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!

The Secret Place

In His renowned Sermon on the Mount, Jesus exhorted His followers to find a secret place to pray knowing that God sees them and hears them (Matthew 6:6). This practice of hidden prayer is important for a few reasons. Among them is that He knows we all have some sort of secret life hidden to others. Praying in secret is one the most redemptive and holy ways we can spend our alone time. When we’re engaged in spiritual practices when nobody but God is looking, it proves that our faith in authentic. It shows that we truly believe God sees us. So, friend, frequent that secret place. Develop a hidden life in prayer. God promises to reward those who do. Now that’s something to pray about!