It Is A Necessity - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

It Is A Necessity

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“But know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself; the Lord hears when I call to Him.” (Psalm 4:3 NASU

Usually if one writes a message on prayer, many won’t read too much further than the first paragraph, or even sentence. I think it is because we have heard many sermons already on the subject; have read more than one book about it over our adult life as we try to walk the talk; or we carry a guilt complex because we know we should. But don’t. Or not enough.

My sentiments exactly.

Taking the time to pray requires just that – taking the time to pray. But we get up 5 minutes late after hitting the doze button; rush out of the house with coffee and donut in hand; do the normal daily grind; drive the commute to and from work in traffic that grows in numbers daily; watch four hours of TV “to relax”; and then fall into bed hoping for a good night sleep. Maybe throw up a weak word to the Lord. Right?

There are several methods in praying. Some work for others. Some don’t. As for me, I have kept lists so I don’t forget those I really did promise to pray for. But they eventually get lost or forgotten about. My best friend Kevin diligently keeps with a prayer list. How do I know? He tells me, but also faithfully asks me six months later if a prayer request I had told him about was answered yet. And I have seen his spiral notebooks he has saved for decades. Now that is a commitment to pray!

In at least two churches that Laurie and I have been members with, New Covenant Christian Church in East Lansing, Michigan and also All Nations Church in Charlotte, North Carolina area, we have been on a 24/7 prayer team rotation (I got the 3 am shift on a Wednesday morning), and were founding members of a Friday night, 10 pm – 6 am “Watch of the Lord” for almost six years. The amount of literal hours spent in worship with a full team during those eight hours was the best part!

My current customary method of prayer is to take time in the early morning, when others are sleeping - when it is really quiet. That didn’t happen overnight (pun intended). It was a gradual intent and commitment on my part, knowing the necessity of doing it. Too much was happening in family and friends’ lives, the friends of the ministry of Love For His People who gave us prayer requests, the people of Israel, and beyond. I couldn’t honestly look my Lord in the face and say, “Yes, I pray” until I now actually do.

Because the Lord Jesus baptized me with His Holy Spirit, when I asked in 1973 as a senior in high school, praying in tongues is the way to go for me. As I think of those people and situations He reminds me of and leads me in, the prayer language gives me confidence that the best prayers are being said aloud. In several verses of Scripture, the apostle Paul says that he would pray in tongues often. After these many years of experiencing that truth, I see he was right as prayers are answered. Some responses to see evidence may take years to happen, but faith keeps me going.

Throughout the day, when I have a quiet moment at lunch, or as I walk the streets during a break, I pray in tongues. I may not see all that results now because of it, but I expect later to know the effect it was having. When I am in heaven and witness the testimony of those who were saved, healed, or had a supernatural move of the Lord in their life, as a result of my prayer, it will have been worth it.

If you are not baptized in the Holy Spirit, ask the Lord for His power to be given to you. He will give it. Others who know of this gift can help if needed to exercise the prayer language that will come.

We will need more of the Lord’s power in our life in the coming days. As evil becomes more abundant, the necessity of prayer will be more known. His people will pray. He will empower us through prayer, and we will see victory in our lives, and those He has given us the heart for.

Something to think about. And then do.

Love you,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People, Inc.

P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve

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Now Think On This #207 “It Is A Necessity” by Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2015 (11.16.15) Monday at 6:00 pm in Charlotte, NC

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This

Again, I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve