Why should we pray? As Christians, we all know that prayer is a vital part of the Christian life.
When we seek the Lord by reading the Bible and praying, we are inviting the Lord to into our lives, to speak to us in our particular situations and circumstances. As so many of you know, Bill made his prayer life an absolute priority.
As we consider the question of whether God answers prayer, this article content is inspired by material from one of Bill’s messages that he gave at a meeting held in 2008.
Matthew 15:22-28 speaks about the woman of Canaan who came to Jesus and cried out to him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”
Jesus answered, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Then she came and worshipped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”
But He said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
And the woman said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
Jesus answered the woman and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
God answers our prayers, not always as we expect or possibly as we would like. Just as we see from this scripture, as God answered the prayers of the woman, so too can He answer our prayers.
God hears our cry
The woman came to Jesus in desperate need. As we make a decision for Jesus and reach out for Him, so He comes to those who cry out with their need for Him.
God can answer prayers when we are persistent
The woman was determined to continue until she got a result and she would not give up until her daughter was healed. Are we persistent in pressing into Jesus or do we give up at the first obstacle?
God loves to receive our prayers and worship
She spoke to him as Lord, Son of David and recognised His power to bring healing. Our prayers are like incense before the Lord and He desires to receive them.
As we humble ourselves, so we can ask Jesus for help
She was at the end of herself and she would do whatever it took to get the result she needed.
2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Are we prepared to humble ourselves, to let go of pride, to repent of our wrongdoings and to ask Jesus for help?
As we grow in the Lord and step out believing in Him, we learn to place our trust in Him and lean not on our own understanding.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6.
The woman had faith to believe. She trusted Jesus totally for the answer to her prayers and she did not waver.
We pray because, as we do, God changes the atmosphere.
Our situation or circumstances may not always change, but as we move from glory to glory by the transformation of our minds, we ourselves become changed and have a new view of things. A new heavenly perspective arises in us.