
Pray. Until. Something. Happens.
I was asked this past week to write a piece for our church, “Communique”. So, in asking and waiting on the Lord about what I should write, one evening late at night this word, “Push”, came to mind and would not leave me alone. I’ve seen this play on words displayed in various ways every now and then. When God’s people pray things begin to happen! My former pastor would often be heard saying, “It’s not the prayers that are powerful, but the answered prayers that are powerful.” What makes them powerful is when they are answered, they become a witness and testimony to the real genuine power and love of God!
All it takes is one match to light a fire. Could it be that all it takes is one child of God to be that match to spark a fire while in the prayer closet of their daily life? To be that someone who is willing to pray and do so, until something happens. It doesn’t take long for the flame to burn before a blaze begins as fuel is added to the fire. Think about it. Your flame causes someone else’s flame to burn brighter till soon you have effected the masses around you or within your local assembly. It starts with one. Have you ever been in a prayer meeting where people are praying and then one gets a little louder in their approach to God and soon another voice is added? It doesn’t take long before many voices join and the excitement builds as they entertain the presence of God.
What if no one lights a match though? How can we receive answers if the prayers are never uttered to the Lord? If we become so enthralled by entertainment and life that we never take time to get alone with our maker and savior?
Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for everyone that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Mat. 7:7-8)
Are we asking? Are we seeking? Are we knocking? Oh, that we wouldn’t become so easily distracted with life that we forget to pray! Let’s face it being a christian doesn’t stop us from being just as human as the next person. Life, business affairs, and dare I even mention church business can have us so caught up we fail in the one area that draws us closer to the Lord.
Recently, the First Lady, of my local church taught some dynamic lessons covering prayer and our relationships with Jesus. In two of the sessions she spoke on, “You Have A Reserve Bank Account In The Spirit”. She gave us a clear mental picture, that has stuck with me; probably because I am a visual learner. She demonstrated by standing in front of a door and described how this walk with God can be like a room with a door. We might stand in front of it and peek in every so often, and we can even hang out on the outer side of the door, but rarely ever pressing past to the other side. On the other hand we could venture inside and find ourselves in a place where we can become so close and in touch with Jesus we never want to come out.
Much of the time in order to get to the other side is not by just reciting a list of wants and needs. Just to clarify, I am not saying that lists are wrong, they do have their place. Each individual has their own unique way they truly can communicate with God. Their style and true giftings that God has given them. One of the quickest ways though to truly cross over the threshold is by praying in your heavenly prayer language given to you by God. She shared a testimony with us and intriguing concept of our heavenly language traveling at the speed of light versus our native language traveling at the speed of sound. By pressing through in the spirit and interceding we will find ourselves praying for things or situations that are on God’s heart.
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverence and all supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:18)
I would like to interject here, if you are someone reading this and have not experienced this heavenly language I am speaking of, you can. It is for everyone. God is not partial to any one person, church, or race. All can receive this gift from God. You can find what I am talking about in many of the scriptures, but it all began in the book of Acts, and directly so in Acts 2:38.
Now going on…
In the same way the Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. (Amplified Bible, Romans 8:26)
An old song comes to mind, “I Miss My Time With You”, written by Larnelle Harris, and Phill Mchugh.
I miss My time with you, those moments together
I need to be with you each day, and it hurts Me when you say
You’re too busy, busy trying to serve Me
But how can you serve Me, when your spirits empty
There’s a longing in My heart, wanting more than just a part of you
It’s true, I miss My time with you
As faithful christians we’ve got to persevere and never give up! We have got to take time out whenever and wherever to spend time at the feet of Jesus, so that our spirit does not become empty. We must keep the flame burning by daily adding fuel (our prayers) to the fire. It’s sort of like when one decides to add exercise to their life, it takes discipline and being intentional to make it actually happen. Pray on purpose with a purpose.
Whether sickness, oppression, financial need, lost loved ones, or world matters, I believe if we pray within the will of God the answers will come. A preacher once told me when the doctor prescribes the medicine our body needs we usually take it faithfully. Then he went on to say when coming to the Lord in prayer, whether it be to have a man of God pray by the laying on of hands (which was my case), or if I may add, by another way for your need to be met, that is like taking God’s dose of medicine.
Could it be possible, God is just waiting for us to push a little more before the answer can come? In the middle of our asking, seeking, and knocking, don’t quit and don’t give up. Pray more in the spirit. Just because we can’t see the answers with our physical eyes does not mean he has turned a deaf ear to our praying. Don’t mistake God’s silence for deafness.
Scripture tells us, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galations 6:9)
Prophecy has declared this year, “God has granted the church a space of grace”. Now is not the time to give up in despair. God has not forgotten! Keep up the faith! Keep on praying, seeking, and knocking. I am challenged and hope you are as well, to P.U.S.H. through the door and pray until something happens!
Bibliography Notes:
- All Scripture quotations used are from the King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise indicated.
- “I Miss My Time With You Lyrics.” Written by: LARNELLE HARRIS, PHILL MCHUGH
- Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
- “I Miss My Time With You Lyrics.” Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2017. Web. 18 Feb. 2017. <http://www.lyrics.com/lyric/892438>.
- Featured Image: clipartfest.com
- http://www.faithcolumbus.com/sermons/reserve-bank-account-spirit/
- http://www.faithcolumbus.com/sermons/reserve-bank-account-spirit-2/