Prayer works with faith, patience and perseverance

I have been reading a lot the past few months. Primarily, I've been reading about God and prayer. I have read many authors for the first time and am thoroughly enjoying their work. People like Father James Martin, SJ whose book 'A Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything', Stormie Omartian's Pray Big Series on Parenting, Marriage, Husband, Wife, etc. Currently, I'm reading Michael Harold Brown's 'The God of Miracles' and loving it!

The past few months have been like a roller coaster of life - up and down, then up and then down. I have been going through some difficult times emotionally that I wouldn't like to get into here, but suffice it to say that - PRAYER WORKS!

God has been with me through this storm in my life and remained in the same boat, asleep in the back at first and then woke up and asked me clearly, 'Where is your faith? Peace. Be still!'

Prayers have results. But these results come in God's time, not ours. Patience, faith and perseverance are the pillars of getting results from prayers.

Take the storms of your life not as a curse, but as a blessing that jolts you into thinking more about God than the things of the world. For it is only in these times that you begin to see the impermanence of it all worldly things and the permanence of heavenly things. You begin to realize that life and the tests that come with it are meant to teach and prepare you for the spiritual life that will follow this physical one after we transition from this world to the next. 

Don't be anxious, pray and have faith in God

When we are faced with anxiety in life, we do tend to worry about it. We think that the worst may happen to us. The uncertainty of life is also something that tortures us. "What will happen to me?" is one of life's most uncertain and perplexing questions.

Recently, I found a small passage in the Bible that has given me a lot of hope.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

During a rather difficult moment in my life, in a moment of tears, I prayed to the Lord to help me and the words 'Philippians 4:6' flashed into my mind. I opened my Bible and read this verse. In that moment of anxiety and worry, imagine how I felt the moment I read the words 'Do not be anxious'. Praise God!

So brothers and sisters, I urge you also, in times of anxiety, fear or worry; do not be anxious. The right thing to do is PRAY and PETITION the Lord and give THANKS to Him. When you do this, the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Yes, this peace of God that comes does really transcend all understanding. A moment of tears can suddenly be followed by peace.

Have faith in God. Do not worry, fear or be anxious. Pray and petition God with thanks and then leave it to Him. Be content in the knowledge that if you hand over the situation to Him, the results will certainly come. Have faith that His will is done and that His will is the best thing for you. The results may not happen overnight (it could though) but it will come in His time, not in yours. Have patience in God.

Most importantly, remember that you are not alone. We all have problems. We all have anxious and worrisome moments, but God is with those who have faith in Him. And remember "If God is for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8:31 (NIV)