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Too many times in the past I’ve told others “I’m fine” in order to hide my pain and sorrows from them. The truth is, my thoughts pulled me down so far that, in private, tears regularly streamed down my face. Are you constantly thinking negative thoughts? Being a woman after God’s own heart is all about “minding your mind.”
As a young mother, I endeavored to “train a child in the way he should go,” so that “when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). A decade later, however, I wasn’t reaping the results I had expected. Angrily, I said to God, “But this isn’t the way it was supposed to be! This isn’t the way it went for this family here or that family over there. And this isn’t the way it was supposed to be for my family!”
The promise of Romans 8:28 serves as a lens through which you and I can have a godly perspective on life, from birth to death. Because of these words in Romans, you can know that our good God is working the miracle of using the bad—everything, from the most minor of incidents to the greatest of tragedies—for good.
I vividly remember teaching a Sunday School class from the book of Joshua-Chapter 2, specifically. It stands out to me because this chapter features the story of the life of Rahab and gives us a picture of transforming faith. I want to share the exciting truths of how God changes a person like Rahab—and you and me—from the inside out.
If the Lord allows you to live to enjoy a long life, what do you want to have accomplished by the time you blow out the candles that represent 80, 90, or 100 years? My friend, I’m praying right now that your answer to this crucial question will indicate your heartfelt desire to be a woman who is beautiful in God’s eyes!
I know from personal experience that living a life of prayer is not easy. Our lives are filled with a multitude of activities that tend to crowd out time for prayer. How many times have you been guilty of telling someone that you would pray for them? Your heart genuinely yearned to be a part of bringing their need before the throne of God. And then what happened? I’m sure that, if you’re like me, more times than you would like to admit, you forgot about the promise to pray before you rounded the corner of the church building! Why? Because you didn’t write the request down.
Paul knew the importance of strategic prayer in his own life and the lives of others. And he knew what to pray for. His prayers focused on spiritual issues. He knew that if those he was praying for were spiritually mature, they could handle anything.
As believers, we view prayer as explained by God through the language in the Bible. We learn that prayer is the principle means by which man, created in God’s image, can communicate with Him. From the earliest times, prayer has been an integral part of the worship of God. Believers of all ages have expressed their hearts' desires through praise, thanksgiving, prayer, and intercession to and before God. It is so important for God’s people to learn to pray.
When you talk to yourself, it’s only a one-way conversation. You are just saying what you are thinking in your mind and your heart. But when you pray and talk to God, it’s a totally different story! So, what is prayer?
