Silas
Beloved of All
Your heart for prayer and for reaching the lost is a beautiful thing to see, and it is right to bring it before the Lord. The desire you have expressed to see prayer increase and the gospel go out steadily is itself from God, for He desires that none should perish and that all should come to repentance, and He sent His Son to seek and to save the lost.
Remember that prayer rests on relationship. When you can truly say Father, you have an open door to come to Him. Apart from being His child through faith in Jesus Christ, the one prayer He waits to hear is, God be merciful to me, a sinner. That prayer establishes the relationship, and then every other prayer has its place. If you are in Christ, you are invited to come boldly, not to inform God of things He does not know, but to consent to what He already desires to do.
The purpose of prayer is not to bend God to our will, but to bring our hearts into harmony with His will. Prayer begins with God, His purposes are made known to us, we speak them back to Him, and He accomplishes them. When we pray Thy will be done, we are opening the door for God to do what He has longed to do, without violating the will He has given us. Often we must continue in prayer, watching with thanksgiving, not because God is reluctant, but because He is bringing us into alignment with His purpose. When we are in harmony with Him, we see answers come.
Do not think effectiveness depends on length or eloquence. The prayers recorded in Scripture are often very short. What matters is a fervent heart. The earnest prayer of a righteous person accomplishes much. It is not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord. God delights to use men and women who give themselves to the Word and to prayer, and through them He does His work.
It is also important to see that prayer is never an excuse to do nothing. Prayer comes first, and then wise action follows. Like Nehemiah, who prayed and then set a watch, we are to pray and then go, with prudence and faithfulness. Prayer precedes activity and sustains it.
Thank the Lord that He does not despise small beginnings. The eyes of the Lord move throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. A small team that is faithful in prayer and in doing the work of an evangelist is precious to Him. The love of Christ, who died and rose for us so that we no longer live for ourselves, is what compels us to compel others to come. Fulfill that calling with steady self control, not living for comfort or allowing distractions and excuses to turn you aside, but discharging the duty God has given you.
I am praying for you, that God would pour out on you a spirit of grace and supplication and burden your hearts even more for souls, that He would strengthen you in the inner person through His Spirit, that He would draw those who hear the gospel and grant true conversions that bear fruit, that His Word would run freely and prevail, and that you would be guarded from the evil one and from every discouragement and hindrance. May you labor fervently and continue steadfastly, with joy as you see God answer, and may your work be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in Him is not in vain. In Jesus name, amen.
Remember that prayer rests on relationship. When you can truly say Father, you have an open door to come to Him. Apart from being His child through faith in Jesus Christ, the one prayer He waits to hear is, God be merciful to me, a sinner. That prayer establishes the relationship, and then every other prayer has its place. If you are in Christ, you are invited to come boldly, not to inform God of things He does not know, but to consent to what He already desires to do.
The purpose of prayer is not to bend God to our will, but to bring our hearts into harmony with His will. Prayer begins with God, His purposes are made known to us, we speak them back to Him, and He accomplishes them. When we pray Thy will be done, we are opening the door for God to do what He has longed to do, without violating the will He has given us. Often we must continue in prayer, watching with thanksgiving, not because God is reluctant, but because He is bringing us into alignment with His purpose. When we are in harmony with Him, we see answers come.
Do not think effectiveness depends on length or eloquence. The prayers recorded in Scripture are often very short. What matters is a fervent heart. The earnest prayer of a righteous person accomplishes much. It is not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord. God delights to use men and women who give themselves to the Word and to prayer, and through them He does His work.
It is also important to see that prayer is never an excuse to do nothing. Prayer comes first, and then wise action follows. Like Nehemiah, who prayed and then set a watch, we are to pray and then go, with prudence and faithfulness. Prayer precedes activity and sustains it.
Thank the Lord that He does not despise small beginnings. The eyes of the Lord move throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. A small team that is faithful in prayer and in doing the work of an evangelist is precious to Him. The love of Christ, who died and rose for us so that we no longer live for ourselves, is what compels us to compel others to come. Fulfill that calling with steady self control, not living for comfort or allowing distractions and excuses to turn you aside, but discharging the duty God has given you.
I am praying for you, that God would pour out on you a spirit of grace and supplication and burden your hearts even more for souls, that He would strengthen you in the inner person through His Spirit, that He would draw those who hear the gospel and grant true conversions that bear fruit, that His Word would run freely and prevail, and that you would be guarded from the evil one and from every discouragement and hindrance. May you labor fervently and continue steadfastly, with joy as you see God answer, and may your work be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in Him is not in vain. In Jesus name, amen.
