Sincerity of prayer
Praying. An important part of our daily lives as Christians. It’s such a gift and an honor that our Lord and Savior wants us to come to Him with our hearts, thoughts, requests. To connect with Him and build on our relationship.
Everyone has their struggles in this life, and all have different issues they must deal with and trials to face. One of the best gifts we can give our friends and family is prayer. What I wanted to mention is how important it is for us to pray with sincerity. I know personally my prayer list is very long. So many people and so many needs that I want to lift before the Lord. Then throw in my own personal struggles. In the busyness of the day I admit I don’t always spend enough time w/ our Father in prayer, yet I know there are many who I have said I will pray for, and I need to uphold that.
There are many times that people will just share a story and say they need prayer, and others will say ok. I challenge everyone to take this VERY seriously! Our fellow brothers and sisters and those unsaved that come to us in a hope of our prayers maybe being heard by the Christ they do not know…they are counting on us!
I went through a very rough spot in my life 3 years ago when I was in a deep depression, and I just could not seem to ‘connect’ with the Lord and find any peace and comfort. I would just cry over and over for the Lord to rescue me from the pit of despair. But I felt SO lost. The biggest thing I craved, was for my personal and online friends to PRAY for me. TO just honestly, sincerely, cover me in their prayers to the Lord at the time I could not find it within myself. THAT gave me the most comfort of all. Knowing I had those few that truly remembered me to God and interceded on my behalf before the HOly One. I finally did come out of that dark place. God didnt answer the prayers as I wanted, but of course He knows best, and He answered in a way I didnt even dream of as a solution.
I highly recommend a prayer list or journal and to make sure we are accountable for those who are truly hurting and ask us specifically for prayer.
on February 23rd, 2006 at 5:48 pm
Donna, thanks for posting about this. Sometimes it’s so easy for me to say, “sure, I will pray” and convince myself that I will remember to. Alas, I have promised to pray for people here, then as soon as I think about something else, I forget, until I see them in chat and think, Oh, what was their need?
The Devil likes to make us forget, too. After I realized I had better put requests in writing, I kept a legal pad by my PC for just that, but the Devil kept it hidden for a couple days, so it still didn’t do any good.
I, too, have depended on the prayers of others when I could not pray myself. What a blessing to know I am not the only one!
on February 27th, 2006 at 11:02 am
What a wonderful and important reminder Donna. Thank you! I used to be a little irresponsible about prayers too until I heard a song that really convicted me several years ago. I am not sure about the name or the artist(s). I think it may have been “Let us Pray”. Anyway the gist of the message of the song was when people ask for prayer stop right then and pray for them do not wait. A very good conviction by the Holy Spirit led me to follow that good advice. Lists are a great idea for those who need to be kept in prayer for a while.Thanks for that suggestion too>
on March 2nd, 2006 at 12:06 am
Donna,
Cause i got a bad memory i either write it down or put it on my prayer list on one of my programs. it often becomes rote to say i will pray..and that is a sin on my part. So, i found a built in program to use to add them.
on March 21st, 2006 at 9:51 am
Donna, Loved your thoughts on prayer and sharing your story with us.Unless someone who believes in prayer comes to the place where for whatever reason they cannot, it’s difficult to understand. If all of us would be honest and share these kind of experiences we could be so much more effective in our witness of GOD. I also suffered from deep depression and recently diagnosed as bipolar 1 but even as the doctor was pronouncing it to me, GOD was taking care of it and I have no fear whatsoever, the depression and PTSD( I also was experiencing anxiety with panic attacks)that was all validated by a psychiatrist(I wasn’t crazy!).If all that wasn’t enough for anyone’s plate I have a difficult to control form of diabetes, and assorted undiagnosed physical problems that started coming on me the last 10 years.It got so bad I was unable to function and no one…I mean no one was able to be there for me or to understand just how sick and needing real help I really was.It’s awful when you lose the will to live but don’t want to die really…you just want to be well again! I couldn’t read the Bible,I couldn’t pray,didn’t feel GOD’s presence or love,it was hell. But GOD is faithful,Amen! And HE is restoring all! csmith
on March 21st, 2006 at 10:15 am
Wanted to tell all of you that it was only when I fully surrendered all before GOD and showed the blame,the shame,the pain,the lies,the unforgiveness,the bitterness,the tears,all of the sins that we hide from ourselves even and will not admit to, and lay on the couch every day crying out to GOD and crying unbelievable amounts of tears for this past year that GOD took my broken heart and started healing and mending and restoration. There is going to be awesome works and healings and miracles of every kind through out the land in the days to come! People get ready, JESUS is Coming…Hallelujah and Glory to GOD,Amen. Love to all, csmith
on March 24th, 2006 at 12:45 am
Thank you so much for your sharing of your own difficult times Csmith, and how God is moving in your own life. I’m happy to hear how God has already restored you and that you’ve made positive steps. Praise God indeed
on August 5th, 2006 at 12:32 pm
i have opened my heart to god and he has made a great difference in my life.