Being born into a Christian home did not make me know who Jesus is. Going to church every Sabbath did not give me an encounter with the Holy Spirit. Leading and serving in the church as an officer did not teach me how to listen to the voice of God. Looking back, I was just a helpful and dedicated church member. A regular attendee following the crowd but not following the footsteps of Christ.
My prayer life was in a similar lukewarm state. I really didn’t understand Christ-focused prayers. Every time I prayed, I would always bring my requests to God and ask Him to fix the problems I presented. “Lord, please do this, please do that” and the list was always endless with demands that I wanted God to do. I was praying for worthwhile things but in the wrong way — no power and Christ-centeredness. I would pray for the sick and ask Him to heal as He healed in Jerusalem and in so many other towns where He had performed miracles when here on Earth. When the world pandemic broke, I told God that I do not want anyone in Canada to get the infection. When Canada announced the disease in the country, I narrowed my prayer to ask God that no one in Alberta our province would get the infection. When the Alberta government broke the news that there were patients who were diagnosed with the virus, I narrowed my prayer to my church and my friends with very fragile hope in my heart. I did not have peace or power in my prayers.
Thankfully, the Lord did not give up on me. The Holy Spirit worked on my heart in a mighty way and I began to see how far I was from Christ, from having the mind of Christ, and being filled with Him. Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
One day, while listening to a sermon and taking extra time for praying and fasting, I heard the voice of the Lord asking me to refocus my prayers from demands to thankfulness, and to pray with promises. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 it says: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Was I putting God first in my prayers, or myself? Did I really know God? Did I know His promises and desires for me and for those I was praying for? Was I thankful to Him for the ways He was working?
My prayer life changed and my relationship with the Lord changed after this encounter. God has said He has good plans for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11). Tell God that you have faith in Him as you claim His promise from Philippians 1:6 that you are certain that He will finish that good work that He began in you (or anyone you might be praying for) until it is finished.
When Angels Go To Work
In 1 Peter 5:7 scripture says, “[Cast] all your care[s] upon Him, for He careth for you.” If you have a prayer request for healing remember Jeremiah 17:14 “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for Thou art my praise.” If someone is worried or fearful: Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.” Take time and pray to the Lord upon your requests as you claim His promises and ultimately His will.
Remember, God is not obligated to bring to pass what we say. Instead, He is obligated to bring to pass what He says. When He hears His promises coming out of your mouth, angels go to work.
Call To Action
Pray fervently, pray as if all your life depends on that particular prayer. Remember God is not a man to fail to act. When you remind God of His promises upon your life and the life of your loved ones whenever you have a prayer request, blessings are released, miracles are set into motion, and angels go to work. God’s Word is so powerful, and when we claim those promises for our children and loved ones we are bringing His power right into their lives. His Word will work and bring conviction and healing and help in a way that our words will never do. Pray, then sit back and watch the Almighty work.
All scripture taken from the King James Version.
