~ "sometimes he talks to me...

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess....Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Heb 4:14; 16)

There is nothing more powerful than an answered prayer. The grace and glory of God in our lives causes us to drop to our knees and rejoice! Sometimes we even hit them as tears of joy roll down our faces. Yesterday, I felt and saw the hand of God so strongly in my life that I sobbed!

I had called a woman from church to ask for prayers for a friend's mother who was having surgery. I am new in this church, so I don't know a lot of people. She heads up what I call "speed dial" - a powerful prayer chain that involves the members of our church. Yesterday, after knowing the results of the surgery, I called her again to update her.

During our conversation, we got to talking about how God works in our lives and gave each other a crash-course in our years upon this earth, our walk to Jesus and a bit of what we deal with on a daily basis. I shared with her my "unspoken request" that I continually ask people to pray for. Not too many people know the actual request, and I felt comfortable enough with this woman to share it with her. When we finished our conversation (about an hour later) she ended her side of it by assuring me that she would pray more specifically for my request and reminded me that "It is done".

I then when into my den for my morning prayers. I sat on the couch and opened my daily devotional (a special birthday gift from a very dear friend) and there on the page for yesterday was today's verse of the day. This is the commentary that followed:

"Our great Helper in prayer is the Lord Jesus Christ, our Advocate with the Father, our Great High Priest, whose chief ministry for us these centuries has been intercession and prayer. He it is who takes our imperfect petitions from our hands, cleanses them from their defects, corrects their faults, and then claims their answer from His Father on His own account and through His all-atoning merits and righteousness.

Brother, are you fainting in prayer? Look up. Your blessed Advocate has already claimed your answer, and you would grieve and disappoint Him if you were to give up the conflict in the very moment when victory is on its way to meet you. He has gone in for you into the inner chamber, and already holds up your name upon the palms of His hands; and the messenger, which is to bring you your blessing, is now on his way, and the Spirit is only waiting your trust to whisper in your heart the echo of the answer from the throne, "It is done." --A. B. Simpson

The Spirit has much to do with acceptable prayer, and His work in prayer is too much neglected. He enlightens the mind to see its wants, softens the heart to feel them, quickens our desires after suitable supplies, gives clear views of God's power, wisdom, and grace to relieve us, and stirs up that confidence in His truth which excludes all wavering. Prayer is, therefore, a wonderful thing. In every acceptable prayer the whole Trinity is concerned. --J. Angell James"

When I write this note every morning, I let God put the words on the page. I try to be only the instrument through which his message is spread, I don't profess to be a Bible scholar or a theologian. The power that came across my quiet little "prayer closet" yesterday morning is still present. Go back and re-read yesterday's note and know that God is present in all of our lives.

Throughout the day, I was reminded very definitively not to doubt that my prayer had been heard and that "it is done". We are a "need to know" people - we need to know that we've been heard, that we are important and that we are loved. God tells us he loves us and hears us when we pray. His word is good enough for me!

(taken in part from "Streams in the Dessert" by L.B. Cowman)