submitted by Melissa Fisher, itinerant minister with Patricia King ministries

Early in my walk with the Lord I used to experience frustrations because it seemed as though God was not answering my prayers.  During that time I heard fellow brothers and sisters say things like he will answer in His timing, or the Lord’s ways are mysterious I even heard that all you needed to do was pray once and if you really had faith you wouldn’t need to pray again.  Needless to say, this left my confused and a bit frustrated.  I would wonder why, were my prayers so “sub-par” and where I could get some more of this “faith”?  Maybe you can relate to this on some level.

If you were like me, I prayed a few of times and then when I seemingly saw no results I thought God wasn’t going to answer or that He didn’t hear me etc.  Thankfully, as I matured in Him, the Lord gave me a key to seeing results in prayer that I want to pass on to you out of Mark 2:1-6:

And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.  Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

When you read the above passage of scripture you see a story unfold of some men who are carrying a friend on a mat to Jesus.  Think about this for a second.  They carried this man for who knows how long of a distance and when they get there the door is blocked; so then they must push through a crowd, carry their friend up on top of the roof!  This is no small task!  What does this speak of?  PERSEVERANCE!   The odds were clearly against them and but they did not give up and in their perseverance got a very creative strategy (another key)!  Next, thing to note is they had radical faith in Jesus as healer.  I don’t believe they would have done what they did if they did not know in within their innermost beings that Jesus could heal the paralyzed man.

Then, in verse 5 which says, “When they had “broken through” the roof and Jesus saw “their” faith and forgave and healed the man.”  This creative strategy (given by God), which came through perseverance in prayer, with faith attached brought the BREAKTHROUGH.  Think of this, who knows if the man who was being carried had any faith at all.  Maybe he protested the whole way!  Maybe he was so sick he didn’t know what was going on.  However, the man was healed because of the faith of his friends.  This is a key for you as well.  You may be praying for someone who is “paralyzed” in sin and death, but if you will have faith and perseverance Jesus will free them from bondage!

I love in James 5:15-17 where it says the prayer of faith will save the sick and raise them up and that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much! This passage also compares us to that of Elijah, who was a man like you and me, who had the ability to control the weather through his perseverance in prayer.  How much more you and I in our situations?  Our God is well able to do the impossible.  He is simply looking for ones who will run the race with endurance!

In closing, I want to encourage you to begin to go after those “prayer projects” once again, pray with perseverance, pray with faith and God will give you creative strategies that will eventually bring breakthrough!

– Submitted by Norma Owens – CSA – XP Media Plunge

Quiet time study Lamentations 3:22-26 used for intercession.  The Word of the Lord is full of insight and is clear in its purpose and direction.

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed; because His compassions fail not.

~Mercies: kind and compassionate treatment of an offender, enemy, prisoner, or other person under one’s power; clemency.  A disposition to be kind and forgiving.  Something for which to be thankful; a fortunate occurrence.  Alleviation of distress; relief.  God’s gratuitous compassion.

~Divine Compassion: the deep feeling of sharing the suffering of another in the inclination to give aid or support, or to show mercy.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 

~Divine Faithfulness: Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the Lord thy God , He is God, the faithful God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations. (thousand fold blessing)

The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.

~Saints portion: (Psalm 16:5; 119:57; 142:5) Psalms 73:26 my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

~Hope in God: Romans 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for?

The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him.

~Goodness of God: Psalms 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusts in Him.  (Psalms 119:68 You are good, and what You do is good; teach me Your decrees.)

~Waiting for God: Isaiah 25:9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God: we have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is the Lord: we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.

~Seekers: (2 Chronicles 14:7 Let us build up these towns,” he said to Judah, “and put walls around them, with towers, gates, and bars.  The Land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God; we sought Him and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered. ) Psalm 24:3-6 Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God His Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob. Selah

It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. 

~Spiritual Hope: a wish or desire supported  by some confidence of its fulfillment. A ground for expectation or trust. That which is desired or anticipated.

~Quietness: Job 34:29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble? And when He hides His face, who then can behold Him? Whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only. Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness, and assurance forever.

~Patience: The capacity of calm endurance.

~Salvation of God: Zephaniah3:17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.

Blessings as the journey in His Word is a lamp unto our feet and Light unto our path!