Tag Archives: prayer

Dear Lord, Please Protect Us….

I was praying with my youngest the other night when right in the middle of the prayer, I stopped. My mind had drifted to the news I had just watched a few minutes earlier.

Tornadoes had ravaged Kentucky and much of the south that evening. There was talk of towns being demolished. The death toll was still undetermined but it was clear that some, if not many, had lost their lives and their loved ones. We had hunkered down only hours before due to the tumultuous weather.

I thought of other times when I hadn’t exactly felt God’s protection. Deaths, divorces, and acts of wickedness have stopped me in my tracks. I remembered questioning where God was and how he could ever let such atrocities happen.

My daughter’s blue eyes searched mine and I wondered if the words I had spoken over the years have been setting her up to doubt. Because pain will come. Tragedy will strike. Evil will have its moments and even its days.

Broken hearts and broken roads will be common, but in all of them, I never want her or any of my children to ever think that God has turned his back.

I don’t want them to assume that he doesn’t love them because he didn’t keep them from every hurt and every difficult moment. I want them to know that regardless of what this life brings, God cares and is no stranger to heartache.

He was there when Cain killed Abel. He saw what it did to Adam and Eve.

He watched Joseph’s brothers throw him in the pit and saw Jacob mourn.

He knew Job’s suffering.

He was too familiar with Mary’s.

He watched the Christians of the first century tortured and murdered in despicable way and he’s seen us on our knees, as well.

Our love for God should never depend on him keeping us from the woes of this world. And although God can work all things out for good (Romans 8:28), God isn’t behind all things. Evil strikes because evil exists.

We may never understand the whys and how comes, but we must trust the one who will have the final say. He is our love, our strength, and our protection even when we can’t feel it, bear it, or see it.

So, I took a deep breath and chose my words more wisely:

Dear Lord, Please protect us and watch over us as we go about this life but even if bad times come and break our hearts, please give us the strength not to leave you, not to turn our backs on your, and not to blame you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Paula Harrington @ www.forthright.net

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective

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A royal couple marry. A terrorist mastermind dies by the sword. Floods and storms take lives and leave destruction behind. Some of us are affected directly by such events. Others watch or read about them from afar.

Headlines register the big happenings that supposedly affect or interest the greatest number of people. The big news sources tell stories that make the greatest difference in the quality of life, the security of our possessions, or the promise of a future for our children.

But seldom heard and almost never headlined are some of the most powerful influences in the world.

These influences often occur in dark corners, or sometimes in small groups, where television cameras do not go, where reporters never think to investigate.

You’ll not hear about these influences in doctors’ offices or down at the local cafe.

You’ll not see children pointing at them on the street nor read about them as the subject of the pundits and commentators.

Some people sleep while these influences are at work, others yawn, while many daydream.

They are not traded on Wall Street, nor are they the coin of nations, or the pursuit of tyrants and politicians.

What are these influences that never make the headlines?

The prayers of the righteous.

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5: 16b ISV).

In heaven, such a prayer is a headline event.

—J. Randal Matheny @ www.forthright.net

Don’t forget to pray

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“…Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1Peter 2:21).

Considering the subject of prayer, one cannot be said to be following in the steps of Jesus if prayer is not a personal priority in his life. For example:

* After healing the multitudes at Capernaum, before daybreak Jesus went to a solitary place and prayed (Mark 1:35).

* After the miracle of feeding the 5,000, Jesus ascended a nearby mountain and prayed (Matthew 14:23)

* At His baptism, Jesus prayed (Luke 3:21)

* Before his first confrontation with the Jewish leaders, Jesus prayed (Luke 5:16)

* Before choosing the 12 disciples, Jesus prayed (Luke 6:12).

* Before the first prophecy of His death, Jesus prayed (Luke 9:18).

* At the transfiguration site, Jesus prayed (Luke 9:29).

* Jesus was praying when His disciples came and asked Him to “teach us how to pray” (Luke 11:1).

* In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed (Matthew 26:39).

* While hanging on the Cross, Jesus prayed (Luke 23:34 & 36)

Furthermore, Jesus admonished His disciples to pray: “Pray that ye enter not into temptation” (Luke 22:40). Jesus encouraged His followers to “Ask, and it shall be given you” (Luke 11:9). Jesus even told three parables, the major emphasis of which was prayer: Luke 11:5-13; Luke 18:1-8; Luke 18:11-13.

The point is this: Since the Son of God felt such a keen need of prayer, how much more ought we to feel this need?! Would Jesus spend so much time in His brief stay on this earth in prayer if it availed nothing?! Would Jesus encourage His disciples to pray if it was really just a waste of time?

How much power in the individual Christian’s life, as well as in the church, is voided because of a lack of fervent prayer? “Power belongs to God” (Psalm 62:11); God will give power to His faithful children (2 Timothy 1:7) — however, “You have not, because you ask not” (James 4:2).

Toby Miller

Is failing to pray a sin?

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All those who behave wickedly do not understand – those who devour my people as if they were eating bread, and do not call out to the Lord. Psalm 14:4 NET

We think of failing to prayer, of calling out to the Lord, as an oversight. A slip-up. One of those items we didn’t check off our list. Important, sure, but like a lot of other things we didn’t get around to doing today.

But tomorrow we’ll make time for it. So we tell ourselves. So we lie to ourselves. So we justify ourselves to God.

The Lord looks down from heaven to see if anyone is seeking him. How he must be disappointed over and over again!

To God, not praying is part of the extreme evil of his people. None righteous. They rip off their fellow Christians. They’re practical atheists. They don’t even pray! (Read verse 1-3.)

Failure to pray is evil, for without prayer we attempt to do things on our own power.

Without prayer, we seek our own way.

Without prayer, we are the gods of our own lives, the very idols we have set up to worship.

Without prayer, we attempt the change we want to see in ourselves and our world.

Without prayer, we are lost, weak, without direction, without power, without understanding.

Without prayer, we are evil to the core.

What’s your prayer today?

–J. Randal Matheny @ www.forthright.net