*Some of the following quotes were taken from various websites and are from various authors. I neglected to include them and have since forgotten where I got them. (forgive me, please?)
The Lord has put it on my heart to share some encouragement concerning prayer. On the Prayer Tree we get many different types of requests. It has been exciting to see God work through the prayers of his saints. It also draws us together as the body of Christ as we join for the purpose of lifting each other up. We rejoice together and cry together as we share each other’s burdens. It is truly a privilege. Galatians 6:9 says:”Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Enjoy these stories / passages and be encouraged!
A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island. The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man’s parcel of land remained barren.
After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, there was nothing.Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing.Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island.
The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God’s blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered. As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming, “Why are you leaving your companion on the island?”"My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them”, the first man answered. “His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything.”"You are mistaken!” the voice rebuked him. “He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings.”"Tell me”, the first man asked the voice, “What did he pray for that I should owe him anything?”
“He prayed that all your prayers be answered.”
For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but those of another praying for us.
Author unknown
Here are some Biblical examples of prayer at work:
Abraham: God agreed to spare Sodom and Gomorrah if He could find 10 righteous people in those cities (Genesis 18:22-32). Unfortunately, this was not the case and these cities were destroyed. However, God still answered Abraham’s prayer by sending His angels to remove righteous Lot and his family before the judgment fell. So, even though the evil cities were destroyed, the righteous in those cities were spared.
Moses: God miraculously answered many of Moses’ prayers including the parting the Red Sea (Exodus 14:13-22) and giving the Israelites good water in the wilderness (Exodus 15:25). Perhaps the most miraculous answer that God gave to Moses was when Moses prayed that God would spare Israel after the incident with the golden calf (Exodus 32:7-14).
Elijah: God miraculously answered Elijah’s prayer on Mt. Carmel when he rained fire from heaven in the showdown between God and the false god Baal (1 Kings 18:20-40 especially 37-38).
Daniel: Daniel’s whole career was spent in prayer to God his prayers were miraculously answered. Daniel prayed to be shown the king’s undisclosed dream and God answered him (Daniel 2:17-18). Daniel was thrown to the lions because he continually prayed to God and God spared him (Daniel 6:4-24). Daniel prayed for Israel and for forgiveness of their sins when the 70 years of captivity were nearing an end. God answered Daniel’s prayer by sending Gabriel to tell him exactly when the Messiah would come (Daniel 9).
The church prayed for Peter: The early church in Jerusalem prayed for Peter after his arrest by Herod and God miraculously answered their prayer by sending an angel to free Peter from prison (Acts 12:5-10).
David: God answered David’s prayer and forgave him for his sin after his adultery with Bathsheba (Psalms 51).
Christians today worldwide: God has miraculously answered a prayer from every Christian in the world today when he forgave their sins, made them new creatures in Christ, and gave them His salvation.
It is helpful to think of these 3 things when praying: be persistent, be purposeful, and be personal.
As we know, sometimes our prayers are not answered in our way or our timing. God has His reasons and that is where we exercise our faith that He knows what He’s doing. Here are some examples of UN-answered prayers in the Bible. It was for reasons bigger than the pray-ers knew.
In the Bible are a few examples of prayers that were not answered. Usually God responded to the one praying, but refused the request. These are good examples to teach us how to pray effectively.
* King Saul prayed for guidance but God did not answer him. Saul had pronounced a curse on any of his army who ate before evening. Jonathan, unaware of the curse, had eaten. The lesson for us is we should be very careful about making vows. 1 Samuel 14:37; Ecclesiastes 5:1-7.
* King Saul prayed for help and guidance. Saul had removed so far from God that He no longer answered Saul’s prayers. Saul then sought an answer through a medium. 1 Samuel 28:6,7.
* David prayed for the life of his son. The son died because of David’s sin with Bathsheba. 2 Samuel 12:13-23. Lesson for us – sin has its consequences.
* Elijah prayed that he might die. God had much more work for Elijah to do so it was not in God’s will for Elijah to die at that time. In the end Elijah didn’t die but was caught up into heaven by a whirlwind. 1 Kings 19:4; 2 Kings 2:11.
* Jonah prayed that God would take his life as it was better to die than to live. God does not answer this type of prayer for there is a time to die and we must wait for God’s timing not ours. Also, Jonah had yet to accomplish the work God sent him to do. Jonah 4:3.
* King Zedekiah prayed for help in defeating Nebuchadnezzar. God’s answered that He would not help because of the many sins of Israel. Jeremiah 21:2.
* The disciples James and John with their mother requested the highest rank in the kingdom Jesus was to establish. Jesus’ answer was that this position was not His to give. But, they first were to be servants of one another before greatness would be given them. Mark 10:34-45.
* Jesus prayed, “May this cup be taken from me.” He also prayed, “Your will be done.” It was the Father’s will that Jesus drink the cup of suffering for the sins of the world. Matthew 26:36-46; Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 2:9; 12:2,3; 13:12,13.
* Paul prayed that his “thorn in the flesh” be removed. Paul’s thorn was not removed, so that Christ would be glorified, not himself, and to keep him from becoming proud. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.
Possible Answers to Prayer
A. Yes:
God may graciously and promptly answer our prayers in the very way we request.
B. God May Delay His Answer to Impress on Us Our Need of Him
The times of delay and the apparent silences of God bring us to our knees in reflective and total trust in God.
C. We May Not Be Spiritually Ready to Receive What We Have Requested
In the same way a loving parent may not allow their young child to possess certain things (i.e. rifle, chemistry set, etc.) until they are more mature, so God may prevent sure problems and difficulties from entering our life by withholding our requests until we are ready.
D. For His Own Inscrutable Reasons, God May Answer “Not yet!”
In His wisdom and foresight and according His plan, NOW is not always the best timing.
F. NO! Sometimes God Denies Our Requests
The Christian must be willing to accept ‘no” as an answer to our prayers. Frequently Christians will complain that God is not answering their prayer when in fact He has answered but they are unwilling to accept a loving, Holy, No!
“6th verse of the 4th chapter of Philippians. “Be careful for nothing, but in everything” – mark that – “by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.” He doesn’t say He will answer all, but He says, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.”
(D.L. Moody)
Thanks to all on the prayer tree who have sacrificed time with their kids and husbands, missing a movie, starting dinner a little late, not taking that other call on the line, asking the oldest child to help the youngest until you get off the phone, falling behind on school work, etc. All for the sake of praying for others, sometimes people we’ve never met and have never heard of. Your labor is not in vain.
And if any of you keep a prayer journal (I wish I would’ve been all these years) of prayer tree prayers, you may want to share it with others on the tree sometime for encouragement.
Barbara Lyons
Week of 4/13/09:
Muriah Dedeic – Wisdom re: school and job situation.
Pregnant Ladies -
Julie Bouwens
Alicia Tisdale
Rachel Valastek
Kathy Brown - Please continue to pray that Joe’s cancer would go into complete remission.
Laurie Brugh - Pray for continued protection, strength and wisdom for family issues.
Barbara Lyons – For husband Mike’s work to get better, or change completely.
Kylie Sempsrott – Provision and work for her husband Brett.
Debbie Kane’s Dad – Has cancer. Needs surgery. Pray the Lord would soften his heart, and he wouldn’t hate God anymore, but come to know His great love.
Cathy Russell – her father (Jim Fish) has prostate cancer.
Ginger’s Mom’s friend – Sandy Cheney has an inoperable brain tumor.
to Christ - in Christ - for Christ
