Dec 12.97: Light For The Day - "Fight or Pray?"

Prayer does not change God --
But changes him who prays. -- Anon.

Prayer Is Not Just for Our Own Welfare or Relief -
But For the Delight of the Lord! -- Anon.

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"He spoke a parable to them, that men
always ought to pray and not lose heart."
-- Luke 18:1

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"Fight or Pray?"

When my son Ben was 6 years old, he had a
playground adversary. According to Ben, this
fellow had gone too far, and he thought the only
solution was to fight it out. So I talked to him
about the Christ-like way to handle the situation.

I asked him, "Did you pray to the Lord for
understanding and help to avoid a fight?" He didn't
answer, so I asked him again. This time with
childish candor he blurted out, "No, I don't want 
to pray. I'd rather beat him up."

How revealing! The problem was that he didn't feel
weak enough to seek God's help.

We often hesitate to pray for the Lord's guidance
in a tough situation because we think we can work
it out ourselves. But if that's our attitude, we are
not yet in the place where God will come to our 
assistance. He wants us to sense that we really
are helpless.

Jesus told the parable of the widow and the unjust
judge (Luke 18:1-8) to encourage us to continue
bringing our concerns to the Father. If we are not
persistent in seeking His help, we may "lose heart"
(Lk. 18:1) because our own efforts are inadequate.
And God, unlike an unjust judge, longs to come to
our aid.

What problems are facing you? 
Are you going to Fight or Pray?

-- Martin R. DeHaan II

Pray, always pray, the Holy Spirit pleads,
Bring to thy God thy daily, hourly needs;
All earthly things with earth shall pass away;
Prayer grasps eternity; pray - always pray!

-- Bickersteth

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"Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you
great and unsearchable things you do not know."
-- Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)
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The best way to stay on your feet
is to get down on your knees. -- Anon.

Talk to God about people ...
before you talk to people about God. 
-- Evangelism

Prayer is not asking. 
It is a longing of the soul.
It is daily admission of one's weakness. . . .
It is better in prayer to have a heart without words
than words without a heart.
-- Mohandas K.G.

"O Lord! thou knowest how busy I must be this day:
if I forget thee, do not thou forget me."
-- Sir Jacob Astley-

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