Speaking in the Light 3.15.2006

COL-LIGHT-3-15
 
Don’t ever underestimate the power of prayer.  There is something wonderfully holy that can happen when we invite our Father who dwells in heaven into the mix of what is going on in our lives here on earth.
 It is an awesome thing when we actually long for His will to be done here in our own backyard like it is done in the portals of glory.  I think most of our problems living here on this planet are caused by our stubborn pride that dupes us into playing tug of war with God when we should be begging to be on the same team.   And even though our circumstances may not always change the way that we want them to, when we pray God has a way of changing us the way that we need to in order that we may be ready to face whatever our journey that lies ahead calls for. 
When you pray, do you actually expect God to show up?  Do you dial the Lord’s number with a confidant assurance that He will take your call?  I love the fact that I don’t have to wait endlessly on hold listening to stale elevator music where all lines are busy while the next available operator prepares to take my call.   The one thing that I love about praying to God is that you can speak to Him direct and never have to worry about getting His voice mail!
In a day where we have more technology to speak to each other than ever before, isn’t it funny that communication has never been more impersonal?  Even though He is God of over a hundred billion galaxies, He still takes the time to care about me when I am willing to humbly cast my burdens upon Him.
I love the story that Dr. Helen Roseveare, missionary to Zaire, relates about the power of prayer.  She shares that a mother at her mission station died after giving birth to a premature baby.
 They tried to improvise an incubator to keep the infant alive, but the only hot water bottle that they had was beyond repair.  So they gathered together and began to beg God to send a hot water bottle that very day.  You don’t get more specific than that, do you?
 One of the young children prayed with such an innocent passion when with tears in her eyes, she cried out to God, “Oh please Lord Jesus, send a hot water bottle today.  Tomorrow will be too late because this baby will be dead.  And oh by the way, while You are at it, could you please send a doll for the baby’s older sister so that she doesn’t feel as lonely as she does right now?”
The story continues that later that very same day, a large package arrived from England.  The children watched eagerly as Dr. Helen opened it.  Everyone applauded with exuberance when underneath some baby clothes lay a spanking brand new hot water bottle.
 Immediately, the young girl who had prayed so earnestly requested that Dr. Helen dig deeper exclaiming, “If God sent the water bottle, I am sure that He also sent a doll!”  And sure enough, she was right!   The heavenly Father knew in advance of that little child’s specific requests because five months earlier- the Lord had led a ladies’ group to include both of those much needed and much appreciated articles.
The great man of God, John Bunyon once said, “You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.”
 And as I close my article today, I sense the Spirit of God prompting me to ask “is there anybody out there who would love to have somebody not only praying for them; but also praying with them?”
 I would love to hear from you what we can seek God together for, crying out to the Lord on your behalf as we continue to live this day that God has made for us in the middle of the month of March, 2006.
 Maybe it was for such a time as this that God has encouraged you to reach out to Him so that He can bestow upon you the very special answer that He had prepared for you all along.  He was just waiting for your call. 
 If there is something specific that we can call on Him together about, please take the time to email it to me by writing pastorudytlc@comcast.net and then we will fasten our seatbelts and see what the Lord will do because God loves it when His children not only pray but genuinely pray with one another and for one another.   Let’s not be too busy to pray today.
The Lighthouse Church meets at Elementary School No. 2 in Court House with Sunday Services at 9 and 10:30 a.m.  Call 465-6690 for more information.