Keep Praying

One of the therapists stopped me this week to tell me how impressed she is with Floyd's "bouncing back" from the surgery last week.  She said it's quite remarkable.  I saw the Doctor a little later, and she said the same thing.

Floyd has been very alert and following everything going on.  He has been smiling when seeing friends and watching intently as they chat to him.  There are also times when he raises his hand to join in with worship.  

I'm grateful for the improvements we see - and encouraged.  We keep praying and waiting to see what God has in store for us.

A devotional I read recently was quoting James 1:2-3 - "Consider it all joy.....when you encounter various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

It talked about how the trials of life can strengthen our faith, and they give us the opportunity to make sure our faith isn't swayed by our feelings.  It definitely is a temptation to let our feelings grow so strong in the midst of a hard time that they can seem stronger than our faith.  I find I need to give my feelings continually to the Lord.....and speak out the truth of the Word that trumps my feelings.

One of the most difficult things about our trials and hard times is not knowing how long they'll continue.  There are times when you can feel like you just can't keep going.  I've found it so very important to go to the Lord right away before that feeling takes control.  Only His sustaining grace can keep me going.  I have to keep my eyes on Him.

I've had a few very low points when I didn't know if I'd make it.  I've found it so important to get a few friends around me to pray for me.  They help boost my faith to endure when my strength is lagging.

There have been a lot of things thrown my way on this unexpected journey, but God's grace, help, and strength has been more than adequate to help me keep going.  I'm so thankful!

"As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength."  Psalm 138:3

"But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in time of trouble."  Psalm 37:39

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."  Isaiah 40:29

"But you, Lord, do not be far from me.  You are my strength; come quickly to help me."  Psalm 22:19

His Word is so clear that He is there to help us when our strength is lagging and we're getting tired.  He makes it so easy to trust Him!

One of our All Nations staff shared a post on prayer this week.  I'm sorry I don't know who wrote it, but I'm touched by the message of persevering prayer!  It has encouraged my heart…

"Keep On Praying!

Jesus said, "We ought to pray and not to faint."  Luke 18:1  

He told us to be persistent in our prayer life.

Think about Elijah, who prayed one time and fire came down from heaven on Mt. Carmel.  But it took him praying three times before God resurrected the dead son of the widow.  And Elijah prayed seven times before God sent back rain on the earth during that time of drought.

Elijah learned to pray and trust God's timing......and don't give up.

In Christian history, we also think about George Muller, who lived a life that was one of the greatest demonstrations of answered prayer.  When he died, he had 50,000 documented answers to prayer!

Five thousand of those were answered on the day he prayed them.  Of course that means that 90 percent of the time, George Muller just kept waiting and praying.  He prayed for 63 years for one man to come to Christ before that man ended up doing so!

Like Elijah, George Muller learned that we can trust the Lord.  He said "Don't let yesterday's seemingly unanswered prayers stop you from praying in faith today."

So I want to encourage you: pray!  God knows His perfect timing.  He may answer right after you pray.  He may wait weeks, months, even years.  He will wait until He is most glorified in the situation......so don't give up.  You can wait on the Lord, and trust His timing.  Keep on praying."

I was strengthened in my resolve to keep praying by reading this.  I think the "key" is in the last paragraph - God will wait until He will be most glorified by the answered prayer.  That's what we want!  For God to be honored, worshipped, and glorified by answers to our prayers.

Whatever the answer is for Floyd, my deepest longing is for our wonderful Father to be glorified.

"I would have fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the Lord."  Psalm 27:13,14

I know without Him, "I would have fainted!"  I am so grateful for His courage and strength.  I'm glad we can "wait" for that!