Prayer Journal
Thursday, July 20, 2000
"When it is hardest to pray, we ought to pray the hardest" D.L. Moody
"What you should do, young man, is pray!", the minister told the young man. "I can do that, sir, but how shall I pray?", the young man asked. "What's your problem, son?" the minister asked. In reply, the young man said, "I don't feel like praying". "What you should do, young man, is pray!"
How many times have you prayed for something one time and never thought about it again? Did God answer your prayer? Perhaps He did and there was no reason to pray about it again after thanking Him. But in most cases, one-time prayers are lofted in the air without any intention of following up to see if they have been answered.
Prayertower (PT) has proven to be somewhat of an oddity in that it promotes answer to prayer as much as requests for prayer. In churches where PT has been promoted, it is not uncommon for members to be surprised (at first) when someone, they only slightly know, asks them about the results of their doctor's visit or a job interview. On another occasion, the nurses at a intensive care nursing station asked a family member in the waiting room to ask friends to please stop calling.
What PT has proven is that prayer without an update is like a one-time prayer without any concern for an answer. One secular magazine's slogan is, "Inquiring minds want to know". PT has a slogan too. It says, "When God's people know, they'll GO!"
Do you systematically seek an answer to your knocking (prayers) or do you ring the doorbell of heaven and run away and hide? Launching prayer without looking for an answer is like lighting a bottle rocket and predicting where it will land. It's like hope without a promise on which to base it.
Jesus urged his disciples (and us) to stay persistent until an answer is given. "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." Luke 18:1
When asked to define PT in a single sentence, I say, "It is a systematic plan for flooding heaven with prayerful petition on behalf of those God called us to serve - till the answer or Jesus comes." I urge you today to pray fervently, faithfully, continually and persistently. Just Thinkin'.. WebServant
(1) Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society
(2) The images used herein were obtained from the Learning Company's ClickArt Christian Graphics Deluxe product, (c)1999 The Learning Company, Inc and its subsidiaries, 88 Roland Way, Novato, CA 94945 USA. All Rights Reserved.
