12/11/2013 - BE SPECIFIC WHEN PRAYING

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And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John 14:13

The promise made by the Lord Jesus to whoever asks something in His name includes all our needs, provided we make the request according to what was revealed to us in the Scriptures. The secret is to pay attention to what the Bible reveals and when we learn about the promises all we have to do is take possession of it and thank the Lord for the blessing.

If David had prayed when he saw a careless and malicious woman bathing in the open, he would have prevented covetousness from getting into his heart and from sinning subsequently. Prudence should always guide our steps. Whenever we feel we are about to fall into temptation we must ask the Lord, with specific words, to not allow it to seize us. He who prays without ceasing will be heard.

In Matthew 14 we read the account of a harsh storm at sea. The wind was against them and the boat was filling with water. Before the disciples knew it, someone came walking on the waves. Faced with this scene, they cried out of fear and the “ghost” revealed himself: it was Jesus. Peter answered Him by saying that if it really was the Lord, He should command him to come to Him on the water. Upon receiving the order, Peter jumped out of the boat and walked. However, he saw the wind was boisterous and he was afraid and began to sink. However, he prayed and was saved.

On another occasion, a leper that was hearing the Sermon on the Mount from afar was healed. Faith broke into his heart so he walked up to meet the Master, saying that if Jesus wanted to, He could cleanse him. Jesus stretched out his hand, ordering the man to stay clean. He would have continued to be a leper had he not prayed. To some, the beautiful words of the Master are enough; others pray and get closer to God.

When they were on the Calvary, both Jesus and the thieves who were crucified with Him were killed within a few hours. However, one of them, feeling that He was the Savior who was going to His Kingdom, asked the King of kings to remember him (Luke 23:42). The other thief did not even think about having a good destiny after death. The thief who prayed was saved at the last moment. He will be in the Glory forever.

The urge to cry out occurs to everybody. Some people open up their hearts, whereas others pray just for the sake of it. When the tax collector spoke with God he let the Holy Spirit show him how sinful he was. The Pharisee, who hid behind his religion in conspicuous hypocrisy, said he was not like other sinners. The tax collector confessed his situation, asking for mercy and, therefore, was heard but the Pharisee was not (Luke 18:10-14).

In another biblical passage, the mother whose daughter was severely demon-possessed, did not take “no” for an answer and went after Jesus crying. After insisting, that woman received the Master’s attention and her daughter was freed from the devil (Matthew 15:22-28). So, in any situation, pray, pray and pray.

In Christ with Love,

R. R. Soares