INSPIRATION How to Pray? by April James Pray? Yes… I believe that as long as there is breath and life there is a plan and purpose. We heard the Oncologist report, did not dismiss it, however - wanted to also look for the Lord’s report. My friend Tammy adds a perspective “did God say he had 5-6 months? God is the one who determines when his children enter this world, He number their days. He is the one who determines when they will be with him on the other side of the physical world. It may be five months or five years, each day is to be lived in Him and He will be there for each day.” Most of us have heard stories of individuals given a year to live and passed away in one year, some given a few months then in a couple of weeks breathed their last, yet others given two months were still doing well two years later. I appreciate doctors and happen to have a wonderful personal physician who is a believer. I value the wisdom God has given doctors; I respect what they do and how they try within their abilities to help. I am also of the mindset if I am going to follow man’s instructions to take
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a prescription three times a day – I should also be praying three times a day to the Great Physician for healing; who knows perhaps the situation we face is the perfect set up for a miracle. The question is how to pray, a broad and varied territory. Praying in great faith has not always been easy, when my faith and belief lacks confidence I pray as the father did in Mark 9:24 “I do believe, help my unbelief”. We are all given a measure of faith, it grows by exercising it. Pray how we know and watch it grow. Find scriptures to pray that apply to the situation at hand. Sometimes my prayers are simply those of tears but the Lord understands them. Romans 8:26 “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words”. With changing prognosis and passing time it broadened my spectrum of prayers, no longer simply for healing but strength equal to the day, for the plans of the Lord to be fulfilled, peace in the midst of the storm, wisdom in decisions, the ability to show grace, to have an
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Encouragement Unaware by Christy Boals www.gracefilledpurpose.com Early one morning I was in my room trying to wake up, drink enough coffee, and read enough of the Bible to summon my courage for a long day. From the other room I heard my beginning reader lisping out a sign that hangs in my kitchen, “I, can, do, all, things…” Isn't it amazing how creative God is at delivering encouragement to us when we need it? My little reader was just practicing some words she saw, but she sent them right to my heart. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” There are two parts to this. The first is how awesome it is that God brings us encouragement right when we need it. This encouragement can come from just about anywhere if we are paying attention. The second part is God can and does use us to bring encouragement to others, even if sometimes we are unaware of it.
An example of this is when I was sitting in a waiting room, feeling somewhat anxious for my daughter who was undergoing some tests. From behind me I heard someone sweetly singing Sunday school songs to her little boy. This woman probably thought she was just keeping her son entertained as they waited their turn, never dreaming as she sang how deep and wide God's love is, that she was ministering to my anxious mommy heart. My challenge and prayer for us this month is to keep our hearts and eyes open for God's encouragement to us. Also, that we would continue to live in such a way that God can use us to encourage others, even if we are unaware of it. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
