Prayer to the Father

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Image: Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Sometimes the burdens of life feel heavy.  Impossible situations loom and threaten to crush our very being.  Illness, death, natural disasters, broken relationships, disputes, and troubles of this world surround us.  No escape seems possible.  Discouragement invades our souls.

"I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory." (Eph. 3:13)

No place to turn.  That is no one to turn to except God.  Our own human resources have come to an end.

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name." (Eph. 3:14,15)

Remembering our Maker.  The Mighty One who creates by breathing a word.  The Almighty who has more power in his little finger then all the natural disasters that leave us helpless.  The Holy One whose plans our finite minds cannot comprehend.  How can we not kneel?  Being in the presence of our awesome God brings us to our knees.   It is our Savior we approach.

"In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence."  (Eph. 3;12)

How to pray?  What to pray?  Sometimes words escape us.  God through his Holy Word and the inspired writers grants the prayer.

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."  (Eph. 3:16-19)
God hears.  He heard Elijah on Mt. Carmel, and he sent fire from heaven.  He heard King Hezekiah when the invincible Assyrian army surrounded the city, and the angel of the Lord put to death 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp.  He heard Elisha when the Arameans surrounded Dothan, and he opened Elisha's servant's eyes to see the hills full of the Lord's horses and chariots of fire.  He heard the Christians praying for Peter's deliverance from prison in the book of Acts, and he unlocked the prison doors so Peter could walk out.  Yes, God hears.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen."  (Eph. 3:20,21)

Linking up with:
Raising Arrows
Good Morning Girls

Comments

  1. Heather HenryFebruary 23, 2012 at 9:58 PM

    Wonderful! Sometimes it seems there is so much going on in my mind, it is hard to pray. I get lost in my words and my mind wanders. At those times, it is so refreshing to go to the word and read the prayers and calm my mind and refocus. I've learned over the years that leaning on Him is the best I can do in any situation.
    Great reminders.

    ReplyDelete

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