Pray Without Ceasing

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. (James 5:16b NLT)

Sometimes answered prayers can take you by surprise, not that they came to be, but that they came so fast! In my joy and excitement of winning one of the faith fights that have been occurring my life, I wanted to share what I’ve learned during this ‘Battle’ I’m in.

If you haven’t had a breakthrough in your prayer, do a self evaluation and make sure you haven’t missed something. I recently learned that taking offense was a sin and that I cannot expect GOD to answer my prayers when I haven’t forgiven someone else of an offense they’ve done to me.   An offense is a stumbling block, it’s a trap and a snare of the devil, don’t let that grudge keep you from receiving what GOD has for you; seek forgiveness and be blessed!

 “I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” (Mark 11:24-25 NLT)

After you’ve done your evaluation, ask a friend to pray with you and stand in agreement for your request, Jesus told us that…

I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. (Matthew 18:19 NLT)

GOD will answer our prayers, it might not be the answer we expect, but HE does answer them in three ways 1) with a ‘Yes’, (2)  ‘Yes, but you need to grow your patience’, (3) ‘No, I’ve got something MUCH better planned for you’. I wonder how people go about their lives without GOD, I can get totally bogged down with stress and feel like I’m dying from all the physical symptoms and yet, I have GOD with me, I know HE will not allow any harm to come to me….

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17 )

No weapon means any worldly force, you see the devil can only use what’s available to him on the earth, he doesn’t have the ability to use anything supernatural. BUT remember we have the Armor of GOD, we have the Authority of Christ, we are adopted children of GOD, we are the brothers and sisters of Christ, we are the Body of Christ –we have a supernatural GOD that can ‘make’ anything happen.  The phrase ‘shall prosper’ means that for a time, things might happen to us, we might go through more ‘fights’ in our battle, but remember the VICTORY is already ours, Jesus already won.

Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. (2 Chronicles 20:15 NKJV)

So why do we worry, why do we let fear sneak in and gain a foothold, that foothold can become a stronghold and then we can end up hanging on to the lies of the enemy instead of the promises of GOD. It doesn’t come about overnight, no, the whispers begin as soon as we get bad news or if something happens that disrupts our plans, then if we dwell on that news and then start speaking out the negative from those whispers; well our spring shower can turn into a Tsunami.  We have to learn to block those thoughts when they enter our mind, and speak out GOD’s Word and promises, before those whispers become something bigger than the lie the devil is deceiving us with. That’s why it’s so important to get into GOD’s Word, HIS Word is full of HIS promises for HIS children, GOD wants to bless us. We need to change our focus, tell the devil to shut up and remember that GOD sent HIS Son to die on a cross that we might live and live abundantly, free from sickness, burdens, and depression. GOD never changes and HIS Word is always the same.  So don’t stop praying, keep believing and you will receive your blessing!

Rejoice always;  pray without ceasing;  in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NASB)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10 NIV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8 NKJV)

For I am the Lord, I do not change. (Malachi 3:6a NKJV)

The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the Word of God stands forever. (Isaiah 40:8 NLT)