I usually blog on Sunday but this week was different. I was really busy Sunday and when I finally got home it was late. I love blogging and sharing my thoughts about God with anyone willing to listen but this week I felt like I missed my opportunity. I did not feel motivated and just wasn't going to do it. Fact is I really wasn't sure if anyone was reading, if anyone would notice or if anyone cared.
But to my surprise my coworker asked me if I blogged this week or if she missed it. That really caught me off guard. Then on my way home my sister told me that my blogs had substance and that I should definitely keep doing it. You see God has a way of encouraging you when you may feel a little discouraged. A way of motivating you right when you need it most. So, Candis Nicole and Judy Jaynes, I am grateful to you both because I feel like God used you to get me back on track. I wasn't going to blog at all this week so I want to thank you both, this one is for you.
Tonight I am going to speak briefly about a phenomenon of prayer. I have had two different family members share an amazingly similar experience. I am going to share their 'prayer experiences' with you, with hopes that it makes you believe even more in the power of prayer. They both had their experiences when they were extremely ill and in the hospital. I am going to use false names to tell their stories but I can tell you that they fully believed that their experiences were real. And me knowing them I believe their experiences to be true as well.
JANET
Janet was in the hospital very, very close to death. Actually she did die but she was brought back, resuscitated by the hospital staff. When she regained consciousness, she couldn't move or speak.
It was a while before she was able to tell us her story but when she did tell it, she seems to be just as amazed as we were listening to her. She spoke of lying in her hospital bed and feeling the prayers coming up from under her bed. I remember her telling me that she wanted to lean over and look under the bed because of what she was feeling was so strong but she was too weak to move.
MIKE
Mike was in the hospital because he had to have major surgery to remove a tumor that had grown in his chest. The surgery was more complicated than the doctors expected and took a lot more time than anticipated. When Mike became conscious he was immobile with tubes everywhere. He said that he could feel the prayers coming up and through him. He said that he could feel that they, the prayers, were healing his body.
What this tells me is that prayer is powerful. Especially when you are praying in faith, from your heart, believing in what you are asking for. I believe that earnest, sincere prayers are heard by the Lord and Angels are dispatched. I believe that even when you cannot see it, an action is taken in the spiritual realm as a response to your prayer.
I believe that our words have power, that our thoughts have power and especially our prayers, they have power too. Prayer is one of our greatest gifts from the Lord. And it is under valued and under used by many. But it is easy and accessible for all of us to use. So, when you can't do anything else have faith, believe and pray.
James 5:16 16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Mark 11:24 24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Matthew 7:7 7Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Matthew 21:22 22And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
John 14:13-14 13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.