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Trusting prayers ...



In 1 Chronicles 5:20 we read ... "(God) answered their prayers because they trusted in Him."

We know that across the world there are many people that pray. For example, in the book "Christian Prayer for Dummies" a survey is quoted stating that in the UK 82% of adults and 89% of teenagers pray at least once a week!  We know, too, that prayers may be directed to a 'god', 'divine being' or 'someone/something' that it is supposed can help in time of need, whether or not there is an experience of being in a relationship with the object of the prayers or not. 

However, what strikes me in this verse is that the peoples prayers were answered not simply because they prayed, but because they exercised faith, they trusted in the One they were praying to ... which leads me to the question "How do we have faith?" How can our experience move beyond a blind hope into a confident trust? For me the answer is about a relationship with our Creator through trust in the work and promises of Christ ... 

 The Bible makes many promises, including;
  • 'Here I am,' Jesus said, 'I stand at the door knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.'
  • 'I will be with you always and never leave you ...'
  • 'I give them eternal life ...'
Faith is not merely believing that God can fulfill His promises but trusting that He will daring to believe these promises to be true and acting upon them and, over time, we begin to build a bank of experiences that confirm them to be true;
  • We do not need to earn God's approval to draw closer to Him ... We trust in the work of Christ ...it is a gift to be received.
  • He walks with us and nurtures His character in us as we yield to His leading ...we need to walk with Him to see this is true.
  • We develop compassion for others ... and an expression of His character working in and through us ... so we see our aspirations, desires and heart change.

 So how do we have faith? It develops through exercise taking first one step, then another ... daring to trust ...

 Anyone want to share a testimony of how this has worked out in your life?

 Press on!
 
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Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 27, 2013 at 10:19 AM

    Truth!!! Thanks, mate!

    ReplyDelete
  2. ajbaggFebruary 27, 2013 at 10:28 AM

    Challenging to always allow ourselves to be 'stretched' all the time though. Even if we know it is for our own benefit and blessing!

    ReplyDelete

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