beneficial— that our minds are quieted and our souls are uplifted when we pray. […] Worship and intercession must go together; one is impossible without the other. Intercession means raising ourselves up to the point of getting the mind of Christ regarding the person for whom we are praying (see Philippians 2:5). Instead of worshiping God, we recite speeches to God about how prayer is supposed to work. Are we worshiping God or disputing Him when we say, “But God, I just don’t see how you are going to do this”? This is a sure sign that we are not worshiping. When we lose sight of God, we become hard and dogmatic. We throw our petitions at His throne and dictate to Him what we want Him to do. We don’t worship God, nor do we seek to conform our minds to the mind of Christ. And if we are hard toward God, we will become hard toward other people.”  CHAMBERS

Have you ever talked to someone, and said “I will pray for you”, they hesitate, and then they say "I have been praying about it too".  You get the sense that they have actually not been praying about it, but thought it was the appropriate thing to say.  Many Christians get into that rut.  Often times, the reason we don’t pray is that we have no spiritual life beyond an occasional thought that is sparked when we read a bumper stickers, or something is said by a family member or friend or pastor.  Prayer is critical to our spiritual health.  The primary purpose of prayer is not to get things that will make our physical or financial or family life better, but to enrich our relationship with the One who saved us.  The One who gave us new life. 

So what about the times when someone asks you to pray or you feel prompted to tell them that you will pray for them.  Three words . . “Do it now”  Don’t wait for later, because there will very likely not be a later.  I can’t count the number of times, to my sorrow, that I have made the commitment, and then immediately forgotten about the commitment I just made.  The words “I will pray for you” have no power, but prayer does. (James 5:16) My point is not to condemn, but to encourage.  Whatever it is that troubles you or someone you know, take it to the Lord in prayer. ELGIN

“What A Friend We Have In Jesus”

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer”

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)