Never Doubt the Power of Prayer

Recently I desired to travel for the purpose of visiting with my aunt, who has
failing health. The situation became pressing as I assessed all the pros and cons of making such a trip. The cons outweighed the pros. Nevertheless, I put my trust in the Lord-(Prov. 3:5) and never doubted the power of God, who made heaven and earth and is in control of every circumstance or human situation.

The urgency is that my aunt has been determined by the medical staff to cling to life with every ounce of strength given to her by the Lord. Of all my mother’s siblings, two are left, and at age 96, she is the oldest of the two. She is a link to our family’s history and legacy.

I committed myself to earnest, persistent, unceasing prayers. I even petitioned others to pray with me. In prayer we go to God, recognizing who He is through praise and worship, communicating what we need. In prayer, we must ensure that we are in alignment with God’s will and expectations. My specific needs included travel mercy for all my siblings and me, health and strength enough for the 450-mile journey, transportation, my aunt's health, and that the Lord would sustain her life so that there might be a sweet fellowship with her as she lay clinging to life.

My God hears and answers prayer (Ps. 34:17). According to Luke 1:37, “with
God nothing is impossible.” “Ask, and you will receive “(John 16:24). Pray without ceasing ( I Thess. 5:17). The effectual fervent prayers of the righteous avail much; yes, much more than we could ask or think. Prayer is the communication method God gives us to connect with Him. Since prayer is an important part of accessing God’s power, I desire to pass such measures to other believers to deepen/strengthen their prayer life. Therein is our confidence in Him, that He hears us if we ask anything according to His will (Phil. 4:6,7). “Beloved, let your request be made known unto God.” “He is able and can do over and beyond all that we can ask or think (Eph. 3:20).”

There were blessings from God as I drove with my elder sister. We had cold,
windy weather as well as rain. There were also many opportunities to tune into Christian radio stations along the way, which was a source of joy. We were consistently greeted and assisted by caring people throughout the trip. We intentionally aimed to be light and salt, giving honor to our Lord God as many gospel tracts were left in the hands of others. The Lord does answer the prayers of the faithful. My God answered mightily and delivered on every issue for which I sought guidance. The entire trip to and from North Carolina was done without problems, and I never tired or became exhausted. Hallelujah, Lord! “His eyes are on the righteous, and He hears every prayer, (I Peter 3:12a).”

Prayer: Lord, teach us to seek You first and never to doubt the power of Your hand. No matter the circumstance or the situation – A. S. K.: Ask, Seek, and Keep believing that You do answer the prayers of those who walk uprightly on the path of life. Praise His Holy Name! Amen.
(By Novella D Carpenter)                                                              
(*Phrases/ quotes taken from T. Evans CSB Commentary)