PRAYER: Ask, Believe, and Receive Asking is still a good place to start with God in regard to any problem we face in life. If we don’t ask, how do we expect to receive? Matthew 7:7 Jesus said, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
Matthew 7:11 "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" God is our Heavenly Father and wants to do good for us and give us good gifts.
Phil. 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."
Prayer can bring relief from the anxieties and fears of life. God’s inner, calming peace can come through prayer. It’s the kind of peace that enabled Corrie Ten Boom as she was in a German prison camp, "There is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still."
It has been told, when Robert Louis Stevenson was a boy, he once said to his mother, "Momma, you can’t be good without praying." "How do you know, Robert?" she asked…"Because I’ve tried!" Prayer does make a difference. God can change you through prayer. God can relieve you of your anxieties and inner confusion. As a son and daughter of God, you are priceless and special in the eyes of God. This is why you should always be quick to ask of Him when you are faced with the stress and worries of life. No one knows you better, and yet no one loves you more. So, how do we receive answers and help from God? We must believe in order for God to bless us. Our faith should definitely be in the Living God and what He can do for us. Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Charles H. Spurgeon was England’s best known preacher in the 1800’s. He once said, "I would recommend you either believe God up to the hilt, or else not to believe at all. Believe this book of God, every letter of it, or else reject it.
There is no logical standing place between the two. Be satisfied with nothing less than a faith that swims in the deeps of divine revelation. A faith that paddles about the edge of the water is poor faith at best..." Believe God “to the hilt”…that’s the kind of belief and faith we should have. We must believe that God can do what He says He can do—we must believe that He can calm our emotions, soothe our hearts, and take away our fears—we must believe God! We must trust Him! In the darkness of this current pandemic, you can find light and joy from the Lord. You must ask, believe, and then receive from God. Welcome God’s goodness and blessing with open arms and a receptive heart. This is a lesson that we need to learn in regard to our Heavenly Father: He wants to bless you…He will bless you when you come to Him in faith, and you must learn to receive His blessings with willing hearts and open arms! Mark 10:15 "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
We should receive God’s kingdom and every good gift from God like a little child with great joy, with great appreciation and excitement! Sir George Adam Smith tells how he and his guide were climbing The Weisshorn in the Swiss Alps. It was stormy and they were making their climb on the sheltered side of the peak. When they reached the summit, they were filled with excitement. Sir George forgot about the fierce winds; he leaped up and was nearly blown over the edge to the glacier below! The guide grabbed hold of him and shouted: "On your knees, sir. You are safe here only on your knees!"
Life is not easy; this Coronavirus and isolation is not easy. We all go through periods of stress and strain. The only safe place in this life is on our knees. The only safe place is in the arms of God. I personally invite you to join FBC Wallingford “Prayer Meeting” each Monday evening @ 6pm via ZOOM. The link is also published each week for your convenience. The prayer group is growing, but we are missing YOU. Come join your church family in prayer…let’s ASK, BELIEVE, and RECEIVE together!
Pastor Steve