Devotions

As we look at his journey, we see King David certainly started out strong. The Holy Spirit came upon him, causing him to defeat a lion and a bear, and eventually a Philistine giant. It seemed as if there was no end to what God was going to do through his life, until a moment of silence came. Suddenly God was not speaking the way he used to, and David began to lose confidence. He lost confidence in God’s former words to him, which led him to attempt to guide his life by his own wisdom and resolve his problems in his own strength (see 1 Samuel 27:1-3).

When David finally came to the end of himself, recognizing that following his own reasoning only brought him as well as others into incredible sorrow, he returned to the source of his strength (see 1 Samuel 30:1-3, 6). David encouraged himself in the Lord, recalling how faithful God had always been to him. And in that moment of remembrance, he turned back to prayer. The voice of God became clear again, and the Lord eventually brought him into the victory that had always been his.

This serves as a reminder that in the midst of God’s silence, you must resist the temptation to try to make happen what God told you he is going to do in your life. Instead, encourage yourself in the Lord as David did. Remember how faithful God has been. Think about the words that he first spoke to you, the victories you experienced that never would have happened apart from the Holy Spirit’s work inside of you. Sit down and say, “God, you have spoken a word to me. I understand that there is an appointed time for it to be fulfilled. The answer is coming, and even though it may seem for a season that your promises have been overpowered by circumstances, you are the God who cannot lie!”

Carter Conlon joined the pastoral staff of Times Square Church in 1994 at the invitation of the founding pastor, David Wilkerson, and was appointed Senior Pastor in 2001. 

Prayer is the secret to spiritual growth, but if we go to the throne only for our personal edification and needs, we are being selfish. The Bible shows us that we cannot neglect to pray seriously for the needs of those around us and gives us examples of “helpful prayers” (see 2 Corinthians 1:11).

People often say, “I’ll pray for you,” and they may pray once or twice and then quickly forget the other person’s need. A true prayer helper is one who prays without ceasing for the needs of others. He doesn't pray for them just once and then stop praying. No, he intercedes day after day.

Your prayers don't have to be long. Simply state your request and trust God to hear you.

This was illustrated for me once when I was sick in bed. One of my grandsons came in and announced, "Papa, I'm going to pray for you." My little helper laid his hand on my head and prayed, "Jesus, make him all better."

I smiled and thanked him for praying. But he just kept looking at me. Finally, he said, "You're healed. Get up!" So I did get up — and I was healed. His prayer of faith brought me to my feet.

Mighty deliverances take place when God's saints seek him diligently with childlike faith for the needs of others. We can look at the Scriptures and see how God has moved powerfully as a result of prayer and take courage in being helpers in prayer. See how Paul gives a moving testimony of this:

"We had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us: in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many" (2 Corinthians 1:9–11).

Every pastor, preacher and evangelist needs helpers in prayer who will intercede for them continually. I have been carried in prayer by faithful servants.

Scripture says that when Peter was bound in jail, "Constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church" (Acts 12:5). God delivered Peter with a miracle through helping prayers.

Paul not only asked for prayer helpers but was a helper himself. He knew this was part of his calling as a minister of the gospel. He wrote to the Philippians, "To all the saints . . . with the bishops and deacons . . . I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you with all joy . . . because I have you in my heart" (Philippians 1:1, 3–4, 7).

Likewise, Paul wrote to the Romans, "God is my witness . . . that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers" (Romans 1:9). The word "mention" means, "I recite your name and needs to the Lord." In short, Paul didn't ask others to undertake something he wasn't willing to do himself.

Are you aware of a brother or sister who is in turmoil of some sort? If so, do you merely tell others about it or do you bring up their names to the Lord and strive for them in prayer?

Do you desire this ministry of being a helper in prayer? Mighty deliverances take place when God’s saints seek him diligently with childlike faith for the needs of their brothers and sisters. 

Some Bible teachers claim we are walking in unbelief if we ask God for the same thing over and over. That is heresy! God commands us to ask, seek, knock — to cry out in effectual, earnest supplication (see Matthew 7:7-8). From the very beginning, true servants have turned God's promises into prayers:

• Jesus knew his Father had promised all things to him before the foundation of the world. Yet Christ spent hours praying for God's will to be done on earth. He even told a parable illustrating persistence in prayer, about an "importunate widow" who kept demanding justice from a judge until she got it (Luke 18:1-8).
• God gave Ezekiel wonderful prophecies about Israel's restoration, promising the nation's ruins would become as the Garden of Eden. Yet the Lord said his word would not be fulfilled without prayer: "I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this for them" (Ezekiel 36:37). In other words, "I've made you a promise, but I want you to pray it to pass. Seek me with all your heart until you see my Word fulfilled. I will deliver, but first you must ask."
• God promised Daniel that after seventy years Israel would be restored. When Daniel saw the appointed year arrive, he could have waited in faith for God to fulfill his word. Instead, Daniel fell on his face and prayed for two weeks until he saw the Lord bring everything to pass (Daniel 9:24-27).

In the Old Testament, Israel's priest carried on his breastplate the names of all the tribes of Israel. This signified that the people's needs were continually on the priest's heart in prayer. What a wonderful image! It represents Christ carrying us in his heart and presenting our needs to the Father. Yet it is also a picture of every Christian, a royal priesthood, carrying the needs of others in our hearts.

In the Psalms, David extols God’s greatness in blessing those who trust him.

"Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues" (Psalm 31:19-20).

When David exclaims, "Oh, how great is God's goodness!" he is saying, "I am overcome by all the goodness God has in store." He is celebrating the incredible storehouse of mercy and kindness that God has set aside for us. David testified, "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" (Psalm 27:13).

God's goodness and rewards aren't stored up for "someday" in heaven — they are meant for his people now in their present trials.

God says he will reward our faith. And he wants us to seek him for those rewards now in the midst of our crises. Are you looking for a sign of hope for a rebellious son or daughter? Do you need to see just one break in the clouds of your financial storm? Call on the Lord in faith; he will come to you with comfort and strength. He wants to reward you with renewed hope and to supply you with all strength in your current flood. His voice rises above every floodwater!

God's Word makes it perfectly clear that we are not to worry about current world crises. We are not to worry about the economy. He wants to remove all stress about our loved ones, our families, our hurts and trials. And he has given us the reason for this great comfort and assurance: Our God is great and greatly to be praised!