Good day and praise God for the wonders of life He bestows on us. This is day Two of what we must stop praying for, so I went into the scriptures for help with this. Let it feed your soul.
Let’s eat.
Things We Must Stop Praying For PT. 2
The Rock and the Hammer
Sometimes when we pray for people who are lost, we pray for their problems to be solved. They might be going through financial problems, relationship difficulties, or health issues. Instead of praying that they would have all their problems solved, why not pray for God to use these trials to draw them unto Himself. When we try to solve our lost friends and family members’ problems, we might be getting between the rock (the crisis) and the hammer (God’s hand). I’m not saying don’t help people, but pray these problems bring them to God so that they might have everlasting life in Jesus Christ.
Stop the Persecution
I can’t remember hearing missionaries request prayers for their persecution to stop. They know that it’s to be expected. The Apostle Peter said don’t “be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1st Pet 4:12-13). The truth is, every time the early church was persecuted, it grew (Acts 8:1-4). Persecution always spreads the church, not stop it, so don’t pray for persecution to stop, but for it to glorify God and spread His church. Of course we should pray for their safety and other persecuted Christians around the world, but persecution should be expected, and God can use evil for good (Gen 50:20).
Stop this Person
Some people just naturally rub the fur the wrong way, and I do too I’m sure, but some people have real enemies in their life and that person constantly bullies them, makes fun of them, and might even sabotage their work. You can understand why it’s tempting for us to pray for God to take them out of our life. They might be our boss, our neighbor, or even a family member, and they sometimes badger people for their faith or the way they dress, or the car the drive, or the job they have. Instead of praying for God to take them away, pray for God to use this person’s evil for good, as in the case of Joseph’s brothers mistreating him (Gen 50:20). Peter tried to stop Christ from going to the cross; aren’t you glad he failed? Woodrow Kroll said “Cherish your enemies; they might be a blessing in disguise.”
Praying and Doing
If someone is looking for a job and they sit by the telephone and pray for God to make it ring, that’s probably not going to work. Instead, we ought to pray for our need before God, and then get up and start moving and see what we ourselves can do. God often works through other people, so ask for help, speak up, and ask others to pray for you. When we’ve done all we can, that’s when God can do all He can. It’s good to pray when we’re in need, but it likely takes action on our part too, and if we do our part, only then might God do His. The saying, “God helps those who help themselves” is not in the Bible, but the principle is there.
Conclusion
It is so easy to pray “Christianese” and not in plain language that is easy to understand. Some of the best prayers I’ve ever heard were from children because they prayed from the heart and weren’t concerned with what others thought of their words. They were honest, sincere, and genuine, and God will hear and answer those types of faith-based prayers.
Quote of the Day
“A man’s real belief is that which he lives by.”
– Geo
Frederick Denison Maurice
WITH HOPE AND FAITH
REV. ELDER G E STERRETT
FOUNDER
GCKRS HELPING HAND FOUNDATION – THE RELATIONSHIP FACTORY