April 19 2017
Angels and Prayer
Mary Southerland
Today’s Truth
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV).
Friend to Friend
From the smallest concern to the biggest problem in our lives, God cares. If it is big enough to concern you, it is big enough to concern Him.
Author, speaker Holocaust survivor Corrie Ten Boom told of a remarkable experience at the horrific Nazi Ravensbruck prison camp.
Together we entered the terrifying building. At a table were women who took away all our possessions. Everyone had to undress completely and then go to a room where her hair was checked.
I asked a woman who was busy checking the new arrivals if I might use the bathroom. She pointed to a door, and I discovered that the convenience was nothing more than a hole in the shower room floor. Betsie stayed close beside me all the time. Suddenly I had an inspiration. “Quick, take off your woolen underwear,” I whispered to her. I rolled it up with mine and laid the bundle in a corner with my Bible. The spot was alive with cockroaches, but I didn’t worry about that. I felt wonderfully relieved and happy. “The Lord is busy answering our prayers, Betsie,” I whispered. “We shall not have to make the sacrifice of all our clothes.”
We hurried back to the row of women waiting to be undressed. A little later, after we had our showers and put on our shirts and shabby dresses, I hid the roll of underwear and my Bible under my dress. It bulged out obviously through my dress; but I prayed, “Lord, cause now Your angels to surround me; and let them not be transparent today, for the guards must not see me.” I felt perfect peace.
Calmly I passed the guards. Everyone was checked, from the front, the sides, and the back. Not a bulge escaped the eye of the guard. The woman just in front of me had hidden a woolen vest under her dress; it was taken from her. They let me pass, for they did not see me. Betsie, right behind me, was searched.
But outside awaited another danger. On each side of the door were women who looked everyone over for a second time. They felt over the body of each one who passed. I knew they would not see me, for the angels were still surrounding me. I was not even surprised when they passed me by; but within me rose the victorious cry, “O Lord, if You answer such prayer, I can face even Ravensbruck unafraid.”
God answers prayer. Sometimes He uses His angels to do so, but I believe the most important thing about prayer is that we pray!
Jesus longs for times of heart conversation with His children, dream sessions where we pour out all that we are and hope to be to the One who can make those dreams a reality.
Every problem, every concern is important to God. If it is important to me, it is important to Him. God is always waiting, ready to turn His heart toward the voice of His child as surely as a mother hears her baby’s cry above all others.
To think that God wants to talk with me, to hear my voice and listen to my deepest heart longings is an amazing thought. But it is a true thought. Prayer is simply conversation with God, but it is in those intimate conversations that battles are won and strength is gained.
In Biblical times, the high priest was the communication link between God and man. However, today, Jesus is our high priest, our communication link with God.
God sent His son Jesus Christ, the greatest communicator ever to walk the earth, so that He could make a way to reach us. The birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ make it possible for us to have an intimate relationship with Him, to communicate with God, right where we are.
I just know that our Father loves it – absolutely loves it – when we, His children, stop in the middle of our busy lives for no other reason than the fact that we love Him and just need to talk with Him. When I pray, I picture His head turning toward me, to the sound of my voice. He smiles, knowing that “Mary wants to talk with Me.” Yes, He is concerned with every ordinary detail of every ordinary day, but I suspect His greatest pleasure is found in the fact that we just need to talk to the One we love.
Let’s Pray
Father, I don’t know how to thank You for loving me. I praise You for the privilege and gift of prayer. I want to learn how to turn to You quickly and easily as I go through every moment of each day. I have to admit that I don’t understand how You can love me like You do, but I cherish that love and the freedom it offers to approach the throne of grace, confident that You will hear my voice. Thank You, Lord.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
I want to encourage you to keep a journal of your journey with God. Carry it with you in your purse, briefcase or diaper bag. Write out your prayers to Him and then record the answers when they come. From time to time, look back over your journal entries and celebrate what God has done in your life.
More from the Girlfriends
You and I were created to live life at its best and to experience true success. To live that kind of life requires an unshakable faith that will see us through every storm and every trial we will ever face. An unshakable faith is the foundation for the abundant life Jesus came to provide for each one of us. In this powerful MP3 download, 4 Steps to an Unshakable Faith, Mary shares the four steps we can take to experience an unshakable faith.
Be sure to check out the FREE MP3s on Mary’s website and connect with Mary through email or on Facebook.
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Originally published Wednesday, 19 April 2017.
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