A good friend of mine jokingly uses this phrase whenever anyone suggest that we pray about something.
It always makes me chuckle when she says it as she shakes her head in a sorrowful manner. Of course she doesn’t mean any disrespect to the Lord but it does bring up a really good point.
Why do we tend to wait until all other resources at hand are exhausted before we ask God for help or direction.
We often hear ourselves say things like, “When all else fails … pray.” Or “All we can do now is (deep sigh) pray.”
This should be the FIRST thing we do. I believe there are several reasons why we don’t automatically seek the wisdom and provisions of God.
Many of us are accustomed to making our own decisions and living separate lives apart from God and it takes a conscious effort to stop and ask the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom with understanding.
And learning to tune out the world and turn our complete attention onto God takes dedication and perseverance that few people want to exert these days.
And even if we are truly seeking the Lord, Satan will try to throw out lies to deceive us.
For example, before I was born again I was lead to believe that God was way too busy to bother Him with my “little” problems.
So I would usually end up doing what “seemed right in my own mind” or seeking other people’s advice who weren’t getting any better results than I was.
There is so much to cover in the area of prayer but my theology changed several years ago when I stumbled upon a teaching on how to pray according to God’s word.
Many of us are allowing ourselves to be led only by what we see, taste, hear, smell and feel other than spending time in the word of God and letting His Holy Spirit guide us.
But this is where I find most of my answers. Scripture.
You know, January 11th marked my 17th anniversary of being smoke “freed.”
You may have read my testimony of how the Lord supernaturally delivered me from a 32 year- pack and half per day cigarette addiction. To His glory this happened without drugs, hypnosis, or an alternate addiction to replace them.
I have never had a craving or desire to smoke since that moment. The root of addiction was taken out of my heart on January 11th, 2009.
It is as if I never smoked a day in my life and Jesus instantly healed me from the hacking cough, wheezing, fatigue, headaches etc. etc. But this miracle had to be conceived in thought over a period of time before it could be birthed into the natural.
And it happened when I stopped trying to quit smoking on my own. And prayed to God and asked Him to help me. But I was honest with Him. I told Him, “Okay, here’s the thing Lord, I smoke cigarettes, and I know I should quit. But I still like to smoke and I need Your help.”
I asked Jesus to deliver me right there and then because I had heard other people’s testimonies who were instantly delivered from various addictions.
But the Lord spoke to my heart, “My child, you have already been delivered, you just don’t know it.”
See, I still saw myself as a smoker. “How a man thinks in his heart so is he.” A victim trying to recover instead of a victor in Christ walking in abundant life.
(There is a huge difference between believing that you are at point A trying desperately to get to point B or knowing, “Hey, I am already at B!” Brother’s and sisters we are have to see ourselves on the other side of the cross. Not trying to obtain victory but walking in victory in Christ Jesus.)
So God re-directed me back to His word and I stopped praying/begging God to deliver me. After all, how can God do something for us that He has already done?
He has already healed us, given us the ability to prosper and walk in emotional wellness.
I needed to change the image of myself in my heart first before God could break me free from this addiction. Mind and body.
So I took the scriptures that pertained to my new identity in Christ and mediated on these day and night. Even while I smoked I would speak these scriptures out loud.
And when someone would come against me and say things like, “You’ll never quit! You’ve smoked since I’ve known you.”
I would immediately tell them, “NO! I WILL quit smoking. Because I AM a non-smoker in Jesus name and I can do ALL things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.” (“Submit to God, resist the Devil and he will flee from you.”)
Some of you might not react this way but we need to be bold and speak up.
The Devil WILL use people (many unwittingly) to try and plant seeds of doubt in our minds. We have to counter those words right then!
Sure, I rubbed some people the wrong way. Some folks simply rolled their eyes, a few even quit hanging around me. But I have a testimony. By the grace of God, I am a non-smoker after 32 years of bondage!!
But this did not happen because I begged God in prayer to help me so He finally decided to answer my prayer to shut me up. LOL! Prayer is simply communication with God, not just at God.
You know, I have cried out to the Lord in times of trouble and He has answered me. Yet, intimacy with the word of God along with prayer will develop relationship with your Heavenly Father. He is as close to you … as you want Him to be.
P.S. God has not fallen off of His throne because of our past or current conditions. It is because of our condition that Jesus came. If you will trust Jesus and open up your hearts to expose these deep roots of bitterness, unforgiveness, disappointment, hurt, broken hearts and just allow Him to heal you, He is bigger than your problems. Jesus loves YOU.
(John 10:10, Matt. 16:23, James 4:7, Heb. 4:12, 1 Peter 2:24, Proverbs 23:7, 18:21)
Contact Brenda Groves at: bkgroves1996@yahoo.com
