Prayer that Makes a Difference

You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:11

D.L. MOODY
You have heard the story of the child who was rescued from the fire that was raging in a house away up in the fourth story. The child came to the window and, as the flames were shooting up higher and higher, cried out for help. A fireman started up the ladder. The wind swept the flames near him, and it was getting so hot that he wavered. Thousands looked on, and their hearts quaked at the thought of the child having to perish. Someone in the crowd cried: “Give him a cheer!” Cheer after cheer went up and, as the man heard, he gathered fresh courage. Up he went into the midst of the smoke and the fire, and brought down the child in safety.
If you cannot go and rescue the perishing yourself, you can at least pray for those who do, and cheer them on. If you do, the Lord will bless the effort. Do not grumble and criticize; it takes neither heart nor brains to do that.

ERWIN LUTZER
When you look at Paul’s prayers, every one of them are focused on people’s relationships with God, and almost nothing was said about their physical needs or conflicts. Paul was convinced that people who are rightly related to God and better understand their life in Christ can endure whatever they are going through.

PRAYER
Lord, teach me to pray—to pray your thoughts back to you and to pray your agenda and not mine. I also pray for those on the
front lines who are “rescuing the perishing.”

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
How often do you pray for God’s will to be done among the lost in the world?

How does your belief in prayer reflect your practice of it?