Life Changing Prayers

“I do believe; help my unbelief!”   —Mark 9:24 

This past week, I was privileged to interview Tim Rigby, a sports reporter for 30 years with WJAC. Tim shared his faith story of God’s direction in his life and triumph amid health challenges. While sitting against the bleachers after playing basketball with friends exactly one year to the day after suffering a seizure caused by stage four lymphoma, Tim thought, “What a difference a year makes.” The next moment he marveled, “What a difference a prayer makes.” He attributes his healing to faith in the Lord, a positive mental attitude, and the prayers of God’s people.

The old quote, “Prayer changes things,” is so true. The lives of God’s people, the circumstances of believers today, and my own life have been dramatically changed as a result of prayer. One of the most life-changing prayers I ever prayed was when I called upon Jesus Christ to become the Lord and Savior of my life. In a dorm room at Penn State University, after returning from Thanksgiving break 1973, I knelt at my bed and prayed, “Lord, I’m done running.” Although not nearly as spiritual and poetic as many prayers, the Lord heard my heart’s cry and transformed my life.  I have followed the Lord from that day until now. What a difference a prayer made in my life!

The Bible is full of life-changing prayers. The father of the boy with an evil spirit cried out to Jesus, “I do believe, help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24).  In response, Jesus healed the son. After the Israelite spies returned from scouting out the Promised Land and the Israelites rebelled wanting to return to Egypt, God threatened to destroy them and start a new nation from Moses. Moses prayed for the people, and God forgave them. (Numbers 14)

It would take months to consider all the life changing prayers found in the scriptures. Thomas exclaimed at seeing the risen Christ, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28) Saul, on the road to Damascus cried out, “Who are you, Lord?” (Acts 9:5) Jesus blessed the five loaves and two fish and a miraculous feeding of 5,000 men resulted with twelve baskets full left over. Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane, “Not my will but Thy will be done,” led to His death, burial, and resurrection redeeming countless human beings from sin and death.

What life changing prayer is God calling you to pray today? As you begin 2012, many have made New Year’s resolutions, but I am more excited about the possibilities in the life changing prayers being prayed. The Lord promises, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). James 5 continues, “The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven” (vs. 15).

God will hear you even if you are praying to Him for the first time. Paul and Silas told the jailer at Philippi, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household” (Acts 16:31). Jesus spoke of a notorious sinner who came to the temple to pray. He “stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’” (Luke 18:13). Jesus assures us that this man went home justified before God.

What a difference a prayer can make. It’s never too late to call out to God. Today, at the start of this New Year, is a great time to call upon the name of the Lord. He will hear and answer your prayer. God will change your life. Call upon Him today.

God Still Speaks

“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”  —Matthew 2:2

God spoke in a variety of ways with an urgent frequency during the time surrounding Jesus’ birth. God used the angel Gabriel to announce to Mary the birth of Jesus, and to Zechariah the birth of John the Baptist. God used a dream to assure Joseph that is was alright to take Mary as his wife.  God used angel messengers to announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds in the fields surrounding Bethlehem on the first Christmas night.

One of the more shocking ways God spoke was by shining a star to Gentile (non-Jewish) scientists in another country. The Magi or the Wisemen were probably court advisors who studied the stars and practiced divination (fortune telling) to give counsel to kings. Daniel and the Hebrew children of the Babylonian captivity were educated to serve in King Nebuchadnezzar’s court as part of a group called astronomers and magicians. God used nature, a star, to tell the Gentile world that Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, had been born.

As we face the New Year we might ask, “Does God still speak today?” “Can I expect God to speak to me in 2012?” Future telling has been going on for many. People will continue to try to interpret every storm, earthquake, and war. Interest in ancient calendars and ancient prophets will continue to increase. God’s Word tells us, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2a).

We have three recorded instances when God spoke directly and audibly during Jesus life on earth. At Jesus’ baptism, God said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17).  On the Mount of Transfiguration, God added the words, “Listen to Him.” “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matt. 17:5)  The third time was at the Triumphal Entry prior to Jesus passion and death. John 12:28 records God responding to Jesus’ prayer, “Father, glorify Thy Name!” “Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.’”

God will probably speak through nature, dreams, and even His holy angels in 2012. But when we are uncertain of what these things mean and in the silence of a direct word from the mouth of God, we will need to do what the Wisemen did when nature’s revelation through the star fell short. They went to the Bible. The Wisemen went to King Herod to find out “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” King Herod consulted the Bible scholars who found specific revelation in Micah 5:2 telling that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. You have all heard the saying and many of you probably have practiced it this Christmas, “When all else fails, read the instructions.”

This New Year, I pray God’s people will return to the instructions, the Bible, the Word of God. If we expect to understand the events so quickly taking place around us, we will need to hear from God. If we are to see a renewal of God-honoring Christianity, we will need a revival of the Word of God. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17 NKJV).  Make a decision this year to get into God’s Word. God will definitely be speaking in 2012, but will we be listening?