Pray for Clear Direction

“Gideon said to God, ‘If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised—look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.‘ That is what happened.

Then Gideon said to God, ‘Do not be angry with me. Let me make one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew.’ That night God did so (from Judges 6:36-40).”

So we pray, “Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul (Psalm 143:8).”

Doubt-filled Questioning Prayer

“Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”

“If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about?”

“Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel. I am sending you!”

“Me? My clan is weakest and I am the least in my entire family.”

The Lord said to him, “I will be with you.”

“If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that is is really the Lord speaking to me (from Judges 6:12-17).”

The Lord gave him a sign, answering his doubt-filled questions.

Always Pray; Don’t Give Up

Her story was intended to encourage prayer, but it discouraged me. It seemed God answered all her prayers. Doubt crept in.

Some of my most fervent, persistent prayers have not been answered.

The next day I was substitute teaching. The students were completing a project but we could not find the work they had done. We looked everywhere. I breathed a silent prayer, and immediately found what we were looking for. God heard me!

He hears you.

Will he not answer all our prayers in a way that brings Him glory?

We should always pray and not give up (Luke 18:1).

A Request that Brought Joy

Art class was over. She asked me if she could stay to finish making a friendship bracelet. I said no until I realized why she was asking. It was her friend’s birthday and she wanted to give the bracelet to her as a gift.

It gave me joy to let her stay.

I think God gets joy when we ask for things to give to our friends.

Advice for People who Pray – 3

“The people grumbled against Moses, saying, ‘What shall we drink?‘ And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet (Exodus 15:24-25)”.

Sometimes God answers prayer in unexpected ways.

Twenty Years of Waiting

Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah. “And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer.”

Isaac was 60 years old when Rebekah gave birth to their twin boys (see Genesis 25:19-26).

Have you been praying and waiting for a long time? Don’t give up.

A Prayer for Help Brought Joy

It was the first day in her new job. She was somewhat apprehensive.

We prayed fervently for her success. At day’s end she texted, “My day was actually fun.”

“Joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper (Psalm 146:5).”

The Importance of Short, Spoken Prayers

I was setting up for the sale and she decided to help. The task seemed overwhelming, so she prayed, “Jesus, help us!”

Jesus helped us.

And I learned that she is a person who prays.

Outcomes of Prayer

Call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory (Psalm 51:15).

Our rescue and God’s glory are outcomes of prayer.

Hope in Suffering

He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer (Psalm 9:12 NLT).

We suffer. God listens.