How often have you heard the phrase, "You are in my thoughts and prayers"?
It seems after a terrible incident or accident, wanting to show empathy, pity, or support, "thoughts and prayers" has become the new Hallmark response.
Some victims or friends and family members have outright rejected or criticized this phrase as if it carries no truly meaningful response.
In fact the Bible encourages each one of us to call upon The Lord whenever we need His presence in our lives.
In 1st Kings the Scripture states: "Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you today.
(1 Kings 8:28 NLT).
Prayers are ordained by God as a means by which we can communicate our needs or as a means of worshiping and praising our Lord.
In the Book of Hebrews, the Apostle Paul encourages each one of us to pray, through Christ as our interceptor who now sits at the right hand of God, and where our supplications are presented to our Father who now sits on the Throne of God. "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need". (Hebrews 4:16 ESV).
In our time of need, if we sincerely present our prayers and our thoughts, we will find mercy and grace. We shall receive His response to our pledge of encouraging someone in need who we have said, "You are in my thoughts and prayers".
It is not a waste of time, it is not a worthless exercise to just make us feel good. If you tell someone they are in your thoughts and prayers when they may be in a time of need and inspiration, you must follow through and pray for them.
Likewise, we must understand in the fight for the soul of our country, in this civil struggle for the founding values and principles of our country, it will be fought on our knees before the Lord. Don't just say you are praying for our country, do it sincerely and faithfully. Prayers do mean something!
You may have heard of Nehemiah who served in a very important position before King Artaxerxes. Nehemiah was the person who tasted the food and drink of the King. Nehemiah was the official cupbearer. In this position it meant Nehemiah had access on a daily presence before the King.
Nehemiah had an urgent desire in his heart to go back and restore the grandeur and the walls that provided security for the city of Jerusalem.
Although the city and walls had been destroyed, now that the Israelites were returning, the walls needed to be restored to provide safety and security.
In Nehemiah 1:11, he cried out to the Lord in prayer that he might find favor in the sight of King Artaxerxes.
"O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer."
The judgment and penalty for the Israelites rejecting God and continuing in idolatry after being warned to seek the ways of the Lord, the city was literally destroyed.
While the Israelites were in exile, Jerusalem remained in a state of total destruction and in dire need of restoration. It became a deserted city laying in ruins with God's people displaced after seventy years of exile. King Artaxerxes was allowing the Israelites to return to Jerusalem. After rejecting the commandments of the Lord, and being in exile, God was restoring His people.
It seems after a terrible incident or accident, wanting to show empathy, pity, or support, "thoughts and prayers" has become the new Hallmark response.
Some victims or friends and family members have outright rejected or criticized this phrase as if it carries no truly meaningful response.
In fact the Bible encourages each one of us to call upon The Lord whenever we need His presence in our lives.
In 1st Kings the Scripture states: "Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you today.
(1 Kings 8:28 NLT).
Prayers are ordained by God as a means by which we can communicate our needs or as a means of worshiping and praising our Lord.
In the Book of Hebrews, the Apostle Paul encourages each one of us to pray, through Christ as our interceptor who now sits at the right hand of God, and where our supplications are presented to our Father who now sits on the Throne of God. "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need". (Hebrews 4:16 ESV).
In our time of need, if we sincerely present our prayers and our thoughts, we will find mercy and grace. We shall receive His response to our pledge of encouraging someone in need who we have said, "You are in my thoughts and prayers".
It is not a waste of time, it is not a worthless exercise to just make us feel good. If you tell someone they are in your thoughts and prayers when they may be in a time of need and inspiration, you must follow through and pray for them.
Likewise, we must understand in the fight for the soul of our country, in this civil struggle for the founding values and principles of our country, it will be fought on our knees before the Lord. Don't just say you are praying for our country, do it sincerely and faithfully. Prayers do mean something!
You may have heard of Nehemiah who served in a very important position before King Artaxerxes. Nehemiah was the person who tasted the food and drink of the King. Nehemiah was the official cupbearer. In this position it meant Nehemiah had access on a daily presence before the King.
Nehemiah had an urgent desire in his heart to go back and restore the grandeur and the walls that provided security for the city of Jerusalem.
Although the city and walls had been destroyed, now that the Israelites were returning, the walls needed to be restored to provide safety and security.
In Nehemiah 1:11, he cried out to the Lord in prayer that he might find favor in the sight of King Artaxerxes.
"O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer."
The judgment and penalty for the Israelites rejecting God and continuing in idolatry after being warned to seek the ways of the Lord, the city was literally destroyed.
While the Israelites were in exile, Jerusalem remained in a state of total destruction and in dire need of restoration. It became a deserted city laying in ruins with God's people displaced after seventy years of exile. King Artaxerxes was allowing the Israelites to return to Jerusalem. After rejecting the commandments of the Lord, and being in exile, God was restoring His people.
Nehemiah presented his prayerful request to the King. "I said to the king, Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" Then the king said to me, "What are you requesting?" So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it." (Nehemiah 2:3-5 ESV).
The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.” (Nehemiah 2:4-5 NLT).
Nehemiah was approaching the King after he had prayed to the God in Heaven. Nehemiah requested a prayer from the King, by asking him for a prayer to God.
Each step of Nehemiah's desire to return to Jerusalem, was led by prayer. Nehemiah's thoughts and prayers were answered.
An important point often ignored was the response of King Artaxerxes, "Well, how can I help you"?
What a powerful question by the King. Likewise when we pray by offering our thoughts and prayers, our God responds in a similar fashion. "Well, how can I help you"?
When you offer to pray for someone, do it! Your prayer by faith will reach the Throne of Grace. Much like incense, the rising incense mixed with our prayers do ascend to the Throne of Grace.
Remember we are encouraged to always pray throughout our day.
"Pray without ceasing".
(1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV).
Pray without ceasing does not mean you must excuse yourself from colleagues, have a very formal conversation with God.
Throughout our day, there are moments of quiet where we can whisper our prayers. You can pray silently through the day.
It is still important to have a prayer closet, a time of reading the Bible, mediating on the word, and whisper a prayer for those you may have pledged, "You are in my thoughts and prayers".
On May 2nd, it is National Day of Prayer across our great country. It is a time recognized where across the country, Believers gather to acknowledge our dependence on God to guide our leaders and nation.
Please join Prayer Intercessors from across our community on the steps of the State Capitol, May 2nd from 11 - 1 p.m. to add our clergy voices to the National Day of Prayer.
LFI ~ LATINO FAITH INITIATIVE
Rev Fidel "Butch" Montoya
Remember: "God Listens"!
Please join Prayer Intercessors from across our community on the steps of the State Capitol, May 2nd from 11 - 1 p.m. to add our clergy voices to the National Day of Prayer.
LFI ~ LATINO FAITH INITIATIVE
Rev Fidel "Butch" Montoya
Remember: "God Listens"!
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