Saturday, June 25, 2011

Words to Live By


As Soon As You Begin to Pray
James 5:16 Daniel 9:23

Prayer sets spiritual forces in motion, although the effect is often invisible, perhaps for a long time.

In the first year of the reign of Darius, Daniel was reading and reflecting about the seventy years of Jerusalem's Iying in ruins. He turned to God in "earnest prayer and supplication with fasting and sackcloth and ashes," confessing Israel's sins and beseeching God for forgiveness and restoration. The angel Gabriel came close to him in the hour of evening sacrifice, "flying swiftly."

"As you were beginning your supplications a word went forth" (Dn 9:23 NEB), he said. The answer was already beginning to be processed when the prayer was offered. It took a very long time. Periods of weeks and years for the nation, and times of mourning, solitude, weakness, and fear on Daniel's part were required before the answer could come to pass.

We should take heart from Gabriel's message. Though our prayers seem feeble and sometimes appear to have gone unheard, a word has gone forth. Spiritual agents from the throne room of the King of kings are mobilized against spiritual forces from the headquarters of evil, and there will be ultimate victory.

"Tremendous power is made available through a good man's earnest prayer" James 5:16 JBP

~ Elisabeth Elliot ~

8 comments:

Vilisi said...

Hi...I came here from Spiritual Sundays and I'm glad I did.I'm encouraged to persevere in prayer.
Thank you and God bless.

Unknown said...

Perfect share, Jocelyn. He hears our every word, tho sometimes we have to be patient.

Have a great week ~
TTFN ~
Hugs,
Marydon

Vintagesouthernlife said...

Encouraging post! It is sometimes difficult to wait but we must remember, his time is not our time and he is never late.

Sr Crystal Mary Lindsey said...

I read a true story about a four yr old boy who had an out of the body experience. He told seeing prayers ascend to Heaven. I believe many more prayers are answered than we know. They are not always the way we think, God is much wiser than us. Blessings

Carrie said...

An encouraging post!

Wanda Lee said...

What a truly heartwarming post!..,God's ways are not our ways, yet He is so gracious and faithful in answering prayers in His way and time!~ "Out of the mouths of babes"!

Thanks for joining me for last week's TTTT and also for my 88th,'Tuesday Tea For Two'~(I was so late this week that tomorrow's tea is just around the corner)!..,

Oh my!..,Things are sooo busy!

Your tea post was simply lovely and so very colorful and pretty!!


Cheers and hugs from Wanda Lee

HeARTworks said...

One of my favorite quotes from when I was a child is: More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of. I remember there was a plaque on our wall with praying hands. I know that's true! Patsy from
HeARTworks

Charlotte said...

What a wonderful encouraging post. I needed to read this today. Thank you for sharing.
Blessings,
Charlotte