Prayer

I have been Spirit-motivated more than ever to pray. There seems to be an increasing amount of circumstances all around me that can only come through if God makes it happen. Last month I transitioned from several years of camp ministry to become a pastor and immediately was called to walk with people suffering and struggling through all kinds of infirmities and heart aches- old age, broken marriages, mysterious illnesses, and a young mom with heart problems who experienced a stroke.

When I visited this 30 year old mom in the hospital on the day she suffered her stroke her husband was faithfully at her side along with her mom and mother-in-law. The two kids were in school. Cords were attached to her and the doctor was methodically working her over, doing his skilled work, searching for irregularities. Her speech was slurred and the right side of her body was slumped and motionless.

but her eyes sparkled as I walked in the room. The kind of sparkle that sees someone who knows pain and suffering. The kind of sparkle that unites this band of the hurting without saying one word.

but I had nothing to offer. Who am I? I was so inadequate and awkward but called upon by the Lord to share the excellencies of His greatness. The last time I was in that hospital complex was when Gwendolyn born. and died. It was there (and only there) that I held my daughter’s body on this earth.

but this post is not about me. It is about the power of prayer and the greatness of God. There is a sort of “Pre-Flight checklist” that Scripture lays out as we approach the Throne of Grace. This is by no means comprehensive nor a magic potion to getting everything we think we want or need. Rather, they are biblical instructions for God inclining His ear to us.

Effective Prayer is:

1. To the Father, the One True God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth

2. According to His Will, His good pleasing and perfect will

3. In faith, believing that He can accomplish it without doubt

4. With forgiveness, not harboring bitterness or sin in our hearts

5. In the name of Jesus, as our Mediator and Champion before the Father

6. In the Spirit, the power and channel of our prayers who takes them to Jesus

7. In Obedience, living an upright life according to God’s standards

8. With a clear conscience, walking free of guilt

9. Zealous, fervent, pleading, passionate

These things should come to mind as we prepare for prayer. Yes, prepare. Sure there is need for spontaneous, on-the-go type prayer but we need to set aside time to pray, free of distraction and as first priority.

This was put to the test last week Monday.

I was charged with specifically praying for the 30 year old mom. I could sense welling up in me a desire to pray specifically for her so I asked God to give her a 50% increase in her recovery in the next 24 hours. and to release her from the hospital by the end the week. but I could not voice that last part. It was too bold. too specific. too impossible. She just had a major stroke. There were weeks of therapy and recovery scheduled. I murmured it quietly so the others could not hear.

Lord, forgive my unbelief.

On the following Wednesday afternoon, this mom and her family walked in to the church office. God did it. He answered the prayer. What a display of His Glory! What an increase to my faith. There was a new sparkle in her eyes.

I anticipate the skepticism. Maybe your story didn’t turn out quite like that. I prayed my heart out for my child and she still died. My heart is still broken. I still can’t always answer why.

but that doesn’t change the power of prayer. James 5 instructs us that all circumstances in our life (good and bad) are cue cards from God to pray- to pray effectively.

for his Glory and the increase of our faith.

Blair Cushman is the co-founder of Hope Mommies, the Assistant Pastor at Kerrville Bible Church, husband to Erin, and daddy to Gwendolyn (who has been with Jesus for three years this October) and their 18 month old son, Malacai. He loves his family, God’s word and God’s people, the Green Bay Packers, and a hot bowl of homemade soup.