By Larry Condra, Prayer Warrior
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Once again I will yield to the plea of the house of Israel and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep,” (Ezekiel 36:37).
Prayer is the forerunner of mercy. Look at sacred history, and you will find that scarcely ever did a great mercy come to this world unheralded by supplication. You have found this true in your own personal experience. God has given you many an unsolicited favor, but still great prayer has always been the prelude of great mercy with you. When you first found peace through the blood of the cross, you had been praying much, and earnestly interceding with God that he would remove your doubts and deliver you from your distress. Your assurance was the result of prayer. When at any time you have had high and joyful experiences, you have been obliged to look upon them as answers to your prayers. When you have had great deliverances out of sore troubles, and mighty helps in great dangers, you have been able to say, “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears,” (Psalm 54:7).
Prayer is always the preface to blessing. It goes before the blessing as the blessing’s shadow. We may be certain that if we are much in prayer, our pleadings are the shadows of mercy. Prayer is thus connected with the blessing to show us the value of it. If we had the blessings without asking for them, we should think them common things; but prayer makes our mercies more precious than diamonds. The things we ask for are precious, but we do not realize their preciousness until we have sought for them earnestly.
“Prayer makes the darken’d cloud withdraw;
Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw;
Gives exercise to faith and love;
Brings every blessing from above.”1
1Devotional by C.H. Spurgeon
Ezekiel prophesied for a whole nation that one day God would restore His people from captivity and make them “as numerous as sheep.” As this devotional describes, our earnest prayer, “Brings every blessing from above.” Whether it be for our nation, our church, our families, or ourselves, He hears our prayers.
For Fee Fee Baptist Church in particular, I suggest we consider these “pleas” as we pray. Pray for our Pastor and staff as they lead us. Pray too, for our deliberate direct ministries to the community, including the Mobile Market, backpack ministry, Meals on Wheels, Red Cross blood drive, International Food Pantry, and Loaves and Fishes. Remember as well, the individual and random acts of kindness we each do every day for those around us. Pray that these actions will not only meet the physical needs of those touched but relay a definite message that our actions are a direct result of God’s presence and His love for them.
“Be thou ever near unto us and keep us near unto thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”