Prayer warrior Agnes Sanford contended that many Christians are afraid to make specific prayer requests.
Why? Because somehow, in our warped minds, we fear that if the request doesn't result in an answer, then somehow, someway God doesn't exist.
Couldn't be further from the truth!
Sanford tells a story of a man who struggled with this issue:
"...if he turned on an electric light and it had failed to shine, he would not have said, 'There is no electricity!' He would have said, 'There is something wrong with this lamp!'"
Sanford goes on to say that if our specific prayer requests are not answered, "it is not due to a lack in God, but to a natural and understandable lack in ourselves. What scientist would be discouraged if his first experiment failed? Since we intend with His help to heal our shortcomings, to repair our wiring, we need not fear to test His power by prayer."
Why? Because somehow, in our warped minds, we fear that if the request doesn't result in an answer, then somehow, someway God doesn't exist.
Couldn't be further from the truth!
Sanford tells a story of a man who struggled with this issue:
"...if he turned on an electric light and it had failed to shine, he would not have said, 'There is no electricity!' He would have said, 'There is something wrong with this lamp!'"
Sanford goes on to say that if our specific prayer requests are not answered, "it is not due to a lack in God, but to a natural and understandable lack in ourselves. What scientist would be discouraged if his first experiment failed? Since we intend with His help to heal our shortcomings, to repair our wiring, we need not fear to test His power by prayer."
(Agnes Sandford, Spiritual Disciplines by Richard Foster and Emilie Griffin: Renovare/HarperSanFrancisco, 2000)
Lacking courage in the effectiveness of your prayers? Your fear is ill-founded if it is focused on whether God is able to answer or not.
He is able.
How might you and I need to be re-wired so we can pray more effectively?
What is short-circuiting our prayer lives?
Lacking courage in the effectiveness of your prayers? Your fear is ill-founded if it is focused on whether God is able to answer or not.
He is able.
How might you and I need to be re-wired so we can pray more effectively?
What is short-circuiting our prayer lives?
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