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God's Greatest Answer

“But she might die!”

“But the money is due!”

“But I might miss my chance at happiness!”

Have you ever prayed so hard for an urgent need only to wonder if God is even listening? Frustrations mount as time runs out or the window of opportunity closes or worse-- when it seems like God answers everyone else’s prayers except yours! Perhaps this is why one *author says, “The hardest thing about praying hard is enduring unanswered prayers.”

(Obviously.)

He goes on to say, “But here’s some good news: What we perceive as unanswered prayers are often the greatest answers.”

(Seriously, this is no time for riddles.)

But this truth is rather plain: No matter how earnestly we pray for something or someone-- no matter how patiently we wait for a reply, God operates beyond our limited understanding and outside of our concept of time. And yet, Scripture says:

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28 NASB)

If you believe God’s Word is true, you can trust that God’s heart is good even when your idea of good vastly differs from God’s “greatest answer." Next time you are tempted to lose faith over unanswered prayers, ask yourself this important question about God:

“Do I believe that He can even if I am not sure that He will?”

If the answer is “yes”, your soul can echo these words of Christ Jesus:

Nevertheless not my will, but Yours be done. (Luke 22:42)

Together at ePray.org, we can overcome the frustration of uncertainty amidst unanswered prayers. Let’s constantly remind ourselves to trust that God is good enough to reveal His greatest answers to our unanswered prayers.

www.ePray.org

*excerpt from “The Circle Maker” by Mark Batterson (2011)

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Five Reasons We Should Ask More People for Prayer

How do you prefer to pray?

… in a quiet room?

… surrounded by nature?

… with a prayer journal?

… in the car?

These private modes of prayer are essential. And yet, the Bible encourages believers to pray together. Why is it so important to ask other people for prayer? Consider these five reasons:

Reason #1: Ask and it will be given to you.

Sometimes God reveals the very answer we are searching for through the people He places in our lives to pray for us… God lays it on somebody’s heart to meet a financial need for a person requesting prayer for specific provision.

A book on a relevant topic suddenly ends up on the front doorstep of someone who asked for prayer for wisdom.

A prayer request for companionship results in someone extending a genuine hand of friendship.

Reason #2: Your signature counts.

A petition with only one signature isn’t as likely to gain as much ground no matter how good the cause. Philippians 4:6 says to, “…bring up all of (our) requests to God in (our) prayers and petitions”. When the victory is won, when the healing begins, when the impossible becomes possible, we all want to feel like our faith signature made the difference. When we share the load of prayer, we share the wealth of the outcome.

Reason #3: Can I get a lifeline please?

Praying God’s Word over people and circumstances is the single most effective weapon we have in our spiritual arsenal. Scripture gives us confidence and authority to believe what is true about God rather than how things appear. And yet, when sudden grief invades like a tsunami, even the most seasoned follower of Christ is prone to forget the very Scripture he or she needs most desperately. When you are still reeling from the doctor’s report or the accident footage, God provides a lifeline through people who can pray the Word of God into your crisis.

Reason #4: This is messy business.

Asking other people for prayer destroys personal strongholds and demolishes any dividing walls between you and God. Humbling yourself enough to ask for prayer can lead to greater intimacy with God and others. Bonus: Your vulnerability may even release someone else to be vulnerable enough to ask for some much needed prayer.

Reason #5: This means war!

No battle that was ever worth fighting was fought alone. Every moment we spend resisting temptation, influencing someone’s faith, or believing for a miracle, we engage in supernatural warfare. This kind of battle ends victoriously only when believers stand shoulder to shoulder on the front lines of persistent and relentless prayer.

The community at ePray.org is buzzing with everything from praise and pleas to urgent requests and Scriptural reminders. As this undercurrent of faith is stirring up all across the globe, more and more people are asking for prayer because…

When everyone prays, needs will be met.

When everyone prays, hearts will be changed.

When everyone prays, victories will be won. In the meantime… Let us pray.

Three Prayers for My Child with Autism

“Mommy, Look! It’s Ohio.”

My five-year-old was hopping up and down on the cobblestone path, furiously flapping his hands by his side as though traffic control had just cleared him for take off.

“It’s Ohio!”

(Wait. I know this one.)

My eyes dart to and fro searching cluelessly for what might have sparked this sudden enthusiasm for the Buckeye State. Once I tracked his laser gaze to the ground, I noticed that one of the stones was shaped exactly like Ohio.

“You’re right, Kiddo. It does look like Ohio.”

But he didn’t say, “It looks like Ohio.” He said, “It IS Ohio."

A footnote.

By age four, Salem could identify the countries of the world. All of them. Pakistan. Madagascar. Laos. And yet his geographical prowess wasn’t something I bragged about to my mommy friends on the playground. Why?

Because my son has Autism.

In his mind, a map is simply a mashup of geometrical shapes. A rectangle is a rectangle. Ohio is… Ohio. Naturally. As fascinating as his ability may be, he may never look at a map and see beyond its two-dimensional coordinates to appreciate the rich culture, language, and history native to that place. That requires imagination, discussion, dynamic intelligence-- all of which rival the hard-wiring of my little static thinker.

Maps are one thing. Explaining the Gospel of Jesus Christ is another matter entirely. This too involves both imagination and dialogue— neither of which are his forte. Granted. Spiritual talk may be a stretch even for neurotypical preschoolers to understand, but with the X-factor of Autism at play, abstract concepts like sin, grace, and eternity may forever elude him.

Unless God answers my prayers for:

1. The Peace of God

Amidst violent meltdowns and obsessive fixations, anxious pacing and compulsive hand-flapping, I beg for the “peace of God that passes all understanding to guard his heart and mind in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). On the days that I can’t reach my son-- when he takes no comfort in my embrace, I pray that God’s peace would hold him fast in the part of his soul that my words nor my hands could ever heal.

2. The Pleasure of God

Be it computer science or peanut farming, music, medicine, or map drawing… whatever his thing is, I pray that he would sense the very pleasure of God while he is doing it. Its one of God’s greatest gifts, isn’t it? That transcendent awareness that comes from doing the very thing that you were created on this earth to do. THAT’S the pleasure of God. I want Salem to taste and see He is THAT good.

3. The People of God

A buddy, a teacher, a sibling, his mother… SOMEbody that just gets him. Someone with enough grace and instinctive awareness to hear what he isn’t saying-- to look past the awkward rough edges to who he really is. May their presence resemble the close intimacy of a Heavenly Father that gets him when the rest of the world is too preoccupied to take a second look at life through his unique lens.

Salem’s mind may never allow him to view the world with awe and intrigue or to inspire a crowd with colorful oratory on the great state of Ohio. Even if he always sees the world differently, I pray that the peace of God, the pleasure of God, and the people of God would overwhelm his heart and mind until Gospel speaks louder than his mother’s words ever could.

Photo Credit: Salina Beasley

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Fasting: What's the Point?

Have you ever called a fast only to second guess yourself by lunchtime and ask, "Why am I doing this again?"

We can only participate in fasting and prayer if we first understand the purpose of it. Giving up food or some other creature comfort for a short time does not increase our chances of getting God’s attention. At ePray.org, we believe there’s a much greater reward.

In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus said:

When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don’t make a production out of it. God doesn’t require attention-getting devices. He won’t overlook what you are doing: he’ll reward you well. -- the Message

The purpose of fasting and prayer is to center your heart on God. When you fast, all of your distractions and addictions, idolatry and selfish propensities rear their ugly heads. Again you might be tempted ask, "Why am I doing this?" Yet, you can face your weaknesses during a fast by drawing on the abundant grace of God through prayer. Fasting and prayer is a symbolic way of saying, “God’s Word and God’s Presence is enough for me!”

At ePray.org, Christ is the centerpiece of fasting and prayer. He is our reward! In the words of John Wesley, “First, let it [fasting] be done unto the Lord with our eye singly fixed on Him. Let our intention herein be this and this alone, to glorify our Father which is in heaven...”

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Praying Above and Beyond

We face crises each and every day. All we have to do is simply turn on the news to hear about the terrible tragedies taking place in the world. At ePray.org, we pray for people enduring sickness, loss, and every type of suffering. But before we are buried beneath the weight of despair, we can cast our cares on the Lord through intercessory prayer.

What is the difference between prayer and intercessory prayer? Oswald Chambers defines intercessory prayer as:

...raising ourselves up to the point of getting the mind of Christ regarding the person for whom we are praying.

God’s Word and God’s presence are the key ingredients to intercessory prayer. He wants you to focus more on what He thinks about a particular person or need rather than how you think or feel.

God is inviting us into a thriving relationship with Him-- one that actively engages in intercessory prayer. When we are tempted to despair beneath the crushing weight of suffering, let us remember the words of the apostle Paul in Philippians 2:5:

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset at Christ Jesus.”

www.epray.org

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This Means War!

We are at war against an invisible Enemy that wants to steal, kill and destroy our lives. This kind of battle can only be won through spiritual warfare. Prayer is our most powerful weapon.

The Bible says that we don’t fight our battles the same way that the world does.

We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. -- the Message (2 Cor. 10:4)

Jesus died, raised Himself to life, and ascended into Heaven to give you the God-tools you would need to be victorious. The Word of God is your most powerful defense. Take up this “sword of the Spirit” and engage in spiritual warfare by praying God’s Word over your life and circumstances. If you will do so every day, you will be sure to overcome defeat.

At ePray.org, we believe that the foundation of spiritual warfare is faith in Jesus Christ and the work that He completed at the cross. While we go about our daily lives of work and play, let us not forget that everyone here at ePray.org is in a battle-- one that Christ has already won!

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God Is Great. God is Good.

Mealtime and bedtime prayers are catchy and adorable, but which prayers for our children are the most powerful and important? When we pray for our kids, we not only model for them how to pray, we acquaint ourselves with the Father-heart of God.

Sylvia Gunter, co-author of Blessing Your Spirit describes it like this:

Our heavenly Father’s heart is passionate for our full identity as sons. He calls our spirit to life to possess fully our due sonship. What is a son’s nature? It is freedom, purity, nobility of character, confident identity, legal authority, purpose, access to the Father, deep intimacy with the Father and within His house, family likeness, and more.

Your prayers for your children are powerful enough to call their spirits to life and eternal relationship with Jesus Christ. At ePray.org, you are joining with thousands of other parents who are also praying for freedom, purity, and purpose for their children.

When we pray for our kids, we connect to the very Father-heart of God. Let’s come together at ePray.org and pray for God to work in the hearts of our children.

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Our "Father"

Many of us at ePray.org are familiar with the phrase, “Our Father, who art in Heaven…”. Perhaps we have recited the the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6 a thousand times by heart. But, have you ever paused to consider why, of all the powerful names of God, He would call Himself “Father”?

We all picture something different when we hear the word “father”. Some recall safe and happy memories. Others associate the word with fear and cruelty. No matter what images come to mind, one thing is for sure:

God introduces Himself as “Father” in the Lord’s Prayer because He wants us to identify ourselves as His children. All throughout Scripture, we are referred to as “sons” and “daughters” because our Heavenly Father longs to hear our most desperate cries and deepest longings. God wants us to come to Him with faith and confidence that He hears and answers our prayers.

If Christ has released you from sin, you are his child! You can stand before God and pray to Him as “Father” with full assurance that God wants to have a relationship with you. When you express a need at ePray.org, you can be sure that God is listening, and He will respond.

The Lord’s Prayer reminds us that we are His sons and daughters!

Now if we are children, then we are heirs-- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…-- Romans 8:17

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Healing Begins

When we are sick, it is easy to become discouraged and say things like, “This is just the way it is”, or “This is how it’s always going to be.” But we are no better off by telling ourselves that we should simply get used to our affliction. At ePray.org, we can approach the throne of grace with prayers for healing.

Christ the Great Physician. He is the the only One who can help us when we are powerless in our disease. Andrew Murray said:

Christ’s one purpose for healing… is to bring us into such dependence on Him that we are not able to do without Him for one single moment.

Are you desperate to the point where you simply cannot go on without Him for one single moment? This is where your healing begins. God alone can restore your strength. He can overcome your infirmity. When you rely on Him in the midst of your sickness, you position yourself for the kind of healing only Jesus has to give.

When we pray for healing, we access a power that is beyond anything else that we could ever comprehend. At ePray.org, let’s remind each other that in our weakness, He is strong!

This is where the healing begins, This is where the healing starts When you come to where you’re broken within The light meets the dark (Lyric from “Healing Begins” by Tenth Avenue North)

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Healed From the Inside Out

Sickness has the power to bring us face to face with our desperate need for a Divine Healer. But did you know that spiritual “heart” conditions like bitterness and resentment can actually manifest themselves in our physical bodies? Sometimes we need deeper relief that goes beyond our medical symptoms. We need inner healing-- the kind of healing that prayer alone can bring and God alone can supply.

I Thessalonians 5:23 says:

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God cares about your physical body. But He cares just as much and perhaps even more about the health of your soul and spirit. If you need healing of any kind, the community at ePray.org is available to pray for your physical, emotional, and spiritual wholeness.

May we never underestimate the healing power of prayer for both our bodies AND our souls. Let’s join together at ePray.org and ask God to heal us through and through.

Father, heal us so that we might bring You praise from the inside out!

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Why Do You Pray?

Everyone prays for different reasons-- need, obligation, penance, tradition. But what sets apart the prayers of a follower of Christ? Andrew Murray said:

It is not left to our faith or faithfulness to maintain our union with Christ. God-- the Father of Christ, who united us with Him-- will see to it that the branch is what it should be. He will enable us to bring forth just the fruit we were appointed to bear.

God answers the prayers of believing Christians because they come from souls that belong to His Son, Jesus Christ.

You don’t have to say a magic phrase, assume a certain posture, or hold a sacred object in order for God to hear and respond to your prayers. You can simply come before God on your own or with the community at ePray.org just as you are.

Our prayers are set apart simply because the outcomes are not left up to us. If Christ is at the center of our prayers, it is up to Him to bring forth the good fruit. Let's join together at ePray.org and pray for each other with full assurance that God will hear and answer the prayers of His own.

Photo Credit: Evan Long

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Help My Unbelief

When faced with a frightening trial, we are easily tempted to lean on anyone or anything rather than on God Himself. Trusting God can be hard on a normal day, but the most desperate circumstances can make it even more difficult to trust His heart, His plan, and His divine purpose.

And yet, Scripture provides countless examples of prayer that result in miraculous outcomes. In one Gospel story, a desperate father cries out for a healing miracle for his son with this simple prayer:

“Help my unbelief”. (Mark 9:24)

You can trust God’s heart in the midst of disappointing circumstances. When trials test your faith, confess your unbelief to Him with the same honest prayer, “God, help my unbelief.” At epray.org, we believe that God is for you. So who can be against you?! He knows the details of your situation, and He wants to increase your faith to believe Him to do the impossible.

If those of us at epray.org constantly reminded each other that God is a miracle-working God, perhaps it would increase our faith when we needed it the most. Before we run to a physician or even a pastor for a miracle, let’s believe God to perform the greatest miracle of all and fill our hearts with faith to overcome every doubt!

Photo By: Cornelia Kopp

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Prayer 101: How to Pray

Have you ever felt like some of your prayers have been clearly answered while others go completely unheard? It is tempting to think that answered prayers are only for people who know how to pray-- as if there is some magic formula that makes prayer work. And yet, consider Jesus’ teaching on Prayer 101:

Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense His grace.-- Matthew 6:6 (MSG)

You don’t need to recite speeches or even dictate to God what you want Him to do. Remember, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8) If you ever wonder how to pray, simply focus your mind’s attention on God with an open and honest heart. At ePray.org, we believe that God answers prayer!

Prayer doesn’t require a theatrical production. ePray.org is a space for people who pray simply and believe wholeheartedly that the One who taught us how to pray is the same One who hears us when we pray.

Photo by Kathrin and Stephan Marks

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The Purpose of Prayer

Everyone prays for different reasons and with a certain outcome in mind. The prayers posted here at ePray.org are very specific...

“God, heal me.”

“God, help me.”

“God, protect me.”

While He hears and responds to these desperate prayers, God’s purpose for prayer has always been to draw us into a deeper relationship with Himself. He wants to clue us into His plan and purpose.

When you are tempted to think, "I've done my best to be good and faithful, so God HAS to answer my prayers”, remember that God does not answer your prayers because you are always faithful. God answers your prayers because HE is always faithful, and He will complete the good work that He has started in you. He wants the accomplished work of the cross of Christ to become the driving influence in your life and circumstances.

At ePray.org, let’s seek God wholeheartedly and place our lives completely in His hands. He may not answer us in a way that we expect, but we can be sure that God knows each and every detail of our situations, and He will fulfill His purpose for our lives.

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Why Daily Prayer Matters

If two married people only talked once in a while, sure they might stay married, but would they enjoy the healthy, life-giving exchange that God intends for husbands and wives to share?

Probably not.

Jesus made it possible for us to enjoy an intimate relationship with God. The best way that we can effectively do that is by communicating with God through prayer each and every day. At ePray.org, we come together to support and encourage each other in our daily prayer lives. Why?

Because God wants us to THRIVE in our relationship with Him.

You can experience a vital connection with God through daily prayer. At ePray.org, you are not alone when you pray. You have a daily invitation to join with others who are also seeking after the heart of God.

Daily prayer has the power to change our circumstances. More importantly, daily prayer has the power to transform our hearts so that we can enjoy a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

It is only the life abiding wholly in Christ that can pray the effective prayer in the Name of Christ.--Andrew Murray

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Morning Prayer: It's Not Just For Morning People.

We all have prefered times, modes, and postures of prayer. Our unique prayer lives are one of the many things that make up the beautiful body of Christ. Even though we have full access to the heart of God and the community at epray.org morning, noon, and night, consider the words of the Psalmist, David:

...Every morning you’ll hear me at it again. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend. (Psalm 5:1-3 MSG)

You have audience with God and with the community here at epray.org any time of the day or night. But, there is something special about the quiet stillness at the break of a new day. Morning prayer is a chance to meditate on the truth that God’s mercies are new for THIS day. It is a moment to open up the sacred spaces of your heart to the Lord before the pressing concerns of the day are allowed to invade. It is true that God is always listening. The question is:

When are you most likely to hear Him speak?

Some of us are morning people. Some of us prefer to hit the snooze button once or twice. But what if we approached our morning prayer time like the Psalmist, David? By laying out the scattered pieces of our lives before God first thing in the morning, we can freely go about our day knowing that He has a plan to fit them all together.

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