9-Aug-14

Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. Revelation 8:4aWhy pray?  God doesn’t hear.  He doesn’t answer the prayers I pray anyway.  So why bother to pray?  These are the questions we often ask as we slump deeper into the pitfalls of life.Prayer isn’t a ritual, it isn’t a memorized prayer as a child would pray.  Prayer is visiting with God daily and tell him what is on our mind.  The remembrances in the way he surprises us with the answers.  Help me to recognize the answer to prayer.This week I had a new experience with prayer that gave me such hope and renewed my love for God.  I received a request to pray for one of my new facebook friends.  I assured her that I would pray.  Then she added, I thought you would because your Mom prayed for our family many times, especially my Dad.  I read her message and began weeping.  I felt Mom’s touch on my hand, as we both prayer for the young woman.  Mom who has been gone for sixteen years was vividly real through out that prayer.  Suddenly prayer began to have a life of its own.  Rich and promising.  That so great a crowd of witnesses became so real.  I praised God for His goodness in giving this blessing of prayer.Have you ever thought how we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before in the faith.  We hold hands, we touch hearts, we become two or more as we pray.  We are never alone, for God gives us his blessing, the answer to our prayer in His Time.I wonder what Daniel felt, when he was told his prayer was answered.  He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Daniel 2:22aAs soon as you began to pray, a word went out.…  Trusting Jesus, praying in humility, believing and following Jesus creates a man after God’s own heart just as King David who followed God’s precepts.I will always remember the peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.  The power of God is in these calls to understanding.  All these things are in His power. I can hear Mom singing, Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.  Praise Him, all creatures here below.  Praise Him above, ye heavenly host.  Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  Amen.