This is the Truth Network. Encouraging prayer. God offers an open invitation for His people to talk with Him at any time about anything. On encouraging prayer, Dr. James Banks, author of the best-selling Prayers for Prodigals and many other books on prayer, provides weekly biblical insight to help you learn to love to pray.
And now, here's James. Have you ever had an answer to prayer that convinced you that God was really listening?
Some may doubt that, but for those who believe prayer can be a powerful affirmation of our faith. And it's not just wishful thinking. Uh James? Yeah, that's such a key point, Robbie. A lot of people May think that self-persuasion is a big part of faith and prayer.
Like, you know, when someone starts talking about red cars, and all you see are red cars. They can put answers to prayer in the same category. But the Word of God gives us a great example of how prayer. really can prove that God is there and he is actually listening. And I'm thinking you have a particular story from Scripture in mind, right?
Funny, you should mention it. This morning I was reading Moses' conversation with Pharaoh in Exodus eight, and I want to jump in in the middle of the plague of frogs. Just listen to this. I'm reading from the New Living Translation. Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and begged, plead with the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people.
I will let your people go so they can offer sacrifices to the Lord. You set the time. Moses replied. Tell me when you want me to pray for you, your officials and your people. then you and your houses will be rid of the frogs, they will remain only in the Nile River.
Do it tomorrow. Very fat. And then you you keep on reading in the story. And um y you see the whole uh plague of of flies. And Pharaoh gets to the point where he says, now hurry and pray for me.
And Moses answers, As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the Lord. And tomorrow, the swarms of flies will disappear. And then If you keep on going, there's the thunder and the hail. And Pharaoh says, Please beg the Lord to end this terrifying thunder and hail. And all right, Moses replies, as soon as I leave the city, I will lift my hands and pray to the Lord.
So, you get the picture here. You know, what's going on is that. Moses is saying, look. You know, there is no God like our God, and you need to know this, Pharaoh King of Egypt. That's beautiful.
Like, wow. Yeah. I'd never seen that angle on that scripture before. That's amazing. Yeah, it's interesting because again, you know God intends this as an affirmation.
And you see this in Scripture. For example, when Jesus is at Lazarus' tomb, And he basically says, you know, Lord, you always hear me, but I'm I'm saying this.
So that those around you will know. that you sent me. And he tells him, Lazarus, come out.
So again, you know, there's an answer to prayer. That is intended as an affirmation of faith. And what this tells me is. We need to keep praying. Because when we do, you know, I think often when we talk about prayer, we think about, well, this prayer wasn't answered, or, oh, it took so long.
But what about the times we've seen incredible answers to prayer? Haven't we seen those as well? Oh my goodness. You know, um recently I had one of the members of my congregation really come to me with a giant. Prodigal.
struggle of her son that was addicted. And you might guess that I said, I know this guy who wrote a book called Prayers for Prodigals. Let me get that book to you. And um I think of that whole situation, James, that your testimony through that book. is exactly that idea.
Yeah. Yeah, it it's you know it And I've seen this story in my life in so many places, Robbie, where. You know, I'm struggling, just kind of hanging on, and, you know, trying to pray by faith, but. You know, there are those struggles and yet God shows up, and sometimes I don't realize how fully He's shown up until you know, it's really happened and then I see it. And You know, that's the beautiful thing about our God.
He is real, he is there, and we need to seek his face. And that's why Jesus told us: keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking. Because as we do, our own faith is affirmed and others Will also see that we have a God who answers prayer. This is one of the reasons it's so important for us to pray. Oh, it's so beautiful.
You know, kind of amazing, you know, but I have that something like that happens so often. And and that just convicts me that I need to talk about it more. Like You know, just this morning, I was. Going to take a nap. And when I laid my head on the pillow, I said, God, I really need something from you while I'm asleep.
You know, don't let's just be a needless nap. Either give me a great dream or give me something. Right? And And so, right before I woke up, this strong voice comes to me and says, Robbie, read Psalm 9. Just as clear as a bell.
I mean, it was just like. And so I get up and obviously jump open to to Psalm nine.
Well, you may know my word of the year is wholehearted. And the very first line of the ninth Psalm. Speaks of being wholehearted.
Now, you can't tell me. I mean, it's just for me, but now it gets to be for everybody that's listening and hearing that knows me. Like, man, like, immediately, what a boost. Like, oh, you really did. You answered my prayer.
Plus, I heard you. Yeah, you know, one of my favorite verses is from James. Where he says, you do not have because you do not ask. And the more we ask, the more we will see. And that's the beauty of it.
That's why God has given us this gift, and we need to practice it and keep coming back to Him. I could not agree more, but boy, what a conviction to share those answers, especially. You know, when people come to you with something that, like you just said to me a little while ago, thank you for praying for my need, you know? Wow, God answered a prayer, you know, and make much of the fact. That these things are happening.
In fact, I have a dear friend that keeps them all on a whiteboard. all his prayer requests for his business and God's answers. Mm-hmm.
Well, y you know, again, it just really jumped out at me when when uh Moses, you know, when Pharaoh's begging for the frogs to go away, and Moses just says, You've set the time. You know, I mean, look at the confidence in God. And, you know, tell me when you want me to pray. Make it happen.
Well, we'd better talk about the time to pray. It's right now.
So let me pray. Lord, thank you for this insight. And thank you for the many answers to prayers through his book, Prayers for Prodigals. Lord, we're so grateful for this and pray it would touch many hearts to make much of your answers and the fact that you really are there. user's name I create.
Amen. You can hear more from Pastor James by visiting his website, jamesbanks.org, or by visiting Peace Church in Durham, North Carolina. May God bless you and encourage you as you pray. Yeah.
