What You Can Do During Hard Times . . . PRAY! - Pt II
In the last article I shared with you two things you can do during tough times to stay on course. This article provides the final two power points.
3. Pray!
Our nation has always believed in the power of prayer. In the National Day of Thanksgiving Proclamation, George Washington said, “…it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor…” Our nation was founded by people who prayed to God and believed that their prayers were heard. Prayer is spoken before Congress begins its day, by a team of doctors before surgery, and after a child is baptized. Prayer is as important to life as the breath that we breathe. At our church, we have a saying that goes: “Much prayer, much power; little prayer, little power; no prayer, no power.” Prayer is powerful and it works.
Why should we pray? Prayer is the vehicle that brings God’s plans into our earthly reality. It is the spiritual tool that God uses to accomplish His plans for our lives. Prayer requires a partnership between God and the human being. Matthew 6:33 says “seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” Essentially, God has made a deal with humanity. If we will use prayer to accomplish His will on earth, He will make sure that we have all that we need.
Prayer involves more than “me” time with God, it includes “we” time; us working with God. Our focus should be on how to pray in order to achieve God’s purpose for our lives. What is God’s will for our lives? His will includes peace, joy, excellent health, prosperity, loving relationships, well-rounded children, and vibrant communities. When you pray, focus on what God wants for your life. Express your frustrations and anxieties; God wants to hear from you. But, during your prayerful conversation, let Him know that you acknowledge the fact that His plans for your life are filled with good and not with disaster. Pray and expect your future to be better than your past. God is waiting to hear from you.
4. Don’t Give Up
I believe that Warren Buffet sums up America’s current condition in his letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders. He writes, “…never forget that our country has faced far worse travails. In the 20th century alone, we dealt with two great wars (one of which we initially appeared to be losing); a dozen or so panics and recessions; virulent inflation that led to a 21 percent prime rate in 1980; and the Great Depression of the 1930s, when unemployment ranged between 15 percent and 25 percent for many years. America has had no shortage of changes. Without fail, however, we’ve overcome them. America’s best days lie ahead.”
If you agree with Mr. Buffet, as I do, you increase the probability of handling hard times with grace and power. America’s best days lie ahead because in tough times we pull together and at our worse, we become our best. Ultimately, I believe that we will overcome the prevailing times because of our faith in God and our confidence in the resiliency of the human spirit. Psalm 20:7 (NLT) says “some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.” Houston, count your blessings, have faith, pray and never give up. The best is yet to come.
If you liked this article you might also like:
- What Is Prayer?
- What You Can Do During Hard Times . . . PRAY!
To Purchase Pastor Suzette’s Book, Praying to Change Your Life or other product, please visit her website at www.prayerinstitute.com.
|
Contributing Author |
Intense determination to implement God’s purpose for her life would describe the character of Pastor Suzette Caldwell. She has committed her life to achieving excellence through biblical living. She strongly believes that any person who is willing to “walk by faith” and trust God will achieve their dreams and desires. Presently, she serves as an Associate Pastor for Windsor Village United Methodist Church. In addition, Caldwell serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Kingdom Builders' Prayer Institute, a non-profit community-based organization that prays for the Houston metropolitan area and teaches people how to pray. Her service to the community, in addition to her technical career, has better equipped her to empower people to fulfill God’s promises for their lives.. |
|
|
It's time to equip yourself not just to pray, but pray more effectively through these powerful teaching resources. In Paula's new 3 CD series "Prayer" she covers the topic of prayer intensely with guests Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams, who specializes in prayer, and Evangelist Shane Perry who has made prayer the cornerstone of his ministry. For your Ministry Gift of $25 or more you will receive "Prayer along with Suzette Caldwell's book "Praying to Change Your Life," a book that will take you from 0 to 10 in your prayer life, and Prayer Declarations to help you fight the enemy and declare the Word over your life. Send your Ministry Gift today! |
Thank you so much for your continued support! We could NOT do this without you!...
