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Devotions

Inspired to Pray With Fervency

Jim Cymbala

Although it is crucial to understand the principles governing prayer, understanding alone won’t lead you to a breakthrough. In fact, prayerlessness often co-exists with extensive Bible knowledge. Only the Holy Spirit can inspire us to pray effectually, and he uses various means to accomplish this purpose.

Serious prayer is born out of a sense of need, out of the knowledge that we must ask God to intervene. Hannah’s story in the Bible serves as a motivation for our prayer life. She could be called the “First Lady of Prayer” because she is the first woman whose petition is recorded in Scripture.

Hannah shared her husband, Elkanah, with his second wife, an unpleasant woman named Peninnah. Hannah’s inability to have children made her the brunt of Peninnah’s taunts (see 1 Samuel 1:3-7). Constantly tormented, with no offspring of her own, weeping and unable to eat, Hannah seemed mired in a hopeless situation. In the midst of her pain, she didn’t know that God was about to choose her, among all the women of Israel, to bear a son, Samuel, who would become a prophet and lead his wayward people back to himself. So she wept before God and prayed, “O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life” (1 Samuel 1:11).

This prayer, one of the greatest in the Bible, not only changed Hannah’s life, but also altered the history of Israel. God often works out his plans through human beings who feel compelled by their need to pray. Incredibly, we have the same potential in prayer that Hannah did. Our “breaking point” can lead to a breakthrough if it spurs us to call on God. Hannah asked for a son, but God gave her much more.

Don’t wait one more minute to receive what you need from God. Let this be your day to arise and talk to the Father from your heart and experience a breakthrough in prayer from your answering God.

Jim Cymbala began the Brooklyn Tabernacle with less than twenty members in a small, rundown building in a difficult part of the city. A native of Brooklyn, he is a longtime friend of both David and Gary Wilkerson.

Are You a Witness in Your City?

David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

We often expect God to move in one of two ways: either by sending a supernatural outpouring of his Holy Spirit to sweep multitudes into his kingdom, or by sending judgment to bring people to their knees or even destroy them. But, beloved, that is not God’s method of changing things in an evil day. His way of rebuilding ruins has always been to use ordinary men and women whom he has touched. And he does this by filling them with his Holy Spirit and sending them into the warfare with great faith and power! “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4).

You are God’s witness to your city! He uses laypeople who get alone with him, seek him in prayer, rend their hearts and then go forth full of the Holy Spirit, faith and power. If God has not been using you, it may be because you have not been usable. That happens when believers get “caught up in gazing at the glory” instead of preparing to be used.

The disciples basked in the glory when Jesus was taken up into heaven. They could have stood there forever, enjoying the warm glow, but the angel of the Lord lovingly rebuked them: “Why do you stand gazing up into heaven? (Acts 1:11). There was a lot of preparation needed and tasks to be completed. “They returned to Jerusalem … went up into the upper room … [and] all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication” (Acts 1:12-14).

When you emerge from seeking God, you can stand with boldness before fellow workers, family, anyone, and your witness will evoke one of two reactions: genuine repentance or anger you. Either way, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you will speak a word that “cuts to the heart.”

Go forth in the power of the Holy Ghost, bringing the light of Jesus everywhere you go.

Christ’s Glorious Promise of Peace

David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

Many Christians have troubled hearts and some live in fear, secretly plagued with panic, turmoil and sleepless nights. For many, peace comes and goes, leaving them worried, restless and battered by stress. Yet, Zacharias prophesied that the Messiah would come “to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life” (Luke 1:74-75).

Beloved, Jesus came to this earth and died for sinful man so that we could walk with God without fear and enjoy his peace all the days of our lives! This includes times of suffering, turmoil, testing, and uncertainty. It means both good days and bad days. No matter what comes our way, we are to enjoy peace.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace! At his birth the angels sang, “Peace on earth” (see Luke 2:14) and he promised of himself, “In Me you may have peace” (John 16:33). Peace is what the gospel is all about: “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:36).

In this world we will face tribulation, persecution and fiery trials. We will be tempted and we will suffer for the sake of Christ. Still we are to serve him in righteousness, full of peace and joy in the Holy Spirit at all times. Paul’s prayer for all believers was this: “May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all” (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

Think of it — peace in every circumstance! Truly that is supernatural but it is available to all who have been justified by faith and reach out to the Savior.

A Place of Rest

David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

“Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house” (Hebrews 3:1-2).

The book of Hebrews offers a strong, vital word to all who are “partakers of the heavenly calling.” This means that you hear heaven calling you. Even now heaven is calling for a people who are free from the materialism and foolishness of this world — Christians who wake up each morning and hear Jesus calling them to himself. They look at all that surrounds them and cry inwardly, “Jesus, my heart is not here, my future is not here. Nothing in this world satisfies me. You alone, Jesus, are my life.”

“[Jesus] was faithful to Him who appointed Him” (Hebrews 3:2). Faithfulness means simply believing that God will keep his Word to us. In this sense, we are to “hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end” (Hebrews 3:14).

Over time, as your trials increase and the battles grow more intense, you may become weary. Daily, you have an enemy who is out to destroy you; he is a liar and a seducer. Jesus said, “The devil … does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him … he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44).

Satan doesn’t waste his time lying to sinners; they are already held prisoner by his deception. No, he lies to those believers whose hearts are set on the Lord. In fact, Satan uses his most subtle, convincing lies against those who are determined to enter God’s provided rest.

“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God … Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest” (Hebrews 4:9, 11). “Resting in God” means to enter a place of total trust in His Word. It is a place of faith, a continuous confidence that God is with us, that He cannot fail, and that he will see us through to the end.

Spend time with your Father today and let the Holy Spirit minister to your heart and strengthen you. Find rest for your weary soul with a total surrender to God.

A Revelation of God’s Mercy

David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

David acknowledged God’s great mercy when he said, “I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great assembly” (Psalm 40:10).

David was grateful to God for such great love because he was deeply conscious of his own failings. “My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up” (40:12). No matter how badly people have sinned, God’s love still reaches them. He sent his Son as a sacrifice for this very purpose.

“Because your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You” (Psalm 63:3). This life is short! Yet God’s love will endure forever. A billion years from now, Jesus will be as tender and loving to us as he is now.

The greatest proclamation of his lovingkindness is joyful praise. Stop and think for a moment: God is not mad at you. If you are ready to forsake your sins, you can be forgiven and restored this very moment. The Word says that nothing can come between our Lord and us: no sin, no guilt, no condemning thoughts.

If you really understood how tender He is toward you — how patient, how caring, how ready to forgive and bless — you would not be able to contain yourself. You would shout and praise Him until you had no voice left!

Beloved, Jesus is coming — and we're clean. We're ready to go. You have a loving, tender Father who cares about you. He's bottled every tear you've ever shed. He's seen every need. He's known your every thought — and He loves you!