2 Corinthians 1:10-11: “He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 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.”
Do you ever wonder when you are going through a difficult time if anyone you know is praying for you? Paul shares he “was utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead (v. 9).” Paul could see how God had delivered him in the past, the present, so He would, therefore, do it in the future. That gave him hope, but he still asked the church to help him with their prayers, which were crucially needed so blessings would be received due to their faithful prayers for Paul’s ministry. The purpose of praying isn’t to change God’s mind but to glorify God and give thanks to Him. Prayer brings us closer to God and to others as we pray for them, we learn more about them.
Paul recognized the power of prayer. Paul’s effectiveness in ministry he credited to those very people who had prayed for him. Intercessory prayers bring abundant blessings, as it says in James 5:16: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Matthew 18:20 also declares: “For where two or three gather together are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
I have a gift box that I have placed on our mantle in our living room. I have a gift card taped to it that says: To: Steve and Linda and friends and family. From: God. Whenever we have received an answer to prayer, I write the date on a card and the description of what was prayed for and how God answered that prayer and place it inside this box. I just added two more cards two weeks ago, of something I had prayed for and God abundantly and surprisingly answered. This box contains a lot of history of God writing our story and the provision given by Jehovah-jireh – God who provides. This gift box represents to me the past, present, and brings hope for the future of God’s deliverance when needed, and the blessings granted.
What is on your prayer list for 2020? What is heavy on your heart?
Look at your past, present, and future:
- Remember the trials you had a year ago? You probably thought it would never work out! I have a few of those memories myself. Now, look at where you are today. God saw you through.
I was going through shredding some old bank statements (remember when you used to receive bank statements in the mail) and came upon a copy of a check written out to my husband for payment of some work he had done, which neither he or I could remember. The bank stated on the check: “Returned for insufficient funds. Deposit into your account was not able to be completed.” I didn’t recognize the name on the check but the amount was for several hundreds of dollars. That was a visual example to me of how so often I forget past answers to prayers and think, “This is never going to work out! What are we going to do?” I had totally forgotten this incident. It was a vivid example of how God saw us through in the past, present, and will in the future. He is faithful.
God is in charge of the outcome. Not everything is as it seems.
“You and your prayers are part of the rescue operation . . .” 2 Cor. 1:11 MSG.
Listen to Lauren Daegle’s song on YouTube – Rescue, from the album Look Up Child.