Hindered Prayers Part 4

“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Romans 1:20

Did God answer my prayers when I lived as the world?  I must say, by His grace and mercy God did answer my prayers but why did he do so?  I mean my “god” was a salad version of the real God.  I now think back upon those answered prayers as if they were breadcrumbs or stones leading out of the desert of my misery to Him. 

I am reminded of this verse:

“This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,” 1 Timothy 2:4-5

By answered prayers God was helping me come to the knowledge of the truth BUT by no means was I receiving “empowerment” from God.  I was still hindered.  I had escaped the “troubles” of that moment BUT I was not free for long before I was suffering from some other trouble.  Yep “Futile”.

It wasn’t until AFTER I gave my life to Christ Jesus I discovered another aspect of prayer- empowering prayer.

“Unhindered prayer” is “empowered prayer”.  Empowered prayer is allowing the Holy Spirit (God’s Spirit) to empower us and often that includes the word of God.

Example: We feel the urge to worry.  The Holy Spirit reminds us of a verse like: “Don’t worry about anything instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.  If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Before I came to Christ Jesus I couldn’t “receive” this verse.  It was far out of my reach.   It wasn’t until I came to Christ Jesus that I received such a peace.  The Holy Spirit pinpoints the verse we need to “hear” so we can comply and when we comply -He then can implement this verse in our life.

Ephesians says by the Holy Spirit, we become God’s own people and receive everything God has promised in His word.  (Note Ephesians 1:13-14).

Don’t be fooled.   How can we be empowered if we don’t learn God’s word?  What can the Spirit work with to “activate” in our life if we don’t have truth in us?  THE Spirit activates “living” words in our life not myths? 

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

Colossians 3:16 “Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise.  Use his words to teach and counsel each other.  Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.”