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- Apr 25, 2006
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Bring your red umbrella
'ASK...IN PRAYER, BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED IT, AND IT WILL BE YOURS.' MARK 11:24
When a severe drought hit a small farming community, a local church called a prayer meeting and everybody showed up. Crisis has a way of getting our attention! As the pastor stood before his packed church he noticed an 11-year-old girl sitting in the front row, beaming with excitement.
Lying next to her was her bright red umbrella all ready for use. The beauty and innocence of this sight made him smile as he compared the faith of this child with everyone else in the room. You see, the rest of them had just come to pray for rain; she had come to see God answer! Why do we waste so many words by praying but not actually expecting an answer!?
'Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that...he rewards those who earnestly seek him' (Hebrews11:6 NIV). How do you get more faith? By filling your mind with the Bible! 'Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God' (Romans 10:17 NIV). When you soak yourself in God's Word an amazing thing happens; faith takes root and begins to grow and faith is what makes your praying effective.
What if your prayer is in line with the Bible and seems as if God should answer but it's taking a really long time? Just keep praying and believing! 'Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised' (Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV). So from now on, when you pray, make sure you remember that red umbrella!
written by Bob Gass
'ASK...IN PRAYER, BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED IT, AND IT WILL BE YOURS.' MARK 11:24
When a severe drought hit a small farming community, a local church called a prayer meeting and everybody showed up. Crisis has a way of getting our attention! As the pastor stood before his packed church he noticed an 11-year-old girl sitting in the front row, beaming with excitement.
Lying next to her was her bright red umbrella all ready for use. The beauty and innocence of this sight made him smile as he compared the faith of this child with everyone else in the room. You see, the rest of them had just come to pray for rain; she had come to see God answer! Why do we waste so many words by praying but not actually expecting an answer!?
'Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that...he rewards those who earnestly seek him' (Hebrews11:6 NIV). How do you get more faith? By filling your mind with the Bible! 'Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God' (Romans 10:17 NIV). When you soak yourself in God's Word an amazing thing happens; faith takes root and begins to grow and faith is what makes your praying effective.
What if your prayer is in line with the Bible and seems as if God should answer but it's taking a really long time? Just keep praying and believing! 'Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised' (Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV). So from now on, when you pray, make sure you remember that red umbrella!
written by Bob Gass
