On a Wing and a Prayer

A person’s first exposure to prayer usually comes at a young age with the speaking of “Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray to God my soul to take” at bedtime. As adults, we learn this lesson rather quickly. “We don't pray to get God's attention. We pray to turn our attention [towards] Him.”[i]

Prayer is simply a two-way conversation between you and God[ii] (the human and the Divine). Prayer is not 'whistling in the dark' -- it is 'walking toward the light'.[iii]

1.    For our Heavenly Father, our prayers rise like a fragrant aroma to Him. “Consider my prayer as an offering of incense that rises before You; when I stand with my hands outstretched pleading toward the Heavens, consider it as [something pleasing].”[iv]

“A good fragrance is really a powerful cocktail of memories and emotion.”[v]

“Through seven figures come sensations for a man; there is hearing for sounds, sight for the visible, nostril for smell, tongue for pleasant or unpleasant tastes, mouth for speech, body for touch, passages outwards and inwards for hot or cold breath. Through these come knowledge or lack of it.”[vi]

2.  For our Heavenly Father, our prayers cause a powerful response from Him in His proper time (which may not have your timing).

Say to God: “How awesome are your works! Because of your great strength, your enemies cringe before you. [vii]

God said this once and for all; how many times have I heard it repeated?  “Strength comes straight from God.”[viii]

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one Defense, my Righteousness
Oh God, how I need You[ix]

3.    Jesus is our answer to 24/7 prayer access with our Heavenly Father. “Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it.”[x]

“When you pray be sure that you listen as well as talk. You have things you want to say to God but He also has things He wants to say to you.”[xi]

“If you begin to live life looking for the God that is all around you, every moment becomes a prayer.”[xii]

“Continually be prayerful.”[xiii]

“But I keep right on praying to you, Lord. For now is the time—you are bending down to hear! You are ready with a plentiful supply of love and kindness. Now answer my prayer and rescue me as you promised.”[xiv]

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[i] The title of this post refers to someone who is unsure of succeeding.  This quote is by Christopher Knippers. This post was inspired by the sermon, Christmas Revealed: Prayer Revealed (installment two) Pastor Dave Jansen Sunday, December 4, 2016

[ii] This quote is by Rev. Billy Graham

[iii] This quote is by Charles B. Hodge Jr.

[iv] Psalm 141:2 (VOICE)

[v] This quote is by Jeffrey Stepakoff, author of The Orchard

[vi] This quote is by  Hippocrates

[vii] Psalm 66:3 (CEB)

[viii] Psalm 62:11 (MSG)

[ix]Chorus of song, “Lord, I Need You,” (Performed by Matt Maher)

[x] Hebrews 4:16 (NCV)

[xi] This quote is by  Joyce Meyer

[xii] This quote is by Frank Bianco

[xiii] 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ISV)

[xiv] Psalm 69:13 (TLB)