Thoughts for another day

Sept. 19, 2013.

Today's verse: Mt. 21:22. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

There’re a series of questions we need to ask ourselves about the way we pray: I begin with the most pertinent: Do I really pray; which means, am I into my prayer, spirit, mind and body or are my lips just forming the words and my mind has strayed?  I find myself doing this so often, it displeases me, but yet it happens again and again.  Then, when I pray, do I consider that the Lord God before Whom I sit and pray is a real God and everything I tell Him is heard by Him?  Then again, do I believe that I’m praying in accordance with His will and in response to His promises?

Further having taken my prayer past God’s will, reckoning He will give it to me, do I really believe He can do it for me; and here I’d like to bring forth what Jesus told His disciples just before He spoke today’s Scripture, in verse 21, ‘If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.’ Take note of the underlined and for a moment pause to think; why did Jesus speak of moving a mountain?  Was it just a way of speaking or a statement of fact?  I tell you, it was a statement of fact for remember, God doesn’t speak unnecessary Words neither does He do inane things.  We know this when He doesn’t give the Pharisees and Scribes any sign saying, ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: Mt. 12:9. Think for a moment, wouldn’t it have been easy for Jesus to show them a sign? And consider, the very act of cursing the fig tree for not bearing fruit when it wasn’t the season for it…isn’t that a demonstration of power, even if one doesn’t know the precise reason for it? 

Finally, when I pray and all the above ingredients are there, does my heart rest content that He will answer in just a matter of time?  My friend, know that God has tremendous power in Him and loves you and me tremendously.  I tell Him, ‘Lord you are a God who knows no impossibility so You can give what I ask, for nothing short of a massive miracle can deliver what I ask; and then I know You love me for when I see the Cross, I see You looking down at me with eyes full of love; so how can I not get from Your hand what I’ve asked; for can God love and yet not give what You have promised?’  And I’m assured He will do it for me because if He doesn’t, then His Word is shallow and that can never be because He said, ‘Heaven and earth shall pass away but My Word will remain.’  And I rest content for I know He is my God, my Lover and my Giver.