Lessons From Abraham’s Relentless Prayer
Do you ever feel like you've asked too much of God? Does your prayer list consist of the same petitions over and over again? My health is a daily prayer, and I often wonder if God is tired of hearing me ask for the same thing day after day. Thankfully, the answer to that question can be found in the pages of Scripture.
In the age-old tale of Sodom and Gomorrah, a powerful moment takes place when Abraham converses with the Almighty. As God reveals his plan to destroy the sinful cities, Abraham begins a fervent prayer.
The Power of Prayer
Prayer is a powerful tool that Christians have been using for centuries to connect with God. In Matthew 21:22, Jesus says, "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." This shows the power of prayer and the importance of having faith in what we ask for.
James 5:16 also emphasizes the effectiveness of prayer, stating, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." This means that when we pray with sincerity and righteousness, our prayers can have a significant impact.
The Formula for Productive Prayers
In our Wednesday evening Bible study last night, we were looking at Psalm 62. Like many of the other psalms, I related to David’s ups and downs as he worked through this prayer song. I also recognized trends in my own prayer life that made me smile and helped me see what a productive prayer time should look like (plus or minus a few elements). Let’s walk through it together.
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. - Psalm 62:1-2
Watch Out for the Little Things
My back has improved dramatically over the past few weeks, and I'm almost back to my normal activity level. I still have the occasional twinge, which makes me stress over aggravating it again, but overall, I'm doing better.
Like Father, Like Daughter
I think we’re all probably familiar with the story of Caleb in the Bible. He and Joshua were the two spies among the twelve who were confident they could take the land of Canaan despite the giants in the land. Of course, they were overruled, which led to a forty-year-long detour through the wilderness.
After all the wandering was done and the lands were divided up among the tribes, Caleb steps up to Joshua and asks for the land that was promised to him. He had been faithful and trusted the Lord, and now, at the ripe old age of 85, he wanted what was his. So, without hesitation, he strode up to Joshua and requested it.
Crying Over Broken Walls
Lately, I’ve been drawn to the book of Nehemiah again. There’s something about it that calls to me, and each time I study it, I see something I didn’t notice before. This time was no different.