The Phone Call

Laurita had only been home for a few minutes after visiting me when she realized she needed bread for dinner.

She grabbed her car keys and headed for the store, but as she was closing the door behind her, she heard her phone ring inside the house and went back in to answer it. At the same moment, my home phone rang. It was in another room, so it took me a few rings to get to it. When I answered with “Hello,” so did Laurita. There was a long moment of silence as we each waited for the other to say why she had called. I hadn’t phoned her, I said, and she said she hadn’t phoned me either. I asked where she was, and she said she was at home and everything was okay. Then we both hung up.

At that instant, Laurita heard a commotion in the street and went to see what had happened. Arriving at her front gate, she saw that someone had sideswiped her car, which she had parked in front of her house, and several people lay injured in the street. A drunk driver had hit her car and careened into some pedestrians. It had all happened in those few moments when she had stepped back inside to answer her phone and talk with me.

I hadn’t called Laurita and she hadn’t called me, so how did both of our phones ring at the same time and connect us? Whoever made that call had saved her from an awful accident, as she would have been getting into her car when that drunk driver hit it and the pedestrians. Can you explain it? I can’t, but I know Laurita was miraculously protected. Whatever rational or technical explanation anyone may try to offer, I’m certain that God used that call to rescue her from harm. Someone called it mysterious. I call it miraculous. What do you call it?

—

Romans 15:19 ESV – By the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;

John 2:11 ESV – This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

John 20:30 ESV – Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;

Genesis 33 --- The twin brothers Jacob and Esau are reunited

Read Genesis 33

- V4, would you expect that among the greetings and hugs there may also have been an apology for past behaviour?

- V4, if you are in a fortunate position of seeing family regularly, is it possible to take this for granted?

About Prayer - Part 2

Are There Requirements for Successful Prayer?
Yes, there are some requirements found in the Bible for successful prayer.

Successful prayer requires:


• A humble heart
2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (NIV)

• Wholeheartedness
Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (NIV)

• Faith
Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (NIV)

• Righteousness
James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (NIV)

• Obedience
1 John 3:22
And we will receive whatever we request because we obey him and do the things that please him. (NLT)

Does God Hear and Answer Prayer?
Yes, God hears and answers prayer. Here are several examples of this promise from the Bible.

Psalm 34:17
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. (NIV)

Psalm 91:15
He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. (NIV)

Also:
• 1 Samuel 1:27
• Psalm 4:3
• Psalm 18:6
• Proverbs 15:29
• Isaiah 58:9
• Luke 11:9

Why are Some Prayers Not Answered?
Sometimes our prayers are not answered. The Bible gives several reasons or causes for failure in prayer:

• Disobedience - Deuteronomy 1:45; 1 Samuel 14:37
• Secret Sin - Psalm 66:18
• Indifference - Proverbs 1:28
• Neglect of mercy - Proverbs 21:13
• Despising the Law - Proverbs 28:9
• Bloodguiltiness - Isaiah 1:15
• Iniquity - Isaiah 59:2; Micah 3:4
• Stubbornness - Zechariah 7:13
• Instability or Doubt - James 4:3

Sometimes our prayers are refused. Prayer must be in accord with God's divine will.

1 John 5:14
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (NIV)
(See also -Deuteronomy 3:26; Ezekiel 20:3)

Should I Pray Alone or with Others?
God wants us to pray together with other believers.

Matthew 18:19
Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. (NIV)

Abour Prayer - Part 1

What is a prayer? How it works? Why? and so many question are asked.

Here is feature document written by By Mary Fairchild, About.com on the title "Basics to Prayer". Credit belongs to Mary Fairchild.

What Does the Bible Have to Say About Prayer?

The Bible has a lot to say about prayer. The first mention of prayer is found in Genesis, chapter 4.

Genesis 4:26 And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD. (NKJV)

What is the Correct Posture for Prayer?

There is no correct or certain posture for prayer. In the Bible people prayed on their knees (1 Kings 8:45), bowing (Exodus 4:31), on their faces before God (2 Chronicles 20:18; Matthew 26:39), and standing (1 Kings 8:22). You may pray with your eyes opened or closed, quietly or out loud -- however you are most comfortable and least distracted.

Should I Use Eloquent Words?

Your prayers need not be wordy or impressive in speech.

Matthew 6:7
"When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again." (NLT)

Ecclesiastes 5:2
Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. (NIV)

Why Should I Pray?

• Prayer Develops Our Relationship with God.
If we never speak to our spouse or never listen to anything our spouse might have to say to us, our marriage relationship will quickly deteriorate. It is the same way with God. Prayer - communicating with God - helps us grow closer and more intimately connected with God.

Zechariah 13:9
I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure, just as gold and silver are refined and purified by fire. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'These are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.' " (NLT)

John 15:7
But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! (NLT)

• The Lord Instructed Us to Pray.
One of the simplest reasons to spend time in prayer is because the Lord instructed us to pray. Obedience is a natural by-product of discipleship.

Matthew 26:41
"Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!" (NLT)

Luke 18:1
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (NIV)

Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (NIV)
(See also - Matthew 7:7 and 1 Timothy 2:8)

What If I Don't Know How to Pray?

The Holy Spirit will help you in prayer when you don't know how to pray.

Romans 8:26-27
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. (NIV)