The story is told of a Roman army returning to the Capital following a strategic military victory at an imperial outpost. Crowds lined the highways. Suddenly a little boy broke through the ranks and ran toward the chariot of the emperor. A soldier caught him. “You cannot do that. He is the Emperor!” Without hesitation the boy replied, “Your Emperor, but my father!”
I arise early in the morning for several reasons, and one important reason is to pray after I have heard a sermon, and read some Biblical articles. This is a daily ritual I have to start my day. Always remembering the task which is before me, and they keep me focused on where I am going, which is heaven.
I have a place I return time after time to pray fervently. I seem able to concentrate while praying. It is in the stillness of the morning, before the rush of the day, I address my Father, asking forgiveness of sins, thanking Him for providing me with another day, food, and shelter, warmth when I am cold, cool when I am hot, for His protection from the storms, good friends, and many other blessings He has very richly given me. I pray for the well being of others, for their struggles and concerns in their lives. I tell Him all which concerns me, frightens me, or makes me happy. I pray for the Lord’s church, and her leadership. Giving thanks always to Him for His Son Who died for me.
“If ye abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6
“Pray without ceasing.” I Thessalonians 5:17
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:6
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; . . . . .” Ephesians 6:18
“And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; . . . . ” Luke 18:1
“The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” Psalms 34:17
Prayer is where I get my strength.
“She’s strong as steel forged in the fire. Fighting through the scared and the tired. Strong enough to bend, but never breaking. Strong in the face of the battle raging. Till all the weak is gone. She’s strong.”
Eileen Light
Back in the years when it was my job to mother our four children in a third world country and follow my husband in his work too I had plenty to pray about all the time. There were contagious diseases, food-borne illnesses, and so much more to contend with every day. I dropped into bed at night with barely enough brain to find my side. For a long time I rarely had time to read my Bible and felt like I never had time alone to pray. So I asked God to help me pray more.
He answered my prayer. He gave me more than enough to pray about for an extended period of time. Every day there were new diseases, near death experiences dangerous places that could swallow up our children in a moment. I prayed for them to feel better, to be safe, and that I could rest at night. Then during the night, I prayed they would live until daylight and that we could have another day with them.
When prayer is our safeguard, we will use it all the time.