OUR DAILY BREAD
Thursday
May 7, 2009
The Difference Prayer Makes
Read: Revelation 8:1-5
The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God. --Revelation 8:4
Does prayer have any real impact on our world? Or is it merely a private conversation with God?
When a New Jersey couple learned that a man had been released from prison and had moved into their area, they started praying for him. Then they paid him a visit and opened their home to a weekly breakfast for ex-offenders like him. Now, 22 years later, the area’s most despised men have one place to go where they are welcomed and treated respectfully.
What would happen if we followed literally Jesus’ command to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us? What if we became known for approaching heaven on behalf of outcasts and disagreeable people?
In a scene recorded in the book of Revelation, the apostle John foresees a direct linkage between the visible and invisible worlds. At a climactic moment in history, heaven is quiet. Seven angels stand with seven trumpets, waiting. Silence reigns, as if all heaven is listening on tiptoe. Then an angel collects the prayers of God’s people on earth--all the accumulated prayers of praise, lament, abandonment, despair, petition--mixes them with incense, and presents them before the throne of God (8:1-4). The silence finally breaks when the fragrant prayers are hurled down to earth: setting off a storm of “thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake” (v.5).
The message is clear. The prayers are essential agents in the final victory over evil, suffering, and death. --Philip Yancey
God’s work is done by those who pray.
Matt 18:19-20 (NIV)
"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
Lets just try to imagine what can happen today when the whole nation comes together in prayer.
1 comment:
A Prayer request;
I have a freind today that is really going through a tough time in her life right now. She is having to deal with her husband going in and out of hospitals with a rare blood disorder and now a diagnosis of cancer on top of that. You can certainly imagine the strain of that and then throw all of the financial things on as well. She has just found out that his insurance benifits will be running out this month. I cant even imagine the pressure she is under right now.
I know that prayer works and Our God is A God of great miracles, and I beleive He is getting ready to do one here. On this day of Prayer, can you include this family?
One thing thats really on my heart in this is that God would show her or one of us where to find the finanical releif she needs. I know that there are benifits, orginizations that help people in her situation and my prayer along with complete healing for her husband is her to be able to be in contact with an agency that can help her in this time.
As well I pray for strength for her, for God to provide the peace and comfort she needs right now so she can stay focused and keep her faith up.
If you have info that could be of help please email me @ shine4all2see@ymail.com
Thank you and God bless you as you pray for Nancy and her husband Brian.
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