
There was a time when I would happily tell people, "I'll pray for you!" And, In my heart and mind, I truly meant it. Then one day I promised to pray for a friend who had leukemia and although I may have whispered a hasty prayer for her, that was where it ended.
The Lord spoke to my heart and His Word taught me that by no means was I to stop praying until there was a definite change in the situation. So, I began to evaluate my pitiful devotion, my measly time and my puny efforts, as God educated and taught me to "Pray Through!"
My pursuit to seek God more earnestly and thoroughly has been quite a journey, and admittedly my prayer life still has a substantial way to go!
I have found it necessary to keep a prayer journal whereby I apply the person's name, their request and how God brings a resolution to my petitions. It wasn't very long before I began to see God move within many of my appeals.
God's Word States: "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. COLOSSIANS 4:2-4
The needs are great and so must my committal be if I am to be steadfast in my pursuit for answers! When we devote ourselves to praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ, we will see God move in whatever the situation may be.
In COLOSSIANS 4:12-13 we find Epaphras wrestled in prayer for the Colossians, and he worked hard for them and others. Because of his great concern for their ability to stand firm and grow in the Lord Jesus Christ, Epaphras labored in prayer.
Surely, we all have needs that only "God and Prayer" can take genuine care of! There are those that may even need someone to "stand in the gap" for them. Are we willing to go the extra mile and perhaps even wrestle in prayer for our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus and even those who have yet to know Him??
Each of us need to take stock of prayer lives! We are responsible for asking ourselves, "Am I devoted in my prayers?" Am I committed to pray until the need is met? Do I know when to be still before God so that I can hear Him speak to me?
And, most importantly, am I taking time to give thanks to God for ALL HE HAS DONE AND ALL HE IS DOING??