Scroll through social media, listen to the prayer requests at church or just listen to every day conversations in the community and you’ll see a wealth of heartache and trouble. I’m sure right now there is someone that has come to your mind that stands in need of prayer, or perhaps it’s you. And at the end of today’s blog I’m going to pray for that request so please continue on until the end, but for now I want to talk a little about some of the requests and answers that I’ve seen. And truthfully, I’m not standing on a soap box, I’m standing firm on the Word of God.
I speak not of the specific request, but the manner for which it was spoken. That is where my art will come into play. This thought has been on my mind for weeks as I continually see the response to a prayer request “I’ll send good thoughts or vibes your way.” Now, you may think I’m being petty, but I personally don’t think God’s into good vibes. What I think that says is that there’s something else besides prayer that can be depended on and takes God out of the equation. You may disagree and you’re entitled, but there is no power in good vibes, there is only power in God. And if you’re going to pray for me and reach Heaven, I want you to know Who to pray to!
There’s a Difference
1 Timothy 4:5 ~ For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Sanctified means “set apart.” Different. There’s a difference between the Word of God and the words of man, man sends a vibe… God sends help.
1 Thessalonians 2:5 sums it up ~ For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
There’s Power!
Hebrews 4:12 ~ For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
God knows what is wrong internally, whether it be physically (joints and marrow) or emotional (the heart). I do not have to know what is wrong with you or even who you are… God knows al!
There’s Proof!
And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
I’ve been blessed by answered prayers in ways that defy the logic of man. God is very, very real in my life. And as my good friend Doyle Ballengee once said, “Go ahead and call me a fanatic, if you get a bad doctor’s report, you’ll be lookin’ for a fanatic.” You want someone who knows who to reach Heaven.
So please, child of God. Don’t send “good vibes.” Send the good word of God.
Now for that prayer:
Father in Heaven, for the soul who reads my words today, I pray more so that they’ll take Your words to heart. I lift those up to you today who stand in need of physical healing. God, You created every ounce of us, and You can restore every ounce that the world has damaged, or perhaps even we ourselves through foolish decisions. God I pray that You’ll touch the diseased parts of their body and heal their brokenness. I pray for those who are broken in spirit, emotional and psychological brokenness often hurts as bad as any physical issue. How can people not sense that there is something more to the soul, and that Hell is very real, when the heart hurts in such a physical way without a physical reason? Father, Creator of all, even the emotions of man you can restore those as well, and I pray for those hearts broken and for healing in their lives. You are the only One who has that power and how awesome it is to know You. Thank You Lord for loving us even though none of us deserve it, but Your grace and mercy is as endless the ocean waters and the sands of the shore. I think I personally have needed every drop and grain. Thank You… Amen.