Grace and peace to the hands and feet of the Lord, and greetings to those who have yet to become the body of Christ (but I’m prayin’ for ya!)

I get several prayer requests a month, and, believe me, I pray for each and every one of you who has asked me to pray for you (probably a lot more than you thought).  But rarely does anyone let me know if or how Jesus has answered his or her prayers.  Now, if Jesus has not answered your prayer yet, don’t get discouraged.  Jesus answers our prayers if and when He chooses, and quite often, we do not receive an answer to our prayers as quickly or in the manner we would have liked.  But there is one thing you can be sure of: if we asked, He heard.  

Now, if we are not saved, then Jesus is not under any obligation to answer our prayers.  If we are saved, however, He is, because Jesus is a Man of His Word, and He has promised to answer our prayers if we:

1. “ask anything in His name” (John 14:14),
2. “ask anything according to His will” (1 John 5:14),
3. “obey His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22), and
4. do not “regard iniquity in our hearts” (Ps. 66:18). 

I can assure you that all of the above apply to me.  

Now, does that mean that I don’t sin?  Of course not.  We all sin.  Even the great Apostle Paul sinned.  But God examines the reins of the heart, and He knows that my will is to do His will.  So, when I do sin, I confess it as soon as possible, and I do everything in my power to avoid sin.  And those sins that God hates: that is, those sins that can be found in Leviticus 18 and 19 and Exodus 18, I just don’t do.  That means, of course, that life for me is a struggle, as it is for all of us who desperately want to please the Lord Jesus.  But it is a struggle that is well worth it, especially when you are praying for people.

I remember when I was a young unsaved heathen of a man.  There was this beautiful Christian woman, whom I was trying desperately to seduce.  But she wasn’t having any of it.  She would always tell me that though she liked me a lot, she could not get involved with me, because she “had too many people to pray for.”  At that time, I had no idea what she was talking about.  But I do now.  

When you are praying for people, you have to keep yourself together, as much for those for whom you are praying, as for yourself.  As the Apostle Paul says, we have to keep our bodies under, and bring them under submission. 

I said all that to say this: Not only do I receive your prayers, but I pray for you.  And not only do I pray for you, but I pray for you with confidence.  I know that God hears my prayers, because I do my level best to keep myself in a right relationship with Him.  Ask Satan.

“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside.  It shall not cleave to me” (Psalm 101:3).

If you have asked me to pray for you, and God has answered your prayers, I would be very happy if you would let me know, so that I can give the glory to Him to Whom it belongs.

Be encouraged and look up, for your redemption draweth nigh.

The Still Man