Why We All Struggle With The Subject Of Prayer.
Hello Mike,Hi T____,
Hope all is well, I am studying every day and learning something new each day! Thank you so much for all your audios, what a blessing. And I learned how to use e-sword to compare words throughout the book and am learning a lot.
We are sure getting a lot of trials, and I am coming to a lot of realizations. All my life I have struggled with not rocking the boat because I have always been afraid of people not liking me. Specially with my Agoraphobia and not leaving my town in over 18 years, I wanted everyone to like me or it made me have more panic attacks. I am seeing all this as a trial of what I am working on to die to my self and then I always have to remember it's not me doing the work but Christ working through me.
Any way I have a question, I am understanding all that you teach and am really starting to get it, I mean the lord is letting me get it! I was wondering did you go through a time where it was hard to pray, I almost feel like I have no feelings at all and when I try to pray it's like I have nothing to say or it feels weird.
One more thing, I am having trouble with how to deal with people and would like your input on this, I have a sister and brother in-law and they are big time in Babylan. Now when I talk with them they say my husband and I are a cult, so they just don't want to talk to us about it. What do we do; do we stay away from them or is that just meaning keep them out of our spiritual house?
And as far as uncalled people like my brother and lots of others we know are we supposed to stay away from them and love them from a distance or can we talk to them like always? I know we are to just judge people on their doctrines and not their lifestyles. Boy, I tell you we feel so blessed having had our eyes opened, but knowing how to deal with people has just not come to us yet.
My husband says keep trying with all them, but I tell him the bible says 2 times and then put them out of your midst.
Any advise on how to live would be great. We have no money and down to 1 car but no gas for it ever, bill collectors calling 20 or more times a day since my husband ruptured a disc in his back, and I still feel like we have too much, we are so blessed with love and our 3 little babies that I couldn't ask for more.
Sorry this was long, I hope to meet you all someday and I will if it be Gods will to lift my fears and panic so I can travel down there.
I can tell you that since I found out that all I have been suffering with for all these years has been a growing time from the lord that I am able to handle all the depression and such so much better because I know now it's not me who has to get myself better, I just have to be patient and wait on the Lord.
I would be greatfull if you would pray for me and my family, because the prayer of saints would help a lot.
I was also wondering if you might be able to give out my email address to others so maybe I could keep in touch and get to know some of you, it's lonely up here in North Dakota even though I can never be alone since Jesus is with me.
Bless you, Mike, and hope to hear from you.
With love,
T____
In time the Lord will grow you to the point that you will honestly be able to 'rejoice in tribulation.'
Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season , if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
The most wonderful thing and the most valuable benefit of being given eyes to see the total sovereignty of God in all things, is the peace of mind that comes with having so many conflicting questions answered. Peace of mind cannot have a price placed upon it. It is the most wonderful thing to know that Christ is working all things together for our good.
But there is always this same trial that accompanies this priceless blessing of Christ's peace of mind. That trial is the inability to maintain a zealous, diligent, sober and vigilant spirit. It is common for us all to struggle to see the need for "effectual, fervent prayer" after coming to see that God is working all things after the counsel of His own will" and actually has our entire lives written in "His book... all the days ordained for us, even before there were any of them."
But there is always this same trial that accompanies this priceless blessing of Christ's peace of mind. That trial is the inability to maintain a zealous, diligent, sober and vigilant spirit. It is common for us all to struggle to see the need for "effectual, fervent prayer" after coming to see that God is working all things after the counsel of His own will" and actually has our entire lives written in "His book... all the days ordained for us, even before there were any of them."
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them. (ASV)
In His time you will be brought to understand that God's sovereignty even encompasses a fervent, diligent and vigilant spirit. In time you will see that the very desire to pray is placed in our hearts by Christ, who knows what we have need of before we ever ask, and yet He insists that we humble ourselves and gratefully make our petitions known to Him who knows them already:
Mat 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Phil. 4:6 Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. (CEV)
You seem to have just such an attitude, and I thank God for that.
Your brother in Christ.
Mike
I hope this has helped you to understand why you are struggling with the concept of prayer, and I hope you are encouraged to go before your heavenly Father importunately, fervently, diligently and make your requests known, always praying "with a grateful heart... according to His will."
Your brother in Christ.
Mike
