But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
2 Timothy 4:17-18 NLT
I don’t pray enough and when I do pray, I don’t pray for enough.
On Christmas Eve I felt the early symptoms of the cold and, because I was doing the cooking on Christmas Day, I prayed that it wouldn’t come to anything. The prayer worked. Yesterday my nose was still clear, but I had a strange cough, one of the chesty kind that I get with the cold. Last night, because I was very tired, I prayed that my chest would be clear so that I got a good night’s sleep. The prayer worked.
Why do I miss these opportunities? Normally when something as minor as the cold comes along I just muddle on without even thinking of praying against it. The thing is that prayer doesn’t create the answer to prayer: the answer to prayer is already there, waiting for the prayer to release it. How many answers have I missed because I haven’t asked? The Lots will deliver me from every attack, big or small. I have to remember to that he will answer my prayer, not just for my benefit, but so that I can show others his power. So, when I am not praying, I am not just cheating myself, I am also denying others the chance of hearing the Good News.