Standing Firm

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. [1 Corinthians 16:13]

Biblical TeachingsPodcast EpisodeYou Are Who God Says You Are

Pray When All Else Fails

Cathy

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done [Philippians 4:6].

QUOTE: If you only pray when you’re in trouble, you’re in trouble (Anonymous).

You’ve heard the saying that when all else fails, pray. In this self-sufficient, self-made, instant-gratification world, the final option for anything is prayer. When you’ve talked with all your girlfriends, visited doctors, searched want ads, had a zillion tests run, gone to a psychic, had your palms read, etc. etc., then you break down and perhaps come to the conclusion, “oh my goodness it’s come to this, I need to pray.” It appears that a lot of people only pray when things are going wrong or when they need God to handle something quickly.

The only time most of our culture today may think about God is on Easter Sunday and possibly Christmas morning, or when their backs are up against the wall (maybe). When there is no escape, or they are in desperation, then they may cry out to God expecting God to perform great miracles. Then they get mad at God and say awful things because God didn’t answer their prayer the way they thought it should have been answered. Seriously? The idea when all else fails then we pray, is absolutely appalling to me. Why would you wait until all else fails before going to God? Seriously, are people arrogant enough to believe they can solve anything and do life without God?

My dear girlfriends, God is not a drive-through window or Santa Claus. God is not on call twenty-four seven for your life emergencies, especially when you mess up. God is not obligated to respond when you call on Him ONLY when you are in dire need. Think about particular relationships that you may have in which people only contact you when they need something, and then they are gone until the next time. How does that make you feel? Well, did you ever stop to think that this may be hurtful to God too?

I think all of us are guilty at one time or another for going to prayer last, even unintentionally. Life gets busy and that is why for me personally, I really need to keep my first hours of the day sacred for my Holy Appointment. Speaking to entrepreneurs, I know that sometimes we get so busy we forget that God is there to help with our business too. Because entrepreneurs are problem-solvers and creators, they simply get caught up in the doing what has to be done and prayer sometimes may be the last resort or simply forgotten. That’s why it’s good to have a friend or coach come along side you to remind you and keep you accountable for spending time in prayer and solitude.

God also desires that we come to Him BOLDY with everything and anything. He already knows what you are thinking so you might as well talk to Him about it. Please note that coming to God boldly doesn’t mean coming to him in an emergency or with a demanding attitude. Praying boldly means asking for things based on Scripture. Think about it like this example: you wouldn’t go to a specialty Italian restaurant then ask for something that wasn’t available on their menu, and then get mad at them because they couldn’t give it to you. So, the next time you go into prayer make sure that what you are asking is on the menu, or in accordance with Scripture.

PRAY WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS: So, knowing the Scriptures (what’s on the menu) helps us to know what we can pray and BOLDY ask for because God has already promised it to us. I’m not a theological expert on prayer, however, I do know from experience that talking with God on a consistent basis works.

Sisters, God is the designer and creator of relationships. He wants an ongoing intimate relationship with us, not to be an emergency hotline, so make talking to God a daily ongoing minute by minute habit.

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DAILY ACTION STEP
Say to yourself out loud
I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM
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FRIENDLY REMINDER: Take out your journal and write down your thoughts, takeaways, and progress for this week!

TAKEAWAY GEMS

  • Make prayer part of your daily habits not part of your emergency kit.
  • God wants a personal relationship with you.
  • You as a child of God can come to God with all your thoughts and come boldly
  • You Are Who God Says You Are.
  • Prayer is a two-way relationship between you and God Almighty.
  • Prayer is powerful when used on a consistent and regular basis with the right intention based on the Word

QUESTIONS TO THINK ON

  1. Be honest with yourself. Have you used God at times only for emergencies? How did that work out?
  2. What is one thing you can do today to make prayer a habit and not part of your emergency kit?
  3. How has prayer affected your life? If you neglect to pray, how does that affect your life?

ACTION STEP PRAYER WRITING: Each morning I write out my prayers to the Lord. It’s not in any fancy format but a blank word doc and I simply write as I’m thinking and praying for that day. Wish I could say I was as organized as one of my girlfriends with a designated special prayer book for each year, categorized, organized, and every thought and life event recorded, but I’m not. So, remember, there is no need for perfection here, just continue to write your thoughts, prayers, answer to prayers, and your personal journey in whatever manner works for you!

DAILY SCRIPTURES

DAY 1: And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. [1 John 5:14] 

DAY 2: when I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. [Ephesians 3:14-19]  

DAY 3: And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong you want only what will give you pleasure. [James 4:3] 

DAY 4: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. [James 5:16]

DAY 5: Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.[Psalm 5:3] 

DAY 6: Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth. Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. [Psalm 86:11] 

DAY 7: Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. [Romans 12:12] 

 

 

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