Prayer: April 15, 2010

April 15. TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY APRIL 15, 2010.

PRAYER

DEFINITION:

A devout petition to God; an object of worship; spiritual communication with God.

SCRIPTURE:

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested. I Chronicles 4: 10.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

The prayer of Jabez (above) is one of the most written about prayers in the last few years. This is a powerful prayer that was prayed at a time when Jabez, who was a descendant of Judah, was looking for a special blessing from God. We can learn from this prayer as he gave us a pattern to communicate with God. But first our hearts must be in tune with God. We must be serving God and ready at all cost to respond as God answers our prayer.

In this prayer he asks first for God’s blessing on his life. Second, he asks that God would enlarge his territory. This would include his sphere of influence and his vision. Thirdly, he asked God to keep his hand on him in all that he did and keep him from evil. And finally that he might not cause pain to God or to those he met. And God granted his request.

We want to remind you that there is power in prayer. Years ago the Russian evangelist Peter Deyneka constantly reminded Christian leaders of the importance of prayer and urged them to pray by saying just four words:

NO PRAYER! NO POWER!

Some people say that they just do not have time to set aside each day time to pray. It is so easy to think that one has business deadlines, quotas to make, running a shuttle for my children, doing the house work and making meals so they do not have time to pray and talk to God. Many say --- wait until the pressure is off and I will do it.

The famous author C.S. Lewis wisely points out that no one was busier than Jesus. He had the crowds, demands, oppositions, interruptions and the lack of peace and privacy. But we read so often in the scriptures that Jesus took time to communicate to God. In Capernaum He was busy into the late night healing the sick and demon possessed yet the next morning early, He sought out a quiet place and prayed. If Jesus needed to set aside a time to pray, how much more should we need to set time aside to pray? When Jesus prayed God gave Him His direction for His next mission. If your schedule is demanding, follow the example of Jesus and set aside a specific time for prayer. In order to live our life in accordance with God’s will we must talk with Him daily.

We are to pray for one another (James 5:16). We need to pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17). We need to pray for the Peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6). We need to pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44). We need to pray for those who spitefully use you (Luke 6:38).

Look at the memory verse, below that we have for this week. This is a promise that God has given us but we have to act on it in order to receive.

When we were in Korea, right after we were married, setting up the original orphanages for World Vision, we were constantly amazed that every morning without fail at 6:00 A.M. the Koreans filled their churches to capacity to pray. They had been through a terrible war. Many had lost family and friends but they never lost their love for God. They knew the importance of prayer and the importance of communicating with God asking Him for His blessings on them individually, their families, their churches and their country. God honored their prayers and today their country is about 50% Christian and they are sending more missionaries to other fields than what we send form America today.

What a contrast between North and South Korea. North Korea is a godless society and many are suffering from lack of food and from a ruthless political regime. In contrast, South Korea is being blessed by God and prospering because the people take time daily to pray individually and in groups. YES --- THERE IS POWER IN PRAYER!

Take the time to pray daily and parents need to take the time to teach their children to pray. This is our only communication to God. He is our Father and waiting to hear from us.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Matthew 21:22

“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

PRAYER:

Give me a fresh and new desire to spend more time in prayer. Help me to teach my family, friends and neighbors the value of prayer and how to pray. Give me the discipline to be consistent and then as I pray may You give me the POWER I need to serve You today.