From Banks Carroll ...

When we pray.

It has been my privilege for many months to lead prayer meeting at Edgewood on Wednesday nights. This has been a great blessing to me and fifteen or so regular attendees. It’s a quiet, reverent time - intimate and edifying in many ways. We have grown much closer in our relationships to each other and to the Lord.

Prayer is a declaration of faith in a mighty God. When we pray, we acknowledge our need of Him and our dependence on Him alone. Calling out to God also declares our desire for His wisdom, guidance and protection. We have the awesome privilege of entering God’s presence through prayer. It is here that we discover the will of God for our lives and receive His power so we can victoriously face the enemy of our souls.

During this journey we will face many trials and tribulations. We will be shaken and disappointed. Prayer is our weapon for victory. It is a matter of the will rather than emotion.

As we pray, it is clear we learn about the importance of knowing God’s Word and consistently responding in obedience. How can we know we are praying for God’s will and not our own?  Matthew 26:25-33 Immerse yourselves in the Word of God. When you pray for specific requests, always check them against scripture.

We must pray with praises to Him, confession of personal sin and petition God as  He acts in a way that accomplishes His purposes and brings Him glory.

Then we must listen carefully to what God wants us to do and step out in faith to obey.

We must remember prayer is not reciting a laundry list of needs, but rather a time to praise Him and thank Him for our past blessings. We must take it seriously. Give prayer adequate time, adequate space, and adequate attention.
Romans 12:12 states it very clearly.

“ Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.’