Where to Begin
by David Brenneman
Prayer is a very powerful tool for believers—through it, the Lord blesses us and frees us from bondage. In prayer, we profess our need of Christ and ask for His solution to our problems. We also learn to worship Him and grow spiritually in His loving presence.
As we spend time with Him, God lovingly teaches us how to communicate with Him and listen for His still, small voice. Through it all, we grow deeper in our relationship with Him.
- Dr. Charles Stanley Life Principles Devotional, #Life Principle 17: We stand tallest and strongest on our knees.
"Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God." Daniel 6:10-11.
Some who were in my life are probably scoffing at our circumstances, however, as the Bible says our lives were ordered-ordained-from before we were even born.
Prayer has been a central point and part of my life since I knew enough to know that I needed a Savior who is Christ the Lord.
Prayer is our most formidable weapon that the enemy of God cannot do anything about.
Prayer connects the hearts of those in the body of Christ with our Father in Heaven.
We aren't defined by out circumstances. We aren't involved even in problems since nothing is a problem to Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. There are situations that He's been fully aware of since before we were considered to be even a glint in our parents eye.
In Christ things happen. They happen for His purpose and our good. We aren't promised a full understanding of those things we go through.
Job was totally unaware of the things pertaining to himself that went on in Heaven until possibly years later...if ever in his lifetime.
Daniel couldn't be persuaded even for a moment to cease praying to God. Didn't matter the consequences He obeyed God.
Life is going to quite often be more than we are capable of. Look at what the Apostle Paul wrote.
"For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many." 2 Corinthians 1:8-11.
We will often be pushed due our circumstances to grow in Christ.
While the world often ridicules us for what we find ourselves in, God's causing it to work together for good because we love Him and we are called according to His purpose.
The world sees my employment circumstance as guilty until proven innocent by some. To God, He decided my time there was done and it was absolutely time to move on. He orders my steps. He sets up Kings and removes them. He is working the events in my life and the lives of billions towards the day of His return to take home all who have called upon His Name as their personal Lord and Savior.
Jesus is My Savior and Lord.
Jesus loves me with an unconditional love.
There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. We aren't the recipients of the judgments of God.
So no matter what we see, perceive, or think we know, God is working all things together for us because we love Him. We love Him because He first loved us.
It begins with prayer and continues in prayer. As Dr. Stanley also reiterates, we must choose to pursue this as a permanent part of our lives. Opening our hearts wholly and completely to the One who loves us so.
Choose a time, choose several. Meet with Jesus and be yourself. Open your heart and tell Him whatever is concerning you and what worries you. You are beloved by the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. He absolutely can relate to all you are going through. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.
Pray on, pray over, pray through your life in Christ.
All New American Standard Bible Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. A corporation not for profit.