JOHN 15:5 NKJ
5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
There are three reasons to pray: for God's benefit, for your benefit, and for the benefit of others.
Just as earthly parents enjoy talking with their child, our Heavenly Father enjoys hearing from you.
Also, God desires certain things done on Earth, but He has delegated authority to mankind. Through our requests, God can justly intervene in earthly situations and bring His will to pass. So, praying in line with God's Word benefits God.
Prayer is communication with God. It includes listening, discussion, and giving thanks -- not just asking for things.
Relationship requires communication. Your relationship with the Lord will never grow without communication.
Time spent in prayer helps you stay tuned-in spiritually -- remaining sensitive to God. Prayer keeps you "connected" with God. It helps keep your focus on God and how great He is.
Prayer is a way of humbling yourself and is the opposite of doing things by yourself. Receiving direction from God is the greatest help you can get. If you fail to seek God's help, you are headed for trouble, because the devil sets traps to destroy you.
Also, talking with God forces you to honestly face your situation -- for you know you cannot fool God.
All around us, people are in great need. Through prayer we can appropriate heavenly help on their behalf.
God can do more in one minute than you can do in a lifetime.
MARK 11:25 NKJ
25 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
Forgiveness is a choice -- not a feeling. Your feelings may not change while you are praying, but you can choose to forgive at any time. It does not take long to make a choice.
How long does it take to forgive? How long can you stand and pray?
Jesus never said anything about the person deserving forgiveness. Nor did He say to forgive only after they asked for forgiveness.
Anytime you talk to God, Jesus said to forgive if you had anything against anyone. That would include people who hurt you without even realizing they hurt you. Even people who were still trying to hurt you. "Anyone" in this verse includes everyone, no matter what their attitude may be.
Why should you forgive them? Not because they deserve it. But because of the harm it will cause you if you don't forgive. The reason you are to forgive others is to maintain your status with God.
Jesus indicates there is something about us refusing to forgive others that hinders our relationship with God and the free flow of blessings God desires for us to receive.
I understand that forgiving someone who horribly wronged you is not easy, especially if they are not even sorry for what they did. But Jesus makes it clear that you have no real option. You MUST forgive if you want God's forgiveness. I need not tell you how vital that is.
If Jesus appeared to you right now and asked you face-to-face to forgive someone who hurt you -- would you do it for Him? We should respect Jesus' Word just as much as we would respond to Jesus appearing to us face-to-face
ACTS 16:31 NKJ 31 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." We have a right to believe for the salvation of all our family members. God's desire is for everyone to know Him and enjoy life with Him. 2 PETER 3:9 NKJ 9 The Lord is . . . not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. God never forces anyone to accept Him and love Him. But when we pray for people, God releases His forces and strongly influences them with His truth. When people are confronted with the reality of God, they will accept Him. Spiritual blindness is the only reason anyone rejects Jesus Christ. Praying for those we love, gives God a valid invitation to work in their lives, so they can know the truth. We should also use the authority of Jesus' Name to break the devil's blindness over our loved ones. 2 CORINTHIANS 4:3-4 NKJ 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. There is a spiritual reason why people have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ. We must deal with the root of the problem, not just the outward circumstances. We can command the devil to release them and stop blinding them to the truth. When we pray for others it may not seem like anything is happening outwardly, but behind the scenes we can be certain that God is working. We should continue in faith and resist any thoughts of doubt. SAY THIS: I believe God will save my family.
