The MOST We Can Do!

When our children were small, we would often end our day praying together. My husband and I taught our kids to thank God for a blessing in their life, pray for someone else, and then ask for what they needed or wanted. Our boy, the youngest of three, would very often fall asleep right in the middle of saying his prayer, and the rest of us would sit there and wait. After a short silence, one of his sisters might poke him, but then someone would ask, "Troy? Are you going to finish praying?" When only silence persisted, we knew he was in la-la-land and either me or his father (depending who was home) would carry him off to bed.

I'm big into prayer and I'll tell you why: I've never said a prayer and not been given an answer.

The response might not be what I think it should be, or even remotely close to what I asked for, which is sometimes tough to take, but answer He always does! Every. Time.

It's interesting to me that tagged onto the end of the list of our warrior armour is this ...

Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people."

My three thoughts on prayer: (this is in no way an exhaustive list)

1. Pray With Thanksgiving! Although no one knows who initially said it, there is an element of truth in the saying "there are no atheists in foxholes". I don't know about you but I've often prayed more earnestly when something in my life is dire. When I'm crying out to God in desperation, "giving thanks" may be the furthest thing on my mind, but that is so wrong.

Paul tells the Philippian church to "... not be anxious about anything, BUT in EVERY situation, with THANKSGIVING make your requests known to God" (paraphrased Philippians 4:6)

He's right and ... there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for!

2. Pray Without Ceasing! There are SO many verses that tell us to continually pray and why? Because Jesus is always listening! If we've repented and invited Him into our lives, He is our mediator and friend! Like a good friend, He is ready to hear our requests, laments, cries for help and our thanks.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Our God wants us to talk to Him and my next point is what happens when we do!!

3. There is NO limit to the POWER of prayer! Recently, my husband and I went through a study of Revelation. This last book of the Bible has always intimidated me greatly, and I'll admit I still have questions about what everything means, including what order things will play out for us "in the end". Being a "pan-trib" person (vs. pre-trib, post-trib, etc.) I don't think my mission is really to nail that down. In other words, it'll "pan out in the end" has been my mantra.

But when we read this, the praying part of me said, "whaaaat?" How come I've never heard this before?!

Look what happens when we PRAY! (picture this)

Revelation 8:3-5 (NIV) "Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God's people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up before God from the angel's hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake."

Can you sense the power?! I see, in my mind, my prayers for help, healing, saving, and even any little thing I ask, being thrown back down onto the circumstances and people I've prayed for. That's how EFFECTIVE our prayers are! Not just because we pray them, but because GOD HEARS US and ACTS on it!

I'll admit, I used to say (with, sometimes, a pathetic shrug), "Well ... all I can do is pray", but I've learned to reword that.

We may never see all the incredible things God is doing on our behalf, and for the people we pray for. Someday in heaven we might be let in on those many secrets but for now, when someone asks us to pray for something, lets say, "The MOST I can do is PRAY!"

Speaking of that:

If anyone needs prayer for anything at all, please feel free to message me (on FB under: PD Janzen) or email (pdjanz11@gmail.com) or here in the comment section, or shoot me a text! (306-621-7544)

I pray for every person who reads anything I write and I sincerely thank you for taking time out to read this today.

May God BLESS you and keep you safe!

Pattie Janzen