Prayers

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1 Thessalonians 5.17: "Pray without ceasing."

Over the past 18 plus years, this scripture verse has been my motto. Daniel prayed three times a day. David prayed, Moses prayed, Paul prayed, and many other heroes of faith recognized the importance of prayer. In fact, if these two words were inscribed on my tombstone, "He prayed", that would be my testimony.

God hears and answers the prayers of his children. Although the enemy works hard to prevent answers from coming, if you pray under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, you can be assured that your prayer was in accordance with God's will. I was facing some particularly difficult trials and I prayed for the Lord's help. That evening, I read the tenth chapter of Daniel where he was praying for 21 days about an urgent matter. An angel came and told Daniel that from the very first day he began to pray, his words were heard but a spiritual warfare ensued with the prince of the kingdom of Persia, the chief principality of Satan over that country. The angel had to call Michael, one which stands guard over Daniel's people (Israelites), to come help. When I read that passage of scripture and the first verse of Daniel, chapter 12, I realized I was in a battle. As I meditated on God's word, the Holy Spirit quickened me when I said, "By adoption, I am a child of Israel, Lord send Michael to help."

That night I drifted off to sleep and had a vivid dream. In this dream, I was fighting many demons. I was losing the battle and called on the Lord. I said, "Help me, Jesus, send Michael to help me." About that time, I saw a platoon (about 30) of soldiers marching towards me. They were dressed up in Army Blue Dress uniforms. The head one came up to me, rendered a hand salute, and said, "Michael reporting as ordered, sir." In my dream, I could clearly see his name tag and the Chief Warrant Officer Four (the highest warrant officer rank at that time) bars on his shoulders. I said, "Chief, I need help." He turned to his platoon and gave the command, "Round them up, boys." In short order, the demons were captured and herded into a white bus that had "PRISONERS" written on it. I woke from my dream and had sweet peace and victory in this battle. What a mighty God we serve!

Later, I met two men who believed strongly in the power of prayer. Their names were Michael (Mike) and Daniel (Dan). Ironic, isn't it? As I'm writing this, it still amazes me that here I am writing about Daniel and Michael and prayer, and God sent me two friends named the same!

Well, Mike was more like a David in his praying. He was a great singer, like David, and had a heart after God. Dan was more like Jeremiah, the weeping prophet. As Dan took his burdens to the Lord, he would begin to weep. As the tears would flow and the words of prayer came brokenly, you could see and feel the intensity of his prayers.

We three had many a season of prayer. Sometimes it would be just Mike and me, and sometimes just Dan and me. Other times all three of us we come together to pray. None of us were perfect. Like Paul, we all can say, "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." However, God looks at the intent and purposes of the heart.

I want to tell you about one example of prayer for each of my friends. Mike called one night. He was facing some really rough trials and had been struggling in prayer. He lived about seven miles from me and he wanted to meet me at the Huddle House to have a cup of coffee and fellowship. Before I left the house, the Lord spoke and said, "Take that Bible, that small one that contains both the old and new testament, and bring it with you. I've got a word for Mike."

I met him a few minutes later, and as we drank our coffee, I said, "Mike, the Lord has a word for you." I pulled out my Bible, opened it to II Kings 13.15, "And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows." As tears filled his eyes when I spoke these words, Mike said, "Before I left my house, the Lord told me to put my bow and arrows in my truck. They are out there now." I said, "Let's go. We got to go out to a secluded place , pray, and replay exactly what Elisha and Joash did (II Kings 13.15-17). We did, and when that last arrow headed toward the sky, Mike shouted for joy as the Spirit of God moved on him and gave him assurance of victory!

I received a late night call about four years ago. It was Dan. He was in the hospital because of stomach problems. His bowels had burst. He was really in bad shape. As I went into the intensive care unit, where his family were gathered around him, he feebly greeted me and began to talk. He said, "Brother, I ain't gonna make it this time. I'm ready to go, and I told my wife I wanted you to say a few words at my funeral." I looked at him and said, "Dan, God ain't through with you yet, you still have a work to do," I put my hands on him and began to pray. I asked God to mend those places where the surgery had been done and to raise him up.

In about two days, he went home. Although he was weak, the Lord began to slowly mend him. He had additional surgery later to remove the bag the doctor's had placed there for his bodily functions. As I'm writing this, Brother Dan has fully recovered and is still working, praying and serving God.

Both Mike and Dan have prayed for me often. I appreciate them and may God richly recompense their labors for him.

James 5.16 "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervant prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

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