I Pray

I begin my day and end my day praying for God’s blessings in my life and in the lives of others. My family knows that I pray for them daily but many on my personal prayer list do not know that I am praying for them specifically by name and have been doing so for years. My prayer is that The Lord would bless each life and that He would make Himself known to every person that I lift up to Him in prayer. I know that He hears me. The scriptures assure me that He will honor my faith filled believing prayers. I do not have to see what God is doing in their lives. I just know that He is at work in each life.

In addition to those who I continually pray for, God asks me to pray for those who are facing times of challenge, suffering, and pain. My heart becomes burdened for hurting loved ones, friends, and acquaintances. I feel their tears as Christ feels my tears. The more one loves God, the more love and compassion we have for others. Christ has said that if a person doesn’t love his neighbor, who he can see, he does not love God, who he does not see. Also, when we help or care for any one in need, we do it as unto the Lord. The opposite is also true; when we are able to help someone and don’t, it is as if we have ignored the Lord. We are to be God’s hands, feet, ears, eyes, and voice in the lives of those we love and those whose path we cross. The Holy Spirit speaks to my spirit. He directs me and I want to be obedient. At times my prayers are what He calls me to do. Sometimes I feel so helpless and prayer is the only thing I am able to do. If I tell someone that I will be praying for them; I pray. We should not promise someone that we will be praying for them if we do not intend to carry out our promise.

Many years ago I was introduced to Jabez in the Bible. He appears in the Old Testament book of 1Chronicles, chapter 4. Bruce Wilkinson wrote about Jabez in his little book, “The Prayer of Jabez”. At that time I started praying The Prayer of Jabez for my self, my family, and everyone on my prayer list. Jabez changed the course of his own life by praying a one sentence prayer for himself to God. The Bible tells us that God heard his requests and granted them. God is no respecter of persons and will hear us too. Jabez, named for the fact he was born in pain, didn’t want distress and pain to be his destiny. He asked God to answer four requests. He prayed, “Bless me indeed, Enlarge my territory, Keep your hand upon me, and Protect me from evil or from causing pain”. I ask God to bless me, to grow my faith and use me, to always be with me, and to protect me from harm or from doing harm. He continues to bless me as He hears my prayers. He says that He will grant my requests and I believe Him. The promises in his word are true.

I believe and I pray.