1 Thessalonians 5:17

I believe in praying, praying without ceasing. That’s the thing that
will move mountains and save lives. Prayer is where our faith begins
and ends, as should our days. Prayer is where we lose all control and
give it to God, at least that’s how it’s intended. It is where we find
out strength and courage to go on. Prayer takes faith and believing in
the things unseen to receive something real enough to be seen. It takes
trusting that nothing goes unheard and unrecognized. Praying is where
people are saved and lives are touched. Prayer is where God sees me at
my lowest and brings me to the highest of heights. This past summer I
went to camp like I do every year. It wasn’t much different except me
and a few of our friends weren’t on the same team as the rest of our
friends for church. This was never really a problem for me but it had
been the third year in a row that we weren’t on there team. As our team
began to grow together we started to pray together before and after the
services. Nothing spectacular just casually praying because that’s what
we were instructed to do. Little did we know God was going to reveal
himself in a whole new way to us. We were playing a game with the other
teams and we hadn’t won at all yet, finally the last round came and it
was finally our last chance to win. I pulled our team together and as
we were in a huddle I said, “Let’s pray.” We prayed for our las chance
to win, and then we went into the game, the same way we had, trying our
best, but not expecting anything different than the first times we
played. We found this strength deep within us and blew the other teams
out of the water. Now I realize that this isn’t a story of some
miraculous event happening, but, to me, that was my miracle. That was
my God showing his face to me, just as real as anytime. He spoke to me
saying, “Ask and you shall receive.” Prayer needs to become a huge part
of all of our lives each and every day. I’m believing that God hears my
prayers and is faithful to answer them. I believe that I can accomplish
anything and everything. People get discouraged that God hasn’t given
them what they want, and I believe that is a result of two things;
People don’t take into account that just because we want it doesn’t
mean it’s part of God’s bigger and better plan, and people don’t really
ask and seek to find the answer. Matthew 7:8 “For
everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks,
the door will be opened.” Matthew 21:22 “If you believe, you will
receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” John 16:24 “Until
now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will
receive, and your joy will be complete.” The promises are there, and
they are real, and God has, is, and always will fulfill that.