Food for Thought: Answered Prayers

The prayers heard, thus answered by God—the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ—in the Bible are those spoken with passion, emotion and belief.


Nehemiah wept and mourned when he received word of Jerusalem's destroyed wall (Nehemiah 1). David continually prays with strong emotion in First and Second Samuel as well as in Psalm. Jesus passionately prays in Gethsemane, as well as other times (Matthew 26:36-46).


You may respond, "Well sure, but Jesus died on the cross despite his passionate prayer."


If so, we miss the point of prayer! Jesus prayed for the fulfillment of the Father's will. Jesus' death and resurrection we spoken of by the prophets in the Old Testament, his death on the Cross fulfilled God the Father's purpose, as did the Jesus' resurrection and ascension (Acts 1:9). We pray too passionately pray for the fulfillment of God's will—because His wisdom exceeds all other thoughts, plans and logic combined.


The blind man called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me (Luke 19:35-42)." The blind man emphatically pleaded with Jesus to receive his sight. Jesus healed him because of the blind man's faith.


Dwell on the power of God, and if your prayer request glorifies Him—this defines asking anything in Jesus' name (John 16:26, 27).


Pray with passion, emotion, faith, belief in the power of God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to deliver according the Father's will (Matthew 6:8-15, 7:21).


See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ—Pray with emotion and expectation of reception!


Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
www.rickEmeyer.com



P.S. The official writing standards call for abbreviation of the books of the Bible. This serves well in saving space when communicating with others familiar with the Bible. However, Christianity should avoid all attributes of an exclusive insiders club. Rather, we desire to share God's word, which includes assuring the ease of anyone to easily define which book of the Bible referenced.

Your Second Wind is Just the Beginning

How many times have you felt on the brink of collapse from physical or mental exhaustion? Are you relieved upon receiving your second wind, your second burst of energy? I, like you, have experienced this numerous times over the years, whether during physical work, office work, or running.

The body becomes queasy, the legs and arms feel as if they will collapse at any moment; strength is absent. Fatigue blurs our thinking, disguising obvious choices and solutions.

Suddenly, as described by lyrics of an old Billy Joel song, your “second wind” comes along. Physical invigoration and clarity of thoughts resumes.

Four or five times during a long run Sunday, I desired quitting. Fatigue quickly generates justifications for ending the workout, such as the wind, boredom, fatigue, age, minor aches and pains. Fortunately, experience quickly disintegrates these temptations of complacency, a new “wind” provides physical and mental restoration for continued running.

Many encourage us to persevere until we attain our “second wind”. Unfortunately, we frequently stop at the end our “second wind”.

Greatness occurs beyond the “second wind”, rather the sixth, eighth, or tenth “wind”. Stamina enables a multitude of “winds”, numerous mental and physical rejuvenations. Champions develop physical and mental 'staying power' to endure through as many “winds”, rejuvenations, as necessary to achieve the desired goals and dreams.

My staying power on Sunday derived from experience, including faith. Trials and patience yield wisdom, wisdom yields staying power. The roots of my physical and mental stamina perpetually deepen in the fertile soils of scripture. The Bible assures we attain strength in Christ; all things are possible through Him. He restores our energy, and clarity.

Does exhaustion from life’s battles cause you to question your staying power? Does your mind blur from fatigue? Hang in there, Christ provides your “second wind”; as well as an eighth “wind” or as many “winds” as necessary for achieving His will for your life.

You may feel on the brink of collapse, Christ will restore your energy. Receive His restoration through reading the Bible, prayer, fellowship, associations and enduring life’s trials.

Faith continues beyond your second wind! Faith generated wisdom increases emotional, physical and spiritual staying power.

See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!

Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
http://www.rickemeyer.com/