Pastor Terry Cheek Th.D.

www.theinspiringword.org

Thanks for returning to read another publication of “The Inspiring Word”.

The month of May provides the Christian with many opportunities for sharing and showing the power of God in our lives. I feel there is one event that takes place in May which if practiced properly will help the saints of God live a closer and more powerful life for Christ. This is the National Day of Prayer. Prayer is a privilege for the saint. Through it we have access to the throne of God. Yet, prayer provides for you and I the incentive to live a repentant and revived life. I want to write this month and encourage you to pray. Why, you may ask?

Prayers of the Saints are precious. We learn from Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.

Prayers of the Saints ascend as incense before God. We learn from Revelation 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

From the previous verses we learn how important prayer is to God, but how important should it be to you and I? Psalm 65:2 reminds us; O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. Everyone, will come to God in prayer. Think of that and notice our world. Every time there is a disaster or traumatic event even the most liberal sceptic of Gods word will ask for prayer on behalf of the afflicted. Prayer is such a wonderful and influential tool to the Saint of God.

With an encouragement to participate in prayer there is a promise from Gods word to answer prayer. For example, in Psalm 91:15 the Lord answers the Psalmist with this “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.” Of course, this promise was made to the Saint, saved and sanctified for the presence of God. Who could forget this famous passage about prayer, found in Luke 11:9 “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Then in John 14:14 the Lord provides this word “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” Our Bible is full of encouragement to pray.

I have tried to provide a foundation from Gods word for you and I to pray. May I have a few minutes to tell you about someone directly affected by prayer. I know a man who spent his youth as far away from God as a young man could. He wasn’t an outlaw from mans perspective but from Gods perspective he needed to be born again. This young man didn’t know it, but many people were praying for him. Saints of God, every one of them. God did not act immediately but those prayer warriors did not give up. They kept on praying. One of them was his mother. Quietly but with resolve she prayer with many until one day this young man and son come to know Jesus as Lord and savior. This young man was me. I realize how powerful a dedicated prayer life is and how important it is to see the lost born again. I am reminded of one additional verse and I will share it as I close. James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” The saints of God should be strengthened by one another, able to confess and discuss our faults and failures knowing our brothers and sister will have our back with sound counsel backed by prayer. Gods word reminds us it will accomplish much. So, how is your prayer life? Until next time may God keep you firmly in His grip!