Our thinking about prayer, whether right or wrong, is based on our own mental conception of it. The correct concept is to think of prayer as the breath in our lungs and the blood from our hearts. Our blood flows and our breathing continues “without ceasing”; we are not even conscious of it, but it never stops. And we are not always conscious of Jesus keeping us in perfect oneness with God, but if we are obeying Him, He always is. Prayer is not an exercise, it is the life of the saint. Beware of anything that stops the offering up of prayer. “Pray without ceasing . . .”— maintain the childlike habit of offering up prayer in your heart to God all the time. Jesus never mentioned unanswered prayer. He had the unlimited certainty of knowing that prayer is always answered. Do we have through the Spirit of God that inexpressible certainty that Jesus had about prayer, or do we think of the times when it seemed that God did not answer our prayer? Jesus said, “. . . everyone who asks receives . . .” (Matthew 7:8). Yet we say, “But . . . , but . . . .” God answers prayer in the best way— not just sometimes, but every time. However, the evidence of the answer in the area we want it may not always immediately follow. Do we expect God to answer prayer?The danger we have is that we want to water down what Jesus said to make it mean something that aligns with our common sense. But if it were only common sense, what He said would not even be worthwhile. The things Jesus taught about prayer are supernatural truths He reveals to us.

 

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May 26 2014

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, as the song says…has anyone here seen your power? Has anyone here been brought through the fire? And Yes God I have.  Thank you for the reminder today of the power of prayer and the power of remembering how You brought me though in the past.  Thank You for Your love, power and grace and for reminding me once again that You are faithful.

And God says…”I love you so much that I gave you my only Son. Would I not likewise give you every good thing?  Even when you think I am not there because I do not move and act the same way as you, I am always there for you;  all you must do is seek Me; acknowledge Me, and trust Me to do what I have been doing since the beginning of time; loving you, and seeking a relationship with you.  When do you seek Me the most, when do you reach out and up to Me? Seek Me first and everything else you need will be provided. Acknowledge Me in all your ways, do not rely on your own understanding and I will make your paths straight. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”