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About Me
- Rachel Dierking
- Am Striving to seek full satisfaction in Christ. (Psalm 37:7)
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Praying... and the necessity of it PART 2
“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore, I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” (Mark 11:23-24)
This is my part two of Praying and the Necessity of it. This works through chapter 3 ( there are twelve in the book, so you will probably see more parts before its all said and done ;)
The book was saying that many men and woman of this day and age obtain their “good report” because of their money giving, or their “great” talents, but there are so few who obtain a “good report” because of their great faith in God or because of the wonderful things that are happening because of their great praying. Today, more than ever, we need men of great faith and people who are great in prayer. Faith and Prayer are the two main virtues that make men great in the eyes of God, and are also the two things that create real spiritual success in the life and work of the Church. It is our responsibility to see that we maintain a faith of such quality and texture, so it counts before God! (Which is more important, being great in the worlds view or God’s?)
It would do us good, if we stopped, and looked at our own lives and ask ourselves the question: “Have I faith in God? Have I real faith,—faith which keeps me in perfect peace, about the things of earth and the things of heaven?” This is the most important question a man can ask and expect to be answered. And there is another question, “Do I really pray to God so that He hears me and answers my prayers? And do I truly pray unto God so that I get direct from God the things I ask of Him?”
Do we believe, without a doubt that when we pray, not that we will receive the things we ask on a future day, but that we receive them, then and there? We need to pray, “Lord, increase our faith,” until doubt be gone, and simple trust claims the promised blessings, as its very own.
But that kind of faith is only reached after many failures, after much praying, after many waitings, and after many trials of faith. Our faith must increase until we realize and receive all the fullness there is in that Name which guarantees to do so much.
Before prayer ever starts toward God; before its requests are made known—faith must have gone on ahead; must have believed in the existence of God; must have given its assent to the gracious truth that “God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek His face.” This is the primary step in praying. In this regard, while faith does not bring the blessing, yet it puts prayer in a position to ask for it, and leads to another step toward realization, by aiding the petitioner to believe that God is able and willing to bless.
Faith is not an aimless act of the soul, but a looking to God and a resting upon His promises. Just as love and hope have always an objective so, also, has faith. Faith is not believing just anything; it is believing God, resting in Him, trusting His Word.
I gathered a couple quotes about prayer that I thought fit. Take some time to really think about what they are saying!
"You may as soon find a living man that does not breath, as a living Christian that does not pray." Matthew Henry
He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day. John Bunyan
"Satan does not care how many people read about prayer if only he can keep them from praying. Paul E. Billheimer
Think about that last one carefully. You just read a post on prayer, and now it’s time to really pray! Give Satan something to pout about!
Striving for excellence,
Rachel D
This is my part two of Praying and the Necessity of it. This works through chapter 3 ( there are twelve in the book, so you will probably see more parts before its all said and done ;)
The book was saying that many men and woman of this day and age obtain their “good report” because of their money giving, or their “great” talents, but there are so few who obtain a “good report” because of their great faith in God or because of the wonderful things that are happening because of their great praying. Today, more than ever, we need men of great faith and people who are great in prayer. Faith and Prayer are the two main virtues that make men great in the eyes of God, and are also the two things that create real spiritual success in the life and work of the Church. It is our responsibility to see that we maintain a faith of such quality and texture, so it counts before God! (Which is more important, being great in the worlds view or God’s?)
It would do us good, if we stopped, and looked at our own lives and ask ourselves the question: “Have I faith in God? Have I real faith,—faith which keeps me in perfect peace, about the things of earth and the things of heaven?” This is the most important question a man can ask and expect to be answered. And there is another question, “Do I really pray to God so that He hears me and answers my prayers? And do I truly pray unto God so that I get direct from God the things I ask of Him?”
Do we believe, without a doubt that when we pray, not that we will receive the things we ask on a future day, but that we receive them, then and there? We need to pray, “Lord, increase our faith,” until doubt be gone, and simple trust claims the promised blessings, as its very own.
But that kind of faith is only reached after many failures, after much praying, after many waitings, and after many trials of faith. Our faith must increase until we realize and receive all the fullness there is in that Name which guarantees to do so much.
Before prayer ever starts toward God; before its requests are made known—faith must have gone on ahead; must have believed in the existence of God; must have given its assent to the gracious truth that “God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek His face.” This is the primary step in praying. In this regard, while faith does not bring the blessing, yet it puts prayer in a position to ask for it, and leads to another step toward realization, by aiding the petitioner to believe that God is able and willing to bless.
Faith is not an aimless act of the soul, but a looking to God and a resting upon His promises. Just as love and hope have always an objective so, also, has faith. Faith is not believing just anything; it is believing God, resting in Him, trusting His Word.
I gathered a couple quotes about prayer that I thought fit. Take some time to really think about what they are saying!
"You may as soon find a living man that does not breath, as a living Christian that does not pray." Matthew Henry
He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day. John Bunyan
"Satan does not care how many people read about prayer if only he can keep them from praying. Paul E. Billheimer
Think about that last one carefully. You just read a post on prayer, and now it’s time to really pray! Give Satan something to pout about!
Striving for excellence,
Rachel D
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Praying... and the necessity of it...
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My Name, I will do it.” (John 14:12-14)
Lately I have been reading a book called “Necessity of Prayer” it’s been really good so far! Obviously it’s about prayer and the necessity of it ;) but, it has so many provoking thoughts!
To start with I will give one of their illustrations.
“The guests at a certain hotel were being rendered uncomfortable by repeated strumming on a piano, done by a little girl who possessed no knowledge of music. They complained to the proprietor with a view to having the annoyance stopped. ‘I am sorry you are annoyed,’ he said. ‘But the girl is the child of one of my very best guests. I can scarcely ask her not to touch the piano. But her father, who is away for a day or so, will return tomorrow. You can then approach him, and have the matter set right.’ When the father returned, he found his daughter in the reception-room and, as usual, thumping on the piano. He walked up behind the child and, putting his arms over her shoulders, took her hands in his, and produced some most beautiful music. Thus it may be with us, and thus it will be, some coming day. Just now, we can produce little but clamor and disharmony; but, one day, the Lord Jesus will take hold of our hands of faith and prayer, and use them to bring forth the music of the skies.” It’s so neat to think that God takes us under His wings and makes us something that we are not worthy of being because he loves us so much!!!
One of the things the book said that caught my attention was that the faith which creates powerful praying is the faith which centers itself on a powerful Person. That statement is so cool! I want to have a powerful prayer life, but I have to realize that it’s not about how I pray, but about the powerful God I serve!
Also, we know that sometimes God does not answer our prayers right away. And that seems so hard, but that is when faith is called upon. We must wait in patience before God, and be prepared for God’s seeming delays in answering prayer. Faith does not grow disheartened because prayer is not immediately honored; it takes God at His Word, and lets Him take what time He chooses in fulfilling His purposes, and in carrying on His will. There is bound to be delay and long days of waiting for true faith, but faith accepts the conditions—knows there will be delays in answering prayer, and regards such delays as times of testing, in the which, it is privileged to show the stern stuff of which it is made.
For Example: The case of Lazarus was an instance of where there was delay, where the faith of two good women was sorely tried: Lazarus was critically ill, and his sisters sent for Jesus. But, without any known reason, the Lord delayed His going to the relief of His sick friend. The plea was urgent and touching—“Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick,”—but the Master is not moved by it, and the women’s earnest request seemed to fall on deaf ears. What a trial to faith! Also: our Lord’s tardiness appeared to bring about hopeless disaster. While Jesus tarried, Lazarus died.
But the delay of Jesus was exercised in the interests of a greater good. Finally, He makes His way to the home in Bethany! (And you know the rest of the story!)
(This is an excerpt from the book) Fear not, O tempted and tried believer, Jesus will come, if patience be exercised, and faith hold fast. His delay will serve to make His coming the more richly blessed. Pray on. Wait on. Thou canst not fail. If Christ delays, wait for Him. In His own good time, He will come, and will not tarry. Delay is often the test and the strength of faith. How much patience is required when these times of testing come! Yet faith gathers strength by waiting and praying. Patience has its perfect work in the school of delay. In some instances, delay is of the very essence of the prayer. God has to do many things, antecedent to giving the final answer—things which are essential to the lasting good of him who is requesting favor at His hands.
So, now we know why God sometimes delays, but then it goes into why we should pray. (And this part is really good!)
As every day demands its bread, so every day demands its prayer. No amount of praying, done today, will suffice for tomorrow’s praying. On the other hand, no praying for tomorrow is of any great value to us today. To-day’s manna is what we need; tomorrow God will see that our needs are supplied. This is the faith which God seeks to inspire. So leave tomorrow, with its cares, its needs, its troubles, in God’s hands. There is no storing tomorrow’s grace or tomorrow’s praying; neither is there any laying-up of today’s grace, to meet tomorrow’s necessities. We cannot have tomorrow’s grace, we cannot eat tomorrow’s bread, we cannot do tomorrow’s praying. “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof;” and, most assuredly, if we possess faith, sufficient also, will be the good.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusted in Thee.” (Isa 26:3)
Faith is not believing just anything; it is believing God, resting in Him, trusting His Word.
Faith gives birth to prayer, and grows stronger, strikes deeper, rises higher, in the struggles and wrestlings of mighty petitioning. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the assurance and realization of the inheritance of the saints. Faith, too, is humble and persevering. It can wait and pray; it can stay on its knees, or lie in the dust. It is the one great condition of prayer; the lack of it lies at the root of all poor praying, feeble praying, little praying, unanswered praying.
Genuine, authentic faith must be definite and free of doubt. Not simply general in character; not a mere belief in the being, goodness, and power of God, but a faith which believes that the things which “he saith, shall come to pass.” As the faith is specific, so the answer likewise will be definite: “He shall have whatsoever he saith.” Faith and prayer select the things, and God commits Himself to do the very things which faith and persevering prayer nominate, and petition Him to accomplish.
So, like I said there is a lot packed into this book because this was only SHORT summery of the first chapter and a 1/2! So, guys…. We really, really, really need to be praying for each other! Prayer is so important and necessary! And we overlook it so many times! Please do not stop praying!
Striving for Excellence!!
Rachel Dierking
Lately I have been reading a book called “Necessity of Prayer” it’s been really good so far! Obviously it’s about prayer and the necessity of it ;) but, it has so many provoking thoughts!
To start with I will give one of their illustrations.
“The guests at a certain hotel were being rendered uncomfortable by repeated strumming on a piano, done by a little girl who possessed no knowledge of music. They complained to the proprietor with a view to having the annoyance stopped. ‘I am sorry you are annoyed,’ he said. ‘But the girl is the child of one of my very best guests. I can scarcely ask her not to touch the piano. But her father, who is away for a day or so, will return tomorrow. You can then approach him, and have the matter set right.’ When the father returned, he found his daughter in the reception-room and, as usual, thumping on the piano. He walked up behind the child and, putting his arms over her shoulders, took her hands in his, and produced some most beautiful music. Thus it may be with us, and thus it will be, some coming day. Just now, we can produce little but clamor and disharmony; but, one day, the Lord Jesus will take hold of our hands of faith and prayer, and use them to bring forth the music of the skies.” It’s so neat to think that God takes us under His wings and makes us something that we are not worthy of being because he loves us so much!!!
One of the things the book said that caught my attention was that the faith which creates powerful praying is the faith which centers itself on a powerful Person. That statement is so cool! I want to have a powerful prayer life, but I have to realize that it’s not about how I pray, but about the powerful God I serve!
Also, we know that sometimes God does not answer our prayers right away. And that seems so hard, but that is when faith is called upon. We must wait in patience before God, and be prepared for God’s seeming delays in answering prayer. Faith does not grow disheartened because prayer is not immediately honored; it takes God at His Word, and lets Him take what time He chooses in fulfilling His purposes, and in carrying on His will. There is bound to be delay and long days of waiting for true faith, but faith accepts the conditions—knows there will be delays in answering prayer, and regards such delays as times of testing, in the which, it is privileged to show the stern stuff of which it is made.
For Example: The case of Lazarus was an instance of where there was delay, where the faith of two good women was sorely tried: Lazarus was critically ill, and his sisters sent for Jesus. But, without any known reason, the Lord delayed His going to the relief of His sick friend. The plea was urgent and touching—“Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick,”—but the Master is not moved by it, and the women’s earnest request seemed to fall on deaf ears. What a trial to faith! Also: our Lord’s tardiness appeared to bring about hopeless disaster. While Jesus tarried, Lazarus died.
But the delay of Jesus was exercised in the interests of a greater good. Finally, He makes His way to the home in Bethany! (And you know the rest of the story!)
(This is an excerpt from the book) Fear not, O tempted and tried believer, Jesus will come, if patience be exercised, and faith hold fast. His delay will serve to make His coming the more richly blessed. Pray on. Wait on. Thou canst not fail. If Christ delays, wait for Him. In His own good time, He will come, and will not tarry. Delay is often the test and the strength of faith. How much patience is required when these times of testing come! Yet faith gathers strength by waiting and praying. Patience has its perfect work in the school of delay. In some instances, delay is of the very essence of the prayer. God has to do many things, antecedent to giving the final answer—things which are essential to the lasting good of him who is requesting favor at His hands.
So, now we know why God sometimes delays, but then it goes into why we should pray. (And this part is really good!)
As every day demands its bread, so every day demands its prayer. No amount of praying, done today, will suffice for tomorrow’s praying. On the other hand, no praying for tomorrow is of any great value to us today. To-day’s manna is what we need; tomorrow God will see that our needs are supplied. This is the faith which God seeks to inspire. So leave tomorrow, with its cares, its needs, its troubles, in God’s hands. There is no storing tomorrow’s grace or tomorrow’s praying; neither is there any laying-up of today’s grace, to meet tomorrow’s necessities. We cannot have tomorrow’s grace, we cannot eat tomorrow’s bread, we cannot do tomorrow’s praying. “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof;” and, most assuredly, if we possess faith, sufficient also, will be the good.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusted in Thee.” (Isa 26:3)
Faith is not believing just anything; it is believing God, resting in Him, trusting His Word.
Faith gives birth to prayer, and grows stronger, strikes deeper, rises higher, in the struggles and wrestlings of mighty petitioning. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the assurance and realization of the inheritance of the saints. Faith, too, is humble and persevering. It can wait and pray; it can stay on its knees, or lie in the dust. It is the one great condition of prayer; the lack of it lies at the root of all poor praying, feeble praying, little praying, unanswered praying.
Genuine, authentic faith must be definite and free of doubt. Not simply general in character; not a mere belief in the being, goodness, and power of God, but a faith which believes that the things which “he saith, shall come to pass.” As the faith is specific, so the answer likewise will be definite: “He shall have whatsoever he saith.” Faith and prayer select the things, and God commits Himself to do the very things which faith and persevering prayer nominate, and petition Him to accomplish.
So, like I said there is a lot packed into this book because this was only SHORT summery of the first chapter and a 1/2! So, guys…. We really, really, really need to be praying for each other! Prayer is so important and necessary! And we overlook it so many times! Please do not stop praying!
Striving for Excellence!!
Rachel Dierking
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