I stopped praying
February 3, 2010 | Knowing Christ
If you came over from Encouragement for Today, welcome!
Today I asked my friend and mentor, Cecil Murphey, best-selling co-author of 90 Minutes in Heaven, to join us. Prayer is something we know is powerful, but what if you aren’t receiving an answer. Should you stop praying? That’s exactly what one man wanted to do, and it caused Cec to stop and consider why he would pray, even if he didn’t receive the answer he hoped.
Here’s Cec Murphey:
“I Stopped Praying” by Cecil Murphey
“I finally stopped praying for my two brothers.” Steven explained that he had prayed every day “for at least twelve years and it hasn’t made any difference.”
I didn’t know how to answer so I said, “I’m sorry you’re discouraged.”
Although Steven said those words weeks ago, his words bothered me. Should I have told him to persist? to trust God to reward his efforts? commend him for stopping?
This morning I figured out what troubled me. Despite his good intentions, Steven prayed for results and quit when he didn’t get them. When we petition God, we want to see changes and that’s understandable. The Bible tells us to ask as in 1 Peter 5:7: “Give all your worries to God, for he cares about you” (NLT).
A number of prayer experts would remind us that prayer is more than asking for something. It’s also praise and thanksgiving as well as confession. I agree, but it includes petitions. And not receiving the answers we want can dishearten us.
Like Steven, I like to do things that bring results. Here’s how I see prayer working—and using the word working emphasizes my pragmatic side. In the act of praying, something takes place inside me. When my petitions move beyond my immediate needs and desires, I’m in touch with God and I move out of my self-centered world.
That leads me to say that every action causes a reaction. When I pray something is altered, even though the change may be within me. When I pray sincerely for others, I become different. The more I talk to God about situations and people, the more I focus on their plight or need. As I focus outwardly I become more compassionate and understanding. I say more than a perfunctory “God bless James.”
For example, when I begin to pray for someone I don’t like, I go beyond “Make her kind” or “Make him stop gossiping.” Each time I mention others by name, I feel closer to them and to their problems. The result is that I become kinder or I’m reminded to eliminate loose talk and focus on positive living for myself.
Although it may be only slight, when I pray regularly for others, it is inner growth. And sometimes those individuals also change.
Share your thoughts, prayer requests (I will pray with you), and comments today and you’ll be entered to win a copy of The Woman I Am Becoming: Embrace the Chase for Identity, Faith, and Destiny. I’ll announce the winner on Friday.
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Thanks for the message on unanswered prayer. My husband has 2 masters degrees and 2 children and scores of debt. my point is that there has been no worthwhile job forthcoming in 7 years, we have called on God about this forever but still nothing. yesterday he went to the doctor and was told he now has an enlarged heart – the stress and heartache over joblessness is too much and he is physically wasting away. We pray for a job for him that we can take care of his children and elderly parents. We need him, he’s only 35. please say a prayer for him and this situation, please. He is the one who led me to Christ and now that faith is waning.
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:37 amdear suzanne, i too have tired of praying over and over for something and seeing no obvious results. but i remind myself that God’s timetable is not our timetable,and only God can see the future so therefore His answer may not be what we expect since He can see the whole picture..our lives unfolding according to His will. that helps me to take up my pleas again. and s ometimes when i can go into that quiet place i recal the words ” and the Holy Spirit will intercede for us with groanings..”, when we have not the words, He knows already whatis in our hearts. d mcclain
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:45 amThank you for this post today. My husband has been praying for his father’s salvation for 13 years and we have been praying together for the same thing for over 6 years. It is such an important matter! We have enlisted many people as partners in prayer for my father-in-law and I ask that you please pray for him as well. His name is Sonny.
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:47 amJen-I am going to pray for you and your husband.
May God bless you!
Jessica
Unanswered prayer! I have been praying for my husband for 25 years that he would have a relationship with the Lord and come to know him on a personal level. Not YET! And I say not yet because even though there are days I want to give up, I refuse to stop because I know God is working in my life and loves my husband more than I do. God is in control and that might be the only answered God wants me to experience right now.
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:54 amHi Suzanne,
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:22 amThank you for this article! Even though I have experienced how praying for other can help your growth, it is always good to be reminded! So many are praying for salvation of their loved ones! I am praying for my mother in law’s salvation. We are also having issues with her wanting to be with the children, which I don’t feel comfortable since she is hostile about our faith and has ranted at me about it in front of the children.
Thanks to the others who left replies, you all will be in my prayers!
God Bless!
Joanne
This is a wonderful reminder to keep praying and God will answer my prayers. Maybe not the way I envisioned it, but He’ll answer them. Thanks, Jennifer
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:29 amMy unanswered prayer was for a second child. We started trying to have a second child when my son was 2 years old (he’s 17 now). Those years were very emotional (especially every month at a certain time!) and I grew a lot in my faith. I found a book that helped me a lot titled “I Hope God’s Promises Come to Pass Before My Body Parts Go South!” by Cathy Lechner. I’ve highlighted and written 3×5 cards to remind myself of lessons to learn from it and as I read and re-read these encouraging words I also began seeing specific messages for other people I cared about and was able to pray for them and encourage them with the cards I sent. I can look back now and see how much I’ve grown through this “trial”. I still don’t have a second child, but I am a preschool teacher now and I have many, many children to love!
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:42 amThank you for your encouraging words about prayer. My husband has promised MANY times he will quit smoking, and I have been praying for this for over 7 years (more fervently the past 3), but he has yet to follow thru on this promise. I will continue to pray, and pray, and pray…..
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:06 amThis is my first visit to your site! I am encouraged as I read about prayer’s many purposes, not just a vending machine from God, but also the changes that happen within us.
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:16 amI, too, pray for unsaved family, however what about the person who has accepted Christ, yet little fruit is evident in his life? This is the case of my elderly father, and it’s perplexing and heart-breaking.
So I pray that the holy spirit will do a mighty work in the hearts and lives of all who have accepted Christ.
Thanks…It is easy to grow disheartened by seeming lack of evidence that praying makes a difference. It’s easy to scrutinize yourself and think you must be doing something wrong…that somehow God has ceased to listen to your anguished cries. Perhaps there are times when God says…”leave it with ME” and doesn’t expect us to keep asking…and other times where we ask and keep on asking, knock and keep on knocking….
I am wondering if when we grow tired of asking, we just start praising and thanking…if that would make a difference in our perspective… hmmm….something I think I will try the next time I grow discouraged in my (long-suffering) prayers.
God bless you!
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:25 amThanks so much for this timely encouragement! I participate in a Mom’s In Touch group and we’ve seen so many moms just stop coming to the group. This just reignites my determination to not stop praying and I’m going to email it to my friends to see if it will encourage them to come back to the group!
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:37 amI so related to what Mr. Murphy said about praying for others changes us on some level. I have found that to be true so many times. I have prayed for individuals who have hurt me deeply and while the situation with them never changed, I changed. God moved me beyond my hurt and bitterness to a place of compassion and forgiveness and love. Only God could do that. I too continue to pray for family members to come to know the Lord and while I may not see the end result in my lifetime, I feel like this is my way of loving on them even if they are not aware of it. God knows the results I desire but ultimately I must leave that in His Hands whether I understand or not. I will still praise Him and thank Him. Thank you so much for this post.
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:51 amThis is my first visit to your site, and I came here from Proverbs31. After many years of not being where I wanted to be with God, I am finally making it a priority in my life. One thing in particular touched me from your post.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:31 am“When my petitions move beyond my immediate needs and desires, I’m in touch with God and I move out of my self-centered world.”
This reminds me that strengthening my own relationship with God can help me to make a difference in someone else’s life also, and maybe that is God’s plan. I struggle with seeing God’s plan for me sometimes, and I feel too often that I mistake his plan for my own vision. I pray for better understanding of his plan for me. Thank you for this post! It really touched me today!
God is so good with the stubborn sheep he created. He has known all along how difficult it is to change our hearts and has worked miracles through prayer. I’ll never forget a book my Grandmother gave me as a teen. In that book there was a mountain school teacher who had difficulty with a student and began praying for her, thanking God for her and thanking God for the things that irritated her the most. In that, she of course became aware of what a wonderful creation this little girl was and the teacher’s heart changed. This inspired me to begin praying for a man who had violated me when I was in 5th grade. What an awesome work God did in me. I thought I would never be able to find forgiveness for this man and yet I not only have found forgiveness but compassion for him and have begun praying for the healing of his heart. I can even be thankful for the results of the situation. SInce then, forgiveness is not a struggle for me. Had I not gone through the process I would not be where I am today in my faith. God had prayer figured out long ago. No praying for others and situations that don’t seem to be happening create a change in our hearts that prepares us for the even greater plans that God has for us.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:32 amThis is my first time here and I was definitely meant to read this post! We just talked about this subject in our Bible Study last week and what was brought up time and time again was we need to pray for His will. That we don’t know how God can use smoking, joblessness, the unsaved, adultery….but He does and if we pray His will then our hearts will align with His and we will find peace and comfort in our faith and prayers will no longer feel unanswered. Thank you for this post today-Happy Wednesday-:)
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:45 amThank you for the encouragement today we all need reminders
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:49 amRemembering to be thankful in our prayer time is so important. It’s so easy to make it all about me or rattle off a list of prayers for others or issues. I hold on tight to “Be still and know that I am God”(which is at times, tough for me to do!) Sometimes just being quiet is sufficient and powerful. I am also drawn to think about the times we tell someone,” I will pray for you.” Do we really do that or is that Christian lip service? I truly want to be that prayer warrior that people need, even if it is a short prayer in the moment. I want the words, “I’ll pray for you” to be powerful and backed with promise that I will and that God will hear. Thanks for your post today… blessings!
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:51 amI need to read about other situations. I have prayed for my husband and two grown sons for years. They seem to be moving away from God not closer. I am not sure any of them have ever accepted Christ and certainly are not living their lives as though they have. Alchohol has a big part in all of their lives. One son now has children of his own. The oldest is now 7 and is reaching that point of accountability and does not know much about the Lord. I read the Christmas story in Luke before opening presents this Christmas and felt like it was a “bother” for everyone but me.. My heart breaks and yet I still pray. God is listening, I know, but I too feel the urge to curl up under my blanket and just sleep this life away… Part of it is guilt because I did not raise my children in the church and feel like a lot of it is my failure to be a good parent. Please pray for them and that I will know and do my part as I too seem to be drifting away in discouragement.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:53 amThanks for your wise words about persistent, yet unanswered, prayer. My family has prayed for years for healing for my now 16 year old daughter. I am humbled that you would join me in prayer for her. She is a beautiful girl inside and out, and she loves Jesus. It’s just hard fighting a disease and being a teenager. I know because of your ministry to teens you can understand that. Thank you for praying, and God Bless You.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:19 amGreat insite! It is so easy to want to give up when you don’t see results. Thanks.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:38 amWow… I was struck by my lack of perseverence this morning…so many standing in the gap for their loved ones!! Be encouraged–God hears you…”The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;…” Ps. 34. And He usually does exceedlingly more than we ask or imagine…may you experience His peace while you pray and wait! “Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousnessto the upright in heart.” Ps. 36.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:42 amThank you for the reminder about persistent prayers, even if they ‘seem’ to be unanswered. Sometimes I think they really are being answered, just not in the way we expect them to be answered; God’s plans versus my plans. I have a 14 year old daughter who struggles with horrible anxiety. My prayers are often raised to help her, guide her, and guide her dad and I as we cope with this. We have seen many little (but positive steps)- I call them ‘God winks’ that have provided encouragement. It breaks my heart when she says that God must really hate her to have given her this horrible anxiety…
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:46 amThank you not only for your post here but for your devotion at P31. This is my first time to your blog and I am SO glad that I came.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:48 amYour devotion really spoke to me this morning. I, too, find myself wanting a blanket and a mindless TV show when things become too stressed. And to be honest, every day seems like that lately. Thank you for the reminder that there is a place of peace if I will only go there.
Like one of the others that commented on here, Mr. Murphy’s words “when my petitions move beyone my immediate needs and desires, I’m in touch with God and I move out of my self-centered world. When I pray something is altered, even though the change may be within me” really touched me. I do not want my prayer to become a memorized list of “bless johnny, bless jane”. I want to be used by him.
Not only was your post moving but the comments left were as well. They were a reminder that there is always someone else who is suffering as much or more than you. I pray that God blesses each of them.
Blessings
Wonderful post. I have been blessed in my prayer life. I have seen God work sometimes in hours and sometimes in years. I enjoy my time to just share with God whether it be just the communion or bringing a petition to him. I am always blessed, and sometimes it is in ways I can see with the eye, but many it is what I feel in my heart and spirit.
A prayer that has been strong in my heart right now is for my son. He is a freshman in high school, and I am just praying that God brings good Christian friends into his life.
Thanks!
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:49 amIt is very difficult to pray when we think our prayers go unanswered. I’m there right now, yet I stay vigilant. If nothing else, I am experiencing personal conversation with my Father. One of my favorite songs of all times is ‘Unanswered Prayers’ by Garth Brooks. It speaks of us praying for one thing but God gives us something else…something better. Sometimes that is VERY difficult to remember.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:55 amOur Lord and Savior has His own timetable. I have to keep myself in check not to let this fact keep me from staying on my knees for unanswered prayers. I can’t let that be a cop-out (well, God will take care of it in His time.) Does that make sense? I’m trying to be less selfish in my prayers and ask that all things work out for and when his glory can most be revealed. Being ever thankful that His grace is sufficient while I wait. Praying for you all.
Love in Christ,
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:06 pmDana
Please offer prayers on behalf of our family – two of our children are without jobs as am I. Financially we are really struggling especially the child with little children. We praise God daily for what we do have but pray for a change in the job category for us all so that we might once again help others more often instead of needing it to feed ourselves. thank you.
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:23 pmI have been praying for my husband for 4 months. Out of the blue, he left and then I found out he was having an affair. He insists, it is not about her because our marriage was over long before she came into the picture. Part of me knows that it is not about her. He has lost his way. She was just a tool used to pull him out. I constantly find where it says to pray without ceasing and I am trying to do that for all of us. He is begging me to divorce him, but I am not going to. I’m asking God for a miracle and knowing that no matter what happens it will be for my good. 2 Peter 3:8 The Lord is not being slow about carrying out His promises but He is being patient with you.
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:24 pmwow wow! i am really really encouraged by your message. why? just this morning, while i was praying and asking the Holy Spirit to direct me to what to pray about or who to pray for. I heard an inner voice that said i should pray for a friend that i had not spoken to in a while as i was greatly offended by what she did to me last year and i still held grudges and was bitter about it all. But this morning when i was led to pray for her, i just felt the grudge just lift from me and then i started weeping and i m like Lord why am i weeping cos i had no clue. And with all this said i truly agree with you when u say prayer is not about getting answers rather its a time of inner growth, a time where ur character is transformed, a time where u learn to care and love. And no matter what God makes everything appropriate in His time. He truly is faithful. chy onyiuke
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:38 pmThank you so much for this post! I too have felt discouraged from an unanswered prayer! At this very moment I dealing with my mother’s (and step father’s) addiction to cigarettes. And it is certainly effecting our relationship, and I’m not sure if she realizes it. Never the less, I have been praying and praying that God will cure the addiction. And though I’m not seeing results just yet, the lesson God is going to show me is to trust in Him, to have patience with others who have problems, and most of all teach me how to communicate my opinions and feelings to my mother, since I have a difficult time saying “no” to her when she asks me to buy them for her. Having a huge fight last year has hindered my will to speak up to her, and express my feelings due to a huge fight over it last year! God is going to show me how to overcome this hurdle, and know in the process my relationship with my mom will be stronger! I just have to trust him, and be patient! Jesus has amazing healing powers, and I know He works in people even today!
Sorry so long! This post just really hit home for me. I get discouraged, but God re-encourages me always!
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:43 pmWhen God places something or someone on our hearts, it is for a divine purpose. It may be for our personal growth, it may be to increase our faith, it may be a test of obedience or leaning on Him instead of our own devices. But in any event, don’t give up, get disheartened or lose faith….for God is ALWAYS faithful and He is always there for us…..He has plans for us, plans to prosper and not do us any harm, to give us hope and a future! He is always FOR US and not against us! His will and purpose be done! In Him alone I place my trust!
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:46 pmI too appreciate your post for today. From reading all of the comments it seems there are many of us who related to it in a big way. If all we a reminded of us today is that God’s time is not the same as ours it has been well taken
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:27 pmfirst time to this site, I came to it through words of encouragement, which i do need daily! Pray for our family, as i have struggled with my husbands past deployment to iraq and its great to have him back! However the depression felt during that times still lingers. I am praying that my husband will want to return to church soon, I dont want to go by myself. I have also been praying for some particular ladies who hurt me while he was gone, I have forgiven them, and now have been praying for them and their families to be blessed, which has helped me to let it go, I tend to be a grudge holder. but praying for them certainly helps! again thanks for the encouragement!
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:39 pmWe all have our ways of praying and our personal time with God. As I have learn to listen to God I have also learn to give him glory and praise everyday in every situation. He is my shelter in every storm and I thank him for bringing me through everyday disappointments.And I pray that I set examples of love and peace in all I do. Your site has help me more in the last year and I thank God you are here to encourage us all.
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:53 pmYour post made me realize how prayers also helps me in the process of praying for others. We all need changes! Thanks
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:29 pmSuzie – what a wonderful post, and an awesome reminder to not give up on our prayers! I needed to hear that today! Thanks -
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:37 pmI was praying for a loved one for a very long time (still am) and one day, out of frustration and an incident I gave up. A week later this loved one called and said, “You’re not praying for me, are you?”
I was shocked. This loved one knew that I had been praying for years, trusting God, believing in bigger things that what I could see in the flesh.
I didn’t answer, but sat in silence, my heart broken.
“Please pray,” this person said.
“I promise I will,” I replied.
what did this teach me? That even though I wasn’t seeing the results I had hoped to see, that this person sensed God’s love and protection and presence, even as my loved one rejected that same love and protection and presence.
To this day I haven’t received my answer, but that doesn’t mean that God hasn’t heard and responded. He is gently behind the scenes working on the heart of this precious one He loves even more than me.
My prayers aren’t about results, but about partnering with God in His love for another human being.
I’ll rejoice the day I tangibly see the results, but until then I’ll trust and grow and then trust again.
I love these comments, and I’m praying with many of you today.
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:54 pmThis made me remember that God is in charge, not us. We may want or need something that is not in his plan. We need to let go and allow him to work his miracles through us. Keep praying!
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:11 pmwow – thank you so very much for this awesome reminder. God is soverign and His time is always better than mine. In the last few months my relationship with God has grown in a way I never dreamed. My husband left me about 7 months ago and I’ve been praying that he would repent, truly desire a relationship with God and grow into the man that I thought he wanted to be when we married, I’ve been fasting and praying fervently for 40 days- this Saturday 2/6, I’m not sure when or why or how God will use this, but I do know that through this time of despair and heartache, crying out to my father and truly desiring to put Him first has given me a peace that passes all understanding. I know that I know that I know that God is faithful and I trust that He has it all under His control. God Bless!! “rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” romans 12:12
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:24 pmThank you for the timely reminder about prayer. It is easy to become discouraged when answers to our prayers do not come as we want them to or when we want them to. I have often had God gently(?) nudge me to change my behavior or thought processes about someone whom I had prayed for Him to change. He will to continue to mold us if we allow Him to.
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:24 pmWhat a wonderful reminder. I often have prayed for things and felt like God did not answer, yet as I look back, can see the changes in myself. Needed changes that might not have come had He answered the prayer the way I thought it should be answered.
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:42 pmThe candle picture looks like an angel with wings in prayer.
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:51 pmThe image of that angel praying for me today is what I need.
Thank you…
I believe even when we give up on an “unanswered” prayer and stop praying for that particular thing, God does not stop listening to our heart. He already knows our deepest desires and responds to them. However, it is we ourselves who get hurt by not continuing to give voice to our requests. Just like so many others have written, we receive so much from God just through the process of praying that to stop (even for one issue)is also closing a door on a blessing that God is ready to bestow on His child. Hope that makes sense. I can say this because I have been there (a lot of times still struggle) and only by His grace am I able to continue this walk of faith. Knowing His Love for me is greater than any discouragement I might feel, helps me to refocus and be strengthened.
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:53 pmPlease pray for my husband, Keith. I have been praying for almost 18 years for him to give his heart to Jesus.
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:54 pmThanks for your post today. I have been praying for the last 4 years for my husband. He is a believer, but hasn’t grown. He has said many times he just doesn’t know how to lead us spiritually, so he doesn’t try to do it at all. My prayer has been for my husband to step up, grow in his prayer and devotional life, and to be the man that GOD created him to be (one that is surrendered 100% to the Lord). Also praying that he finds a job, he was just laid off after Christmas this year while finding out his father has prostate cancer. It’s been a wild ride here lately!
Thanks for praying
February 3rd, 2010 at 4:03 pmTHANK YOU for your posting today!! This has been a very trying year and a half with my husbands work, pay and hours being cut. I will tell you that Gods hands are ALL over it!! We have had so much healing throughout this and I know that God has big plans. I am just patiently waiting. As hard as that is! I will tell you that I have been on my hands and knees many times and prayed for guidance and strength and the wisdom that I have needed to support my husband!! THANK YOU for praying and leaving such incredible messages that help us grow everyday closer to God!!! Have a BEAUTIFUL Day!!
February 3rd, 2010 at 4:14 pmThank you for your post & devotion today. I have learned over the last several months that prayer is not only asking God for things but, it is also praising Him for who He is and thanking him for all that he has blessed us with.
My bible study group studied John 11 this week. Mary & Martha were hurting because their brother Lazarus was dieing. They sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was very ill. Instead of rushing to heal Lazarus Jesus stayed where he was. When he did go to Mary & Martha He found them grieving their brother’s death. Jesus hurt because those He loved were hurting. But, by waiting he was able to raise Lazarus from the dead and God’s Glory was revealed causing many to believe in Him.
I have learned through years of heartache and prayers that were unanswered that God’s Glory will be revealed! During the midst of the pain I begged & cried to God to answer my prayers. When they were finally answered I was able to see His amazing work in my life & my family’s life. It wasn’t necessarily the exact answer I wanted but I know it was the right answer.
For those of you who are frustrated and ready to give up. Don’t, God will do an amazing work in His time!
February 3rd, 2010 at 4:23 pmThank you for posting this today. I recently just had my third miscarriage and I literally cried out to God. He has blessed us with one beautiful child and we are truly blessed with him but feel the need to have another child. Here lately we have not been sucessful but I continue to praise His name through this storm each month. When I see other pregnant women I have to stop what I am doing and pray that I can face them. The Lord has blessed us with so many gifts and I know that one day He will bless us with another child. I just have to learn how to be patient and know that things will happen in His time.
February 3rd, 2010 at 4:41 pmThis is my first time to your site also coming over from Proverbs 31. Every day there is a new problem to deal with it seems. Today I am supposed to go over to our rental property to collect the rent from a family that is a month behind. My stomach knots up just thinking about it.
February 3rd, 2010 at 4:44 pmFor the past two months, I have been working with the bank on getting that house loan modified, no results yet.
My 74 year old diabetic Father is supposed to have triple by-pass heart surgery on the 15th. I would like to be there, but I don’t have a plane ticket yet. He’s in Colorado & I’m in Arizona.
Our 18 year old daughter has a different ache or pain or illness every day & I don’t know what to tell her anymore. I’ve prayed & prayed for her & taken her to countless doctors.
Some days I just want to run away or stay in bed & give up.
On top of all this, my husband was unfaithful for many years & I struggle with that every day. I know the Lord wants me to forgive him & I have, but it hasn’t gotten into my heart or my head yet.
Maybe I just needed to vent today, so I appreciate your words of encouragement. We need them DAILY!
Please pray for my son and his family. He is the sole provider and his fiance is about to have their second child, and he just found out his job will be eliminated the end of June. I have placed them all in Jesus’s arms but it’s so hard to let go and let God. Thank you for your beautiful devo today.
February 3rd, 2010 at 5:27 pmI love some things that you said in this post… I ask that question a lot too “should I keep praying if I’m seeing nothing?” As a follower of Christ, I struggle with when to pray, when to praise, when to petition, when to listen…
Lately I have had the question, “If I pray and then something happens that I wanted to have happen – does that mean that it is always God’s will?” Meaning, does God ever let something happen – in response to my prayers – that may not be His perfect will? That is something I’ve been wondering lately.
This is one of my favorite blogs to return to… and it was such a treat to see this combination post
Thank you!!
February 3rd, 2010 at 5:48 pmI’m a mom to 4 kids, all 5 and under. I love being a mom and wife but some days I feel as if I’m just drifting through and don’t know who I am anymore. Lately God has been prodding me to pray more. Well, I’m gonna do it! Haha! I thirst for time with him and I’m going to follow your advice and ask God for more desire to spend time with him each day, because frankly, some days it feels like another chore on the to do list of daily life. But just like those chores, though I feel like procrastinating, I always feel better once it’s done. THank you for your encouragement!
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:14 pmTHANK YOU! All of the devotionals and comments posted are so beautiful….(I know some of you are thinking, “what is she reading?”) But really it is so beautiful in that we are growing and learning and completely leaning and relying on God. I hope each person who left a comment knows the impact that sharing their TESTimony/story/experience or whatever you choose to call it has on those who are reading them. I believe God is smiling knowing we are reaching each other and utilizing the resources he has given us for His GLORY! In Love and Prayer!
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:26 pmHey sweet ladies, I’m sending prayers to some of you privately, and praying for the right words, and if not the right words the heart to stand with you today and pray for our powerful Heavenly Father to give you strength, joy, peace, and wisdom.
I’ve invited Cec to stop in and take a look at the comments and prayer requests, too. He’s definitely a man of wisdom and prayer.
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:37 pmI feel this was a great article on prayer. I have always felt that the command to “pray without ceasing” was impossible. Then I heard of the principle of prayer as a conversation with our Father. I have pursued to inwardly speak to Him when confronted by problems, people’s needs and questions. This has made prayer more of a 2 sided conversation as I stop and listen to hear His “speaking” in my spirit. It is a discipline to pray with no intention of receiving anything other than the joy of His presence and His revelation of Himself in the Word and through other’s confirming words. When we focus on others and their needs and then give in to the Lord, we will find His peace and joy is sufficient for each situation we encounter. Thank you for such timely words today.
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:55 pmThank you for your post
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:17 pmtoday. I have been praying for my husband, my parents and my brother’s salvation. I thank God that he has come back to the family but I need strength to pray for his salvation so that our two boys will be able to see him as a model for a good father. My brother has strayed and is living in sin- an adulterous affair. Yet I cannot seem to bring any sense into him. My heart is broken as I see my parents pine for him to come back to his wife. i really don’t know how to pray for my brother Vincent. Please remember him in prayer. All of us have needs for prayer. I pray that God will also give you the strength and the grace to read our prayers and rest today. Thank you
I really needed this reminder today. You see I lost my faith two years ago due to some crazy situation with my ex-pastor and losing our church. I just felt so betrayed and had prayed for months to not feel like that. But, it never happened. Finally I am coming back to serving God and praying for my children. My son was so hurt by the situation that he is not praying and has no interest in church or God or reading his bible. He still has good morals just not trusting and believing anymore. I have been praying for his return to believing, his heart and trust to be restored. I would love some others to pray that also. Thank you for your site. God is using it.
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:29 pmThank you for your posting on prayer. I have been a “Christian” by head knowledge for many years but have struggled with being a Christian in my heart and living it out. I too feel quite frequently that I am being unheard when I pray and feel that it is futile. My New Year’s resolution was to commit to daily reading devotions that I would be changed as well as praying. So this is encouraging thank you again for doing God’s work.
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:58 pmThanks for this post! Isn’t easy to become so focused on our own problems that we can’t see past our own sorrow to the sorrow and hurts of others? My husband’s late grandfather was a pastor for over 50 years. Months before he died, he told my husband and me that the only way to serve God is to serve our fellow man. Will helping others automatically take our problems away? No! But it will help to take our minds off of them and on to serving the Lord who has walked our path before us, knows the ‘how’s’ and ‘why’s', and will be with us as we find our way.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:06 pmThank you for your post. I have often wondered if praying for something one time or a thousand times would make a difference. but you are right every time you pray for someone it brings a change in you for that person. thank you again
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:34 pmHI – this is the first time I have been to your site and love it. I too sruggle with continuing to pray when I don’t see the result I am “expecting”. I forget it is in God’s time, not mine or His answer may not be my answer. Press on
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:15 pm“When I pray something is altered, even though the change may be within me”. How true this is and what a wonderful reminder of how God changes us when the focus is on someone else. He is faithful EVERY time. Thanks Suzie for sharing.
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:33 pmThank you for your encouraging words. Recently, I have lost my fourth pregnancy, and perhaps, my last chance to conceive–as the OBGYN bluntly stated to me while having the miscarriage–because of my age and other health factors. My husband and I moved overseas to his home country in Austria, hoping and expecting a fresh start to our lives. I have experienced culture shock, homesickness, language barriers and when I found out I was pregnant, I thought “God has remembered me”, and when I miscarried eight weeks later, my whole perspective on newness and a new beginning came tumbling down. Amidst losing both my parents one right after the other, and four pregnancies in the last three years, I asked God if He is really hearing my prayers, if I have done something wrong to bring all this upon myself, my husband and others around me. I wondered if my prayers were just bouncing back and God was silent, but looking back, I have seen His hand–even in the last couple of weeks–mostly in small ways. I am reminded of His Word in Isaiah 55:8,9 that states that His thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are our ways His ways; as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways and thoughts higher than ours. I have come this far because of the prayers of others. There is Power in Prayer and God can always be trusted even when it doesn’t feel good. Thank you, Suzie, and God bless you.
February 4th, 2010 at 4:09 amI’ve been struggling some in my own prayer life and came to the same conclusions as Mr. Murphy. Prayer places us in God’s presence, which is the first step to spiritual growth. You can read about it at my blog too, http://tamiboesiger.blogspot.com/2010/02/is-pleading-trusting.html.
February 4th, 2010 at 9:51 amSuzie, thank you for publshing my thought about prayer from my newsletter. The responses amazed me. I wasn’t aware of what an issue this is for many believers. Maybe we believed aren’t as different as we sometimes think.
I’m greatly encouraged because of the tremendous response.
Thank you.
Cec
February 4th, 2010 at 2:00 pmI am struggling right now with forgiving a loved one that has hurt me deeply. I want to hand the situation over to God, but it seems like my prayers aren’t reaching. I’m so torn. I need his direction and strength.
February 4th, 2010 at 3:04 pmInteresting… My sister and I prayed for many years for our parents’ salvation. At times each of us would be discouraged, but we persisted.
February 10th, 2010 at 1:37 am18 years later, my parents both came to Christ. The last 6 years have been so AMAZING! My father, retired from his career, now devotes his time to serving God in a number of ministries. It is wonderful to attend church with my parents and my own family of husband and 2 children.
I know this post was from last week – but I encourage everyone to never give up praying.