PRAYER – The ACE Up Your Sleeve – Dale Black

The real power in the Christian life is… prayer. If we truly understood the power of prayer and how it works, most Christians would be stunned. Prayer is the “ace up our sleeve.” Strangely, most believers hold the ‘ace’ but largely ignore using it. Prayer is a dialogue with your Creator, your Savior and your best Friend, but there is more. One prayer of faith is the channel through which heaven visits earth.

God has already determined what His will is regarding everything that pertains to living on earth. His desires are established but we must seek them diligently. It does take effort but we can learn what His will is through reading the Bible and learning about the ministry of Jesus. These are both solid examples of God’s will.

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, it was the first time that followers of Jesus were given instructions on how to pray. Jesus gave them and us a template on just how we should use the power of this ‘ace up our sleeve”. He told them to pray like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:9-13.

Many adults are familiar with this prayer and have become accustom to these familiar words. Yet, how powerful they are! Notice that Jesus told us to pray that God’s will would be done on earth as it is in heaven. How does that occur? Through prayers of faith.

Notice in Luke 10:9, when Jesus sent out His disciples to minister, He told them, “And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” Jesus was telling His disciples that as they minister in agreement with God’s will, it brings the kingdom of Heaven to earth.

Just prior to Jesus leaving the earth He delegated His authority to His disciples. In Luke 9:1-2 it tells us, “Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”

As representatives of Christ in the earth, we are to use the same power that Jesus used. He brought God’s will from Heaven to earth. Prayer of faith, dear friends, is what opens the channel between Heaven and earth. Prayer must come first. Next the actions of faith and obedience will help our prayers become reality.

Prayer is not pleading with God for something. It is not trying to persuade Him to do something He doesn’t want to do. Prayer is about using our faith and agreeing with God on something He already wants.

Remember, with God nothing is impossible!

Dale & Paula  

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