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Sunday, August 30, 2015

The Power of Prayer



“Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” - Matthew 21:22 

I've been asking do your prayers this week, and hopefully, by the middle or at least the end of this week, if all goes well, I will have great news to tell you.  We can never underestimate the power of prayer. When we are praying according to God's will, our prayers are unstoppable. 

Jesus made this promise: "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." (John 15:7).

First John 5:14–15 says, "And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him."

Therefore, we should never give up or back down. We need to keep praying. That is why Jesus said, " Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8). 

Jesus is very clear that prayer is very powerful, but it's not for just when we want something for ourselves.  It can also be for guidance or wanting something for others. Often we pray because something bad has happened.  Hardships and tragedies are a constant reminder to keep connected to God through prayer, reading, and reflection. It's important to keep our hearts open so we may reach out to others who may be in that same kind of situation we found ourselves. In helping them, we provide someone in need with the remedy that will soothe their broken spirit.

To maintain God's peace, we must give up the need to be right, along with the need to control. We must humble ourselves and give it all to God, trusting that we will be shown the way to whatever it is we need to know, as well as Who is in control. God always answers our prayers, but it might just be “no” on occasion.  The most important thing though is that it is always God’s will.

6 comments:

  1. Beautiful words, Joe. And sometimes very difficult to remember. Thank you.

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  2. OMG!

    Would I «knee» in front of that handsome man and pray for anything....

    Now, I think that praying is a sort of «auto-suggestion» way of preparing us mentally to have what we're hoping for.

    I'm not a great religious fan and I believe more in our ability to make our own future. Sure there are some people that are is such good position but in regard of many success stories, EVERY ONE can change is future and be more at ease in life.

    Sorry dear friend, but I have some issues in the «power of the prayer»..

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  3. Prayers offered and sent to bolster you as you pray through the interview process. God Bless You.

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  4. I hope you don't mind me saying this, but it is timely since it just happened last night. I was watching a football game and this field goal kicker crossed himself and then proceeded to botch the kick. I was happy. Something about that just rubbed me the wrong way. Like with all the terrible problems in the world, Jesus should somehow waste his time and effort helping this idiot make a field goal? Talk about a totally selfish prayer!

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  5. JiEL, if you have "issues" with the power of prayer, it's because you have a bad attitude about it to start with. Read the epistle of James, chapter 1, vv 5-6. If you "ask of God," you have to do so in faith that He can answer your prayer. Otherwise it's useless.

    Mr. Weiss, as to the player who crossed himself before kicking an unsuccessful field goal, the issue isn't whether Jesus was busy with bigger problems; it's whether the player's expression deserved your rebuke. Personally I never make the sign of the cross, as I view it (for myself) as a somewhat superstitious outward form of what should exist inwardly, and is sufficient inwardly. But I don't condemn those who do indulge in it. Any expression of belief and/or humility has some degree of merit, so I see no need to subject the player to scorn over this.

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