An Effective Prayer Life

Ill.—kimberly sent me once to the store for cream of tartar [what in the world is it/where in the world is it? For fish right?]

I looked up and down every aisle I could imagine…and she needs it, and I’d better not come home w/out it!

So I humble myself and ask someone…they point me to the spice aisle…what???

OK, so I go there…ever seen how many spices there are…now I’m seeking, getting nervous!

Never a worker around when you need them, but I hear some talking behind the 2 big metal swinging doors…so what do I do? I approach and knock…excuse me, sir, where’s the cream of tartar? Spice aisle? Yes, I know. Do you know WHERE on the spice aisle? Can you tell me exactly where? Is there gps on it? Would you mind just getting some and placing it in my hand? I cannot go home w/ out it!

I asked, then I started seeking, finally I knocked…I wasn’t half-hearted, I didn’t give up easily! I wanted to get someone’s attention, to get some action/results!

God wants more than just prayer…He wants supplication…there’s a difference between just praying and truly crying out to God.

Ill.—Ian and I joked about those whose whole prayer life consists in meal-time and church prayers…and they try to include every missionary in their prayers/unlike dad who says, thanks for the food, amen!

This is the kind of praying Jesus did in the Garden in Gethsemane…

Heb. 5:7-8

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

We need to put some passion in our prayers, if we want that peace, being careful for nothing, then we have to do more than pray, we have to make supplication…and we have a high priest which takes our passion and passes it along to the Father w/ groaning which cannot be uttered!

Most of the crowd prays, but when is the last time you engaged in supplication…came to a sweat, and like David, watered your couch w/ tears?

Ill.—in the OT, incense was a picture of prayers, but it had to be set on the hot coals or no smoke rose up

[prayer w/ out passion=incense on a cold altar=stirred, but not changed]

Passionless prayers don’t get wayward children right w/ God/lost spouse saved/financial turnaround/church revival

Hudson Taylor

The beginning of it all was a quiet hour among his father’s books, when young Hudson Taylor sought something to interest him. His mother was away from home and the boy was missing her. The house seemed empty, so he took the story he found to a favorite corner in the old warehouse, thinking he would read it as long as it did not get prosy.

Many miles away, the mother was specially burdened that Saturday afternoon about her only son. Leaving her friends she went alone to plead with God for his salvation.

Many miles away, the mother was specially burdened that Saturday afternoon about her only son. Leaving her friends she went alone to plead with God for his salvation. Hour after hour passed while that mother was still upon her knees, until her heart was flooded with a joyful assurance that her prayers were heard and answered.