closed mouths don't get fed

So I’m reading my bible tonight and come across a powerful scripture in Mark, chapter 11. Before I begin to read I encouraged myself saying, “I need to read my Bible, I really need to get to know Jesus better,” or something like that. So I’m reading and the chapter speaks on how Jesus was hungry and approached a fig tree for something to eat. The tree bore no fruit though. Funniest thought ran through my mind when Jesus yelled at the tree. I was just like, wow… Jesus actually got mad! How human. I’ve always imagined him to just be a peaceful 24/7, turn the cheek kind of guy. Later I learn that there was something-to-be-learned here. His apostle Peter was amazed that what he actually said to the tree came to pass. This next part was really what was amazing. Jesus said, “…have faith for whatever you pray for, and it will be yours.” I’m already a firm believer in that, and with that I understand that there is a time and place for everything in our lives. God never forgets, and what we pray for tomorrow may not come for years but it’ll come! Many times we’ve already received what we are about to ask for or are asking for, and just don’t notice it. That word just allowed me to remember… I have a devotional to write! And this month’s topic is Prayer!

Thinking all this through, I began to think about this tool. How accessible… how limitless… how easy! It doesn’t require batteries, no power cord, and its power is as strong as your faith. Sure it comes with an instruction manual to use it properly – what doesn’t? We just have to stop being so lazy and figure out how to use it properly. This nation would most likely not be in a recession. We’d probably all be Christians. But there’s no telling.

I mentioned how powerful prayer is but I’d like to let God’s voice illustrate this power for me. The same Chapter states this, “This is what will be done for someone who doesn’t doubt but believes what he says will happen: He can say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will be done for him.(23)” God spoke and seven days later the world we live and breathe in was created. We speak, and mountains move on command! Are we not God’s children? We’ve come too far from believing what’s really true. Had this been a nation that prays the right way, mountains would be moving as much as we do. Just something we all need to think about and build toward.

Before this message gets long winded, I want to leave you with a few final messages. I feel it’s quite important to know the correct way to pray. God put it on my heart to spread this but I didn’t want to write about hearsay. So God did me one better. In the same message I read tonight, God revealed these steps as true. I’ve recently had to pray aloud more often and wasn’t pleased by the way things were coming out. God brought this algorithm back to me. P.R.A.Y. – stands for Praise, Repent, Ask, and Yeild. For those who don’t know how to pray, or just needed a reminder, this format brings forth powerful prayers for more than powerful people. Going down the list helps you cover all bases and pray a more complete, successful prayer.

The first of course is Praise. Entering with thanksgiving. Thanking God for the opportunity to thank him. For life today. For protecting you, your family and friends. It’d take all day plus infinity to thank God. So yes, we don’t pray enough! Whenever you remember something to be thankful for, don’t hesitate to pray! Don’t forget to finish off your thanks with thanking God in advance!

Repent and Forgive! Or forgive and repent. The 25th verse states, “Whenever you pray, forgive anything you have against anyone. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your failures.” There’s my conformation on this algorithm. Do unto others what you hope for for yourself. I always felt God would ignore my prayer if he were mad at me, until my burdens were released. It’s what’s kept me right by God for so long, so I stick to it regardless of how correct it is. And sure I know that sin is knowing you’re doing something wrong and doing it anyway. It’s always good to repent anyway just to be sure!

I’ve been waiting to say this since paragraph one, which was a long while ago, and I thank you if you’ve continued reading but… Closed mouths don’t get fed. This goes together with prayer as well as asking. The only being I’m comfortable asking anything of is God. You can ask my mom, I’m her child that “doesn’t like asking for anything.” She says it all the time. God is my provider though, and He’s got everything and can get anything! Why not ask!? Many times I’ve found myself not asking and expecting. I trust that God already knows the desires of my heart. It also goes to the 23rd Psalm, where “I shall not want.” Kinda makes it hard to ask when you have no needs. We’ve got to look at things like this though. Say you’re with your significant other, your mother, or brother in a store. If they see you trying something on, or eyeing something, they’re most likely to ask you if you want it. If they’re really nice, they’ll just get it for you, allowing God to work through them. Heh. But you’re more likely to get something you want on Christmas or your Birthday if you ask. Sure God knows. He knows all. We have a free will to ask just like we have a free will to live for him. If I had everything, I’d sure like people to talk to me in between me giving everything out to everyone.

Surely asking is the largest part of prayer, but I also believe in not begging. Aside from not repenting, I believe that begging is another way to get ignored. Therefore, Yeilding is important. I don’t see a problem in letting God know that you’re going to allow him to work, but I don’t think this step always needs to be stated. It’s more of an afterthought you act on after the prayer. Patience is important with God. It’s our biggest test as well. We must be prepared to not always receive when we want to receive. You never know how fast God will choose to move. Continue to expect and never lose faith and you should receive. Also stay right by God and do what you should be doing in order to keep favor. This is where tithing comes in also. Will a man rob God? If he does I hope he doesn’t expect God to continue giving to him! Look at all aspects of your Christian walk if you aren’t receiving what you ask for or want.

That’s all for now! Be blessed and stay blessed.

C.j.