ASAP (Always Say A Prayer)
by Bro. Shaun Ogdie
08/27/2023
Philippians 1:19 – “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”
Recently I was visiting my parents in East Texas, and I noticed a picture on their wall. It caught my attention because it was big bold letters that simply read “ASAP!” I thought what a strange thing to put on your wall. I asked my mother what this was for to which she replied, “Always Say A Prayer.” It was her daily reminder as she walked through the house to pray. She faithfully prays every day for her husband, her three adult sons, and their wives, her nine grandchildren, and most likely for her future great-grandchildren.
Paul understood the two best ingredients for a born-again Christian: Prayer and the Holy Spirit. Certainly, these two work together and produce amazing results.
Romans 8:26 –"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."
Imagine buying your children the most amazing Christmas present ever. Now imagine them taking that present placing it in their closet and never opening it. While we laugh at such an unlikely situation, that is exactly what we do as Christians when we ask Jesus into our hearts to save us but never go to Him in prayer after that moment. We have the power here on earth to accomplish great things but without the power of the Holy Spirit being accessed through prayer, we are going nowhere.
When I was a kid, we had an older lady in our church by the name of Mrs. Nora Long. Mrs. Long would always walk up to me and say “Shaun, I’m praying for you.” As an 8-year-old boy, you don’t pay much attention to that. You just be polite and say “thank you” and move on about your day. As a rebel teenager, again I remember Mrs. Long saying “Shaun, I’m praying for you.” When you are not in the will of God, a lot of times the last thing you want to hear is “I’m praying for you.” However, I was always polite and would say “thank you” and move on about my day. When I was in Iraq, my mother sent me a letter telling me that Mrs. Nora Long had passed away. Immediately I felt an empty feeling. I realized that I had lost an intercessor. Shame on me for the days I took her prayers for granted. If someone is praying for you, be grateful.
Luke 11:13 – "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"
08/27/2023
Philippians 1:19 – “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”
Recently I was visiting my parents in East Texas, and I noticed a picture on their wall. It caught my attention because it was big bold letters that simply read “ASAP!” I thought what a strange thing to put on your wall. I asked my mother what this was for to which she replied, “Always Say A Prayer.” It was her daily reminder as she walked through the house to pray. She faithfully prays every day for her husband, her three adult sons, and their wives, her nine grandchildren, and most likely for her future great-grandchildren.
Paul understood the two best ingredients for a born-again Christian: Prayer and the Holy Spirit. Certainly, these two work together and produce amazing results.
Romans 8:26 –"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."
Imagine buying your children the most amazing Christmas present ever. Now imagine them taking that present placing it in their closet and never opening it. While we laugh at such an unlikely situation, that is exactly what we do as Christians when we ask Jesus into our hearts to save us but never go to Him in prayer after that moment. We have the power here on earth to accomplish great things but without the power of the Holy Spirit being accessed through prayer, we are going nowhere.
When I was a kid, we had an older lady in our church by the name of Mrs. Nora Long. Mrs. Long would always walk up to me and say “Shaun, I’m praying for you.” As an 8-year-old boy, you don’t pay much attention to that. You just be polite and say “thank you” and move on about your day. As a rebel teenager, again I remember Mrs. Long saying “Shaun, I’m praying for you.” When you are not in the will of God, a lot of times the last thing you want to hear is “I’m praying for you.” However, I was always polite and would say “thank you” and move on about my day. When I was in Iraq, my mother sent me a letter telling me that Mrs. Nora Long had passed away. Immediately I felt an empty feeling. I realized that I had lost an intercessor. Shame on me for the days I took her prayers for granted. If someone is praying for you, be grateful.
Luke 11:13 – "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"
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