The Sweet Fragrance of Prayer

Here’s a fun question: what are some of your favorites smells? For me, a few come to mind: there’s the smell of homemade bread baking, lilacs in the springtime, my little kiddos right after bathtime. By now you might be asking yourself what this has to do with prayer. Well, the Bible tells us that our prayers are like a pleasing aroma. When a Christian prays, God likens it to a sweet-smelling incense that He finds delightful. So the next time that wonderful aroma of something like your favorite food or flower fills your senses, remember that prayer is the same way. In fact, take a moment right now to lift up a request. Your heavenly Father finds it delightful. Now that’s something to pray about!

Praying Instead Of Worrying

In Matthew 6:27 (NIV), Jesus asked, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” What a probing thought. We think that by worrying or being anxious that we can somehow protect ourselves or keep bad things from happening, but the Lord made it clear it doesn’t help. There is, however, biblical precedent for prayer extending someone’s life. In 2 Kings 20, Hezekiah prayed with tears, and God granted him 15 more years. With this in mind, let’s do our best to turn all those anxieties into petitions, and all those worries into prayers. Our merciful God is sure to give us His peace and protection as we do. Now that’s something to pray about!

School of Prayer - Spring 2024

Have you ever wanted to grow in your prayer life, but needed some likeminded brothers and sisters in Christ to grow with? Maybe you feel like you need some biblical instruction to help you. The one-of-a-kind Central Illinois School of Prayer Spring 2024 semester begins this week, and is intended to serve this very need. Courses will be offered on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month through May, and we’ll be exploring the prayers of Christ. Head to our website at gphop.org/school for more information including how to register. The semester is free of charge, and I hope you can join with us as we grow in prayer together. Now that’s something to pray about!

God Hears The Prayer With Tears

In Psalm chapter six, David wrote with stirring emotion, giving us one of the great passages of Scripture for those who have simply been reduced to tears. He wrote this: “For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord has heard my supplication; The Lord will receive my prayer” (Psalm 6:8-9). David not only believed that his tears were seen by God, but cherished by God—received by Him as the special prayer that they are. Friend, whatever may have you down in this season of life, whatever may be weighing on you so heavily, know that God is near when your heart is broken. He sees every tear. He hears every grief-stricken prayer—and the answer to them is never too far off. Now that’s something to pray about!

Abraham Lincoln On Prayer

Abraham Lincoln is widely acknowledged as not only one of the greatest presidents in our nation’s history, but among the greatest leaders in world history. At the Lincoln museum in Springfield (IL), an exhibit reads that the only person written more about than Abraham Lincoln is Jesus Christ. This fact makes the following quote even more poignant. Lincoln wrote, “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom (and that of all about me) seemed insufficient for that day.” Friend, if you feel there’s nowhere to go but on your knees in prayer, you’re in good company. Just as honest Abe did, turn to God in prayer. He will give you the needed wisdom. Now that’s something to pray about!