“For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”
~Romans 5:10-11 NLT
One thing that draws me close to Jesus is the fact that He invites me into a personal relationship with Him. He is my Creator, Father, Lord, Savior, and Friend. He invites you into a personal relationship with Him, too! Deep and intimate, prayer is a very important part of this relationship. The Bible instructs us in Romans 12:12, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Prayer is the ability to talk to the one, true all-powerful God of the universe about anything no matter where you are. God recently answered a prayer of mine.
Catching the Flu
A few weeks ago, I caught the flu. An ache in my chest had been visiting me a couple times over the previous two weeks. Finally, it decided to stick around. I didn’t assume I had the flu, but I awoke one Saturday with a fever, feeling, and I quote the doctor’s most suited description, like I had been “hit by a truck.”
For the rest of the day, I stayed in bed, slept, and watched tv. I fully expected to be sick for at least 3 to 5 days. Sunday arrived- my fever remained and I still felt quite sickly. Fortunately, it was only a mild case of flu, but no fun all the same. As I was going to bed that night, my mom prayed for me while she said good night. Earlier, I had also been praying that my fever would break if it was God’s will.
Monday morning came, and I popped the thermometer in my mouth. When the beeper sounded, I didn’t need it to tell me the results. I already felt restoration in my body. Even during the night, I stripped off my socks because my feet were sweating. My fever was gone! God certainly “flu” to my rescue.
God’s Deliverance
Maybe God hadn’t healed me from a fatal virus, but He still healed and cared for me even when I didn’t deserve it. Similarly, David stands in awe of God in Psalm 144:3 (GW), saying, “O Lord, what are humans that you should care about them? What are mere mortals that you should think about them?” Compared to God, we are like worms, yet God assures in Isaiah 41:14 (NLT), “Though you are a lowly worm, O Jacob, don’t be afraid, people of Israel, for I will help you. I am the Lord, your Redeemer. I am the Holy One of Israel.” In this verse, God is differentiating Himself, living, active, and dependable, from the man-made idols Israel is worshipping. There are many things we tend to idolize and upon which we rely to assist us in struggles when God is the only thing that can really deliver us.
Give Your Burdens to God In Prayer:
Do you need deliverance? Do you have a burden weighing on you mentally or phyiscally? Psalm 55:22 says, “Turn your burdens over to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will never let the righteous person stumble.” No matter how BIG or how small your problems are, God is BIGGER. As Exodus 14:13-14 commands “…Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” He cares about you, not because of anything you’ve done, but because of who He is.
Truthfully, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans3:23 ESV). However, “…God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 ESV). Since God loved us beyond measure in this way, we have life simply through accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. “Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone” (Romans 5:18 NLT). Our righted relationship with God allows us to pray to Him anywhere and about anything.
The Power of Prayer:
Sincere, yet powerful, prayer changes things. In Matthew 7:7 (GW), Jesus boldly proclaims, “Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you.” Only God knows how and when He will answer your prayer, but His promises like the one in Matthew 7:7 are sure because He is “a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Psalm 86:15 ESV).
“Why is prayer so powerful?” you question. Prayer, in and of itself, isn’t what’s powerful. After all, you can pray to almost anything. No, prayer is powerful because our God answers prayers. He answered mine by removing my fever, and He has answered many more prayers in ways unexpected or ever imagined for other people. Give God your burdens and ask for His deliverance; you won’t be disappointed. 😉
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