Category Prayer

A quote about prayer

Prayer is not a way of making use of God prayer. It’s a way of offering ourselves to God in order that He should be able to make use of us.

It may be that one of our great faults in prayer is that we talk too much and listen too little. When prayer is at its highest, we wait in silence for God’s voice to us. We linger in His presence for His peace and His power to flow over us and around us. We lean back in His everlasting arms and feel the serenity of perfect security in Him. William Barclay

I hope this post encourages those who need it. We know what the Bible says about doing good; we’re never supposed to get tired of it, right? But, if we’re honest with ourselves, we get tired of praying, too. Sometimes, the needs are so great that prayer feels difficult. There’s nothing wrong with admitting that. That’s why we have that wonderful verse about how the Holy Spirit has to intercede for us when we don’t know how to pray.

(This example is from some years ago.)

I want to tell you a story. If you read my posts from the last two weeks, you know that we have a young house guest who is struggling with depression. Medication has been prescribed, and it is making a difference.

We have prayed for her and her family for years. Let me repeat, for years. 

I’ve been so discouraged that some days, I don’t even want to pray. It was starting to feel hopeless.

Chastising myself, I was convinced that something was wrong with me, which was why my prayers weren’t answered. (I’m sure some things were getting in the way, such as areas that needed some fine-tuning. To quote the much-quoted jargon, “Life is a journey, not a destination.”)

I was really feeling stressed because of the circumstances that brought her to our home, and I woke up one morning with a heavy, heavy feeling in my chest.

My blog often focuses on mental illness, especially depression. I have lots and lots of posts devoted to this subject because  I know how depression feels, and I know when it’s rearing its ugly head. I’ve been exhausted these past couple of weeks. When I woke up that morning, I was scared because I know that exhaustion is often a trigger for me.

Worried that my depression might be returning, during my next prayer time, I concentrated my prayers on me. After that, I kept myself occupied, went for a walk, and worked on my kitchen table some more. (I’m painting it with white chalk paint.) Cleaned out some closets, etc. All the things I know to do if I think depression is looming.

I woke up feeling so much better. Spent time with God as usual, and while reading the book of Mark, I was struck by how physically tired Jesus was at times. I felt a great kinship.

This has been a long, prayer journey.

Here’s the exciting news that I hope will encourage you.

Our house guest is at her own home now. She called to say she had two interviews this week for a job. (Trying to earn money before heading to college.) Sounded better than I’ve heard her in years. Her medication is working, and she is able to think once again. (Our brains are physically affected when we’re depressed, and we simply cannot think as we should. Medication can help remove brain “fog.”)

But here’s the best part.

This is a young woman who’s been very upset and disillusioned with her family. She’s been with us because she didn’t want to be with them. Much of this is from her perspective, not necessarily reality. So, as we’re talking, she said, “I gotta’ go. I’m having dinner with my family.” (Tearing up even as I write this.) Hearing her say that and hearing the love in her voice for her family is what we’ve been waiting to hear.

I went to our bedroom and immediately thanked God for what seemed to be the beginning of good things for her.

Do you know what it feels like to see your prayers finally answered after years of praying? I know many of you do.

But I also know that many of you are where I’ve been and where I will be again, wondering if my prayers will ever be answered.

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Prayer has been my main focus of study for years now.

I have many books I recommend listed under “Books I recommend” 🙂 in my Header Menu.

Authors I recommend.

But I thought I’d list my favorite authors below just in case you can’t wait.

• Dallas Willard, Hearing God
• Dutch Skeets, Intercessory Prayer
• E. M. Bounds, E.M. Bounds on Prayer
• Andrew Murray, With Christ in the School of Prayer
• Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline,
• Phillip Yancey, Prayer
• Priscilla Shirer, Discerning the Voice of God
• Joyce Meyer, Simple Prayer

I should warn you that the first four books are difficult. I’ve read Hearing God several times, and I’m still trying to understand what Willard is saying. I’ve said “ouch” more than a few times when some truth has hit home.

Here’s my quick takeaways:

• God always answers prayer-always, always, always, always. And no, it isn’t the glib, “Yes,” “No,”or “Maybe.” God Himself is always a “Yes,” but that “Yes” is not always what we expect. But that doesn’t make it a ‘no” or a “maybe.”
• Our prayer life (which is our “inner” life) depends on our “outer” life.
  

  How we live matters. 

       (If that were not true, the Ten Commandments wouldn’t matter, nor would the teachings of Jesus. Both instruct us how to live.

• We must pray in faith believing. What does that mean anyway? This one has taken me a long time to get mostly right. (Remember, I was getting pretty discouraged quite recently myself.)  Finally, I realized that praying in faith means believing the very first point I made. It doesn’t mean things will go my way. It means I have to believe that my prayers will result in things going God’s way. That’s the hard part, isn’t it?

  After all, we want our prayers answered the way we’ve prayed them because we honestly believe we are praying for the right things.

  Seriously. Think about it. Would you knowingly pray for the “wrong” things?

• When we want to give up, we mustn’t. This is the time we examine our lives to see if something is getting in the way of the effectiveness of our prayers. We ask ourselves hard questions, like “Am I praying with the right motives?” Frankly, sometimes I’m not.

• Finally, prayer is never over. It doesn’t end with an “Amen.” In fact, “Amen” is where real praying begins, when we go out into the world to live the life we’ve been praying about.

I know there are some very discouraged people out there in “blog land” because I’ve read their posts. I’ve learned that sincere believers struggle just like non-believers do. Sometimes, maybe more so, because believers live and walk between heaven and earth.

I hope this post has brought you some hope. There will be some “detours” for the young woman I mentioned earlier. I will have questions again because that’s my personality. But I’ll let you in on something.

Sometimes, when I’m discouraged, I pray this prayer,

“God, I’m not expecting a miracle today. I know some things take time. I’m OK with that. But I just need a little encouragement, a “thumb’s up ” or a little ray of hope. It doesn’t have to be much, just something that encourages me to keep on keeping on.”

I want you to know that every time, every time, God has given me that encouragement. I recognize the encouragement because I’ve prayed for it, and I know my Father’s voice.

Concluding

Be confident when you prayer. On those days, words escape you; ask the Holy Spirit to pray for you. Don’t feel bad about that.

Use the Bible portion you are reading as a jumping-off point. The Psalms are great for that. Remember to thank God for hearing your prayers.

Anyway, I trust you are feeling encouraged. That was my hope.

God bless, and I hope you have a good day.