The Power of Prayer Part 2

Posted on March 14, 2022 by Catey Stover in Freedom Fighters

Last week I shared with you a list of how and when to pray. I am still in awe of what God is teaching me about prayer.

Thank you for joining us this week on our Freedom Fighter blogs. We so appreciate you and thank you for engaging with us Monday – Friday.

The Lord speaks to us in so many ways. King David talks about God speaking to us during the “watches of the night.” This is how Smith’s Bible Dictionary describes watches of the night:

The Jews, like the Greeks and Romans, divided the night into military watches instead of hours, each watch representing the period for which sentinels or pickets remained on duty. The proper Jewish reckoning recognized only three such watches, entitled the first or “beginning of the watches,” ( Lamentations 2:19 ) the middle watch, ( Judges 7:19 ) and the morning watch. ( Exodus 14:24 ; 1 Samuel 11:11 ) These would last respectively from sunset to 10 P.M.; from 10 P.M. to 2 A.M.; and from 2 A.M. to sunrise. After the establishment of the Roman supremacy, the number of watches was increased to four, which were described either according to their numerical order, as in the case of the “fourth watch,” ( Matthew 14:25 ) or by the terms “even,” “midnight,” “cock-crowing” and “morning.” ( Mark 13:35 ) These terminated respectively at 9 P.M., midnight, 3 A.M. and 6 A.M.

I share that with you because if you are willing to listen, God will speak to you in the watches of the night. I have often been awakened only to have His Spirit teach me something that I needed to hear when I was still vs. Him trying to grab my attention during the day when I am so distracted.

It was very early Saturday morning that the Lord tied these verses to my study of prayer:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 20:28-30

Sometimes we are struggling, overburdened, burned out, stressed out, ready to give up – and THEN we say to ourselves – maybe I should pray.
Guilty as charged here.

When I try to handle life on my own, especially when life is out of control, no wonder I am overwhelmed, fearful, out of control, and stressed out.

But what would happen if my first choice were to pray when I am weary and burdened?

When I am overwhelmed? PRAY!
When I am anxious? PRAY!
When I am afraid? PRAY!
When a situation in life is out of control? PRAY!
When the enemy is throwing temptation at me on every level? PRAY!
When I am churning inside and need to forgive? PRAY!
When my back is up against the wall, and I feel cornered? PRAY!

I don’t know about you, but when I am in those kinds of situations when my stomach is in knots, my head is pounding, and I can’t seem even to sleep – it’s time to pray.

And what I am finding is that when prayer is my FIRST response, He does what He promises – HE GIVES ME REST FOR MY SOUL. The opposite of STRESS is REST. 

How about you? What are you facing today in YOUR life? Come to Jesus and pour out your soul to HIM in prayer. I am not saying that He will answer your prayer the way you want – but He will give you sweet peace and rest for your soul?

Today, make it your aim to pray first. Take Him at His Word and allow Him to flood your heart with peace and rest. I double-dog dare you to try it.

Undivided: By Christ, In Christ, For Christ,

Bill Welte, President/CEO
America’s Keswick

 

Written by Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his childhood sweetheart for 40+ years and has four married kids and 12 amazing grandkids. He loves music and is an avid reader.


Think About This: “Don’t fear your weaknesses—God supplies all the strength you need. Be afraid of those moments when you think you’re independently strong.”  – Paul David Tripp

The Daily Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 23-25; Mark 14:53-72| You can download our 2022 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12

Want to get away & have dedicated time to read & learn God’s Word?

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