Praying with Faith
MUSIC BLOG
02/06/2025
PRAYING WITH FAITH!
Psalm 27:13-14 NKJV
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!
This past Sunday during the sermon, I became convicted that I had not been praying for my children, the building process of our new home, church, etc. I have been essentially, telling God about all my problems, but my prayers have not been answered. Sunday in his sermon, Dr. Martin encouraged us all to pray with faith. He gave several great examples from the Bible and from present day which demonstrated prayers of faith. Elijah, was a man like us, who prayed fervently that it would not rain and God stopped the rain for 3 years. He prayed again and the rains returned. He also told a story of a female Pentecostal preacher from Columbia SC who prayed such a prayer of faith that flooding rains were diverted from interrupting a Tony Evans preaching rally in the Gamecock Stadium at the University of South Carolina, Columbia SC.
The story went something like this
Woman Boldly Asks God to Address Storm
Pastor and author Tony Evans was in Columbia, South Carolina, to preach at a crusade being held in the University of South Carolina football stadium. Thousands had gathered for the evening session, but news reports indicated a serious thunderstorm was on the way. In fact, the storm was expected to hit at 7:00 pm—the exact time the meeting was scheduled to start.
As the sky grew darker and darker, the threat of cancellation was a valid possibility. A group of preachers and other church leaders decided to gather for a prayer meeting. Evans noted that all the preachers prayed what many would consider safe prayers—ones quite undemanding of God. Then, a woman named Linda spoke up, asking if she could pray. Linda's prayer went something like this: "Lord, thousands have gathered to hear the Good News about your Son. It would be a shame on your name for us to have all these unbelievers go without the gospel when you control the weather, and you don't stop it. In the name of Jesus Christ, address this storm!"
So ended the prayer meeting.
Everyone took their places under the dark, threatening sky. The leader of the crusade told the people, "We'll go as long as we can." Umbrellas sprouted up among the crowd. A man sitting next to Linda opened his umbrella and offered to shield her as well. Linda refused.
Evans says he and his wife watched as the rain clouds came up to the stadium and then split in two. The storm rained on both sides of the stadium and came back together on the other side. All of those gathered for the crusade stayed dry.
As Evans points out: "How did Linda get what the preachers didn't? She had the boldness, the shameless audacity, to ask."
Linda, new the desperateness of the situation. Linda was aware of God’s ability. Linda had concern for the lost and for the name of the Lord . She prayed boldly for God who controls the weather to have compassion on the lost and to preserve His own name.
It made me think: Am I desperate? Do I fully understand the desperation of the situations I’m praying for? How about, am I fully aware of the mighty and matchless power of God over my prayer concerns? Do I truly believe that God is greater than my problem. Lastly, will I call on the compassion of God for my situation and for the honor of His name in the mouths of unbelievers to answer my prayer?
What would it look like if you prayed like that over your situation? Are you desperate or are you at détente? (or a relaxation) Is God truly bigger than your situation, and will Him answering your prayer exalt His name in the eyes of His people as well as the lost and will it hurt God’s reputation if He does not move?
I have changed my prayers for my children. I wonder if there are prayers you need to change as well
Blessings,
Marty