When I hear troubling news, I cannot believe how quickly my heart fills with fear, followed by a sensation of dread washing over me like a drowning wave. My body and my emotions seem to naturally want to overreact and carry me away, until I remember to pray.
I have learned that when I start to
worry, that is when I immediately need to stop and pray. I think about how important prayer is even
though much about prayer is a mystery to me. Yet even in the mystery of prayer
there are some things I know.
Prayer is our privilege and prayer is
power.
Prayer is confidence in our Lord and in
our walk with our Lord.
Prayer is comfort and peace, and
resting in who He is.
Prayer is His invitation to us not to
be anxious –
Prayer is faith that God is in control.
Prayer
has grown my faith-
Built my trust,
Kept me in awe of a
Sovereign God.
He is God and the
answers are in His hands.
The timing and the
methods are His.
Hebrews
4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Romans 8:26-27
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do
not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes
intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches
the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession
for the saints according to the will of God.
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but
in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests
to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.
James
5:16
The
effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
