Psalm 107:28-30 – “Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distresses. 29 He caused the storm to be still, so that the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 Then they were glad because they were quiet, so He guided them to their desired haven.”  NASU

The Bible offers numerous examples of prayer turning the tide, changing the direction of the nation but more importantly changing the heart of individuals and bringing them into conformity with God’s Word, Will, and Way.  In life, most people pray when TROUBLE is on the horizon or confronting them.  In those times, they get serious and fervent in their prayers but in times of ease, prayer is often an afterthought or a casual experience.  If we are casual in our prayer lives in times of ease, we will find faith in times of difficulty very difficult.

Moses prayed and the judgment of God was averted against Israel.  He prayed and Lot and his family spared from the judgment against Sodom and Gomorrah.  Daniel prayed and God changed the course of an entire nation.  David prayed and deliverance came to him and to Israel.  Repeatedly, in Scripture importune, effectual, and fervent prayer had a dramatic effect on the outcome.  Jesus gave us a pattern to follow in prayer and additionally instructed us to ASK with PROMISE.  Matthew 7:7, our Lord said, “Ask, and it will be given to you seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”  In Matthew 21:22, Jesus said, “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”  Mark 11:24, the words of our Lord provide hope and a challenge, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”  Did you catch the tense of that verse?  It is important for in faith’s eye it is the evidence of what you have yet to see.  It is substance not just a wish and hope but a firm fixed confidence that it has been granted and you are simply waiting for the fulfillment in the natural what you have believed in the supernatural.  Then, in John 14:13-14, we are told, “Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask ANYTHING in My name, I will do it.”  That could not be more positive and definitive!

Prayer must be fervent, effectual, consistent, and determined but it also must be offered in FAITH.  Mark 9:29 reveals, “And He said to them, ‘This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.’”  That is prayer coupled with faith breaks the bonds of demonic powers and forces of hell.  In Acts 9:40, we find, “But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, ‘Tabitha arise.’ And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.”  That is POWER in PRAYER!  Remember the instructions of James 5?  “Is anyone among you sick?  Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.  And if he have committed sins, he will be forgiven.  Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

We are to enter God’s gates with Thanksgiving and His courts with Praise.  Therefore, Thanksgiving is to ALWAYS be a part of prayer!  If you are asking, believing that He has granted your petition would not Thankfulness be a natural part?  Of course, it would!  Philippians 4:6-7 gives the instruction, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  THAT IS AMAZING!  No fretting and no fear over ANYTHING.  If we come to God in prayer, believing and offering THANKS the promise is not only the answer to prayer but that God will set a guard at our hearts and minds to KEEP US and will grant us UNSURPASSING PEACE!  Hallelujah!

A.W. Tozer said, “It is because of the hasty and superficial conversation with God that the sense of sin is so weak and that no motives have power to help you to hate and flee from sin as you should.”  Andrew Murray declared, “Prayer is not a monologue, but a dialogue.  God’s voice in response to mine in its most essential part.”  Corrie ten Boone said, “Don’t pray when you feel like it.  Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it.  A man is powerful on his knees.”  Samuel Chadwick said, “Prayer is the acid test of devotion.”  Williams Carey said, “Prayer – secret, fervent, believing prayer – lies at the root of all personal godliness.”   Jesus was a man of prayer, the disciples were men of prayer, the prophets were men of prayer and if we are going to pull down strongholds will only be as effective as our prayer lives!

God, bless you as you determine in 2017 that you will be a man or woman of prayer.