American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 17
ARC Prayer Meeting
When it comes to the discipline to delight prayer life we are seeking, sometimes it is the longing for God’s intervention during tough times that inspires our prayers. We need the Lord to fulfill His promise as articulated by the Apostle Paul. 2 Corinthians 1:10 states, “who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us.”
God’s Word reveals that many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers us out of them all (Psalms 34:19). The Psalmist knew of God’s deliverance. Time and again he cried out and the Lord delivered him from all his fears (Psalms 34:4).
We must remember that it is through much tribulation we enter God’s eternal Kingdom (Acts 14:22). We not only receive the gift of believing upon the Lord, but also share in the Lord’s suffering for his name sake (Philippians 1:29). Jesus taught that in Him, we find peace. In the world, we experience tribulation, but we are to be of a good courage because He has overcome the world (John 16:33).
A healthy, sound prayer life that stays in communion with God helps us negotiate through the ups and downs, ebb and flow, and twists and turns of life.
Other times, prayer is a response to God’s dealings in our life. For instance, David had it in his heart to build the Lord a house. The Lord brought correction in David’s life. This was not about David building a House for God, this was about God building His House through David. This house is prepared for the Messiah, the King, who will come through your David’s loins. It is this House and Kingdom that will be established forever.
How did David respond to this amazing Word from the Lord? He is overwhelmed by God’s favor and goodness towards him and his household after him. He declared, “For You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You” (2 Samuel 7:27).
Whether we need God’s intervention in our lives or God has intervened in our lives, prayer is the one constant in all these things. The Apostle Paul declared this to the saints in Ephesus, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:18-20).
