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. Today's episode of Encouraging Prayer, I think you're going to find really encouraging. I know I'm encouraged. It's affirmations, James. And so, where are we going?
All right.
Well, yesterday I was talking to the young woman and I noticed that uh she she had uh some artwork on her arms. And um I found out that it's a great conversation starter to just say, Tell me about your ink, or just say, Nice ink. And so, anyhow, she. She pointed to the one that said, Greater is he who is in me. And um She said, Dove.
I put that on there. to Remind me. not to cut myself. Wow. And underneath that I could see where there were scars where she had tried to take her life before.
And then on her other wrist, she had the same thing, and it was simply a greater. symbol and said, He is greater. than me. And I thought You know what? That's really a prayer.
Written on her arms. and how we need to do this. You know, we need to affirm what we believe.
So many times as we go through the day, not only in those, you know. Yeah. places that are so dramatic, but just in the in the smallest things. And so that's what I want to talk about today. You know, praying the word of God.
Because of course that's John 4, 4, right? 1 John 4, 4. Greater is he who is in me than he who is in the world. And um There's so much of Scripture that we can affirm and we need to do this. And it it doesn't necessarily have to be scripture.
Uh this morning as I was starting out, I always have a prayer which is, Lord, what do you want your servant to do today? But I thought, you know, maybe sometimes I'm a little bit too quick with that. And I need to stop for a moment and I need to affirm, Lord, I am your servant. Yeah. I am your servant.
And then I also like David's, the son of your maidservant, because my mother was such a. a devout believer. But Lord, I am your servant, and you are. over everything, and I am yours.
So that's where we're going. Oh, I absolutely love that. And the son of your maidservant is rich beyond belief because Ruth. Used that term twice when she approached Boaz. Hannah used that term three times in her prayer.
And of course, all those are closely related to David, but beautifully, you know, Mary, when she was. Visited by Gabriel, that's what she said. Behold, your maidservant, right? And It's very similar to your friend with the ink, right? Um Just putting it out there and enthroning God.
And, you know, almost like as I heard your story, I was just hearing her say, you know, turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face, right? Um it's beautiful. Yeah, it is beautiful. And this is also using the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
And you think about how Jesus affirmed God's presence and Lordship over everything every time Satan tried to tempt him. And you can think of a great verse like Colossians 1.13. He's rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the sun. whom he loves. Or, you know, 1 John 3.1, see what great love the Father has lavished on us, has lavished on me, you know, make it in the first person, that I shall be called.
A child of God. And then, of course, Philippians 4.13 is one that we can never leave out. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Another story. The other day, I made a mistake.
I had picked up. A washer and a dryer at Costco, and I was able to get them both in the box in the back of my. SUV. And that took some measuring and some pushing, but I got it, you know. But what a time The actuator went out on the back lock.
And so once I got it in there, I couldn't open the back door. and the key wasn't working because the actuator was off. And so I realized I have got to crawl over the top of that space, which is about maybe eight inches or so. to to be able to go back and unlock the door. And I'm dreading that because, you know, as you know, I was caught in a cave when I was a kid, and I, you know, closed in places can be tough.
And uh so the night before I'm thinking about that and th you know, the the enemy starts to bring in anxiety. And then I start start to quote Psalm 408, I will lie down. and sleep in peace. for you alone, Lord. Meet me dwell in safety.
And so I'm not going to let it bother me. And you literally feel. You know, the the the attack being parried, it just just it it bounces off, it goes in another place. And The funny thing was, Robbie, the next morning I went out. Popped it again.
And sure enough, Mm-hmm. That time it worked and the door opened and I was able to get to both machines. And Then I started saying, Your mercies are new every morning. Because I was really fretting it. You know?
And this is where, again, praying the word of God, oh, it gives rest to our souls. I just want to encourage our listeners to do it. Oh, absolutely. And I can tell you that that girl, that just left an impression. You know, I personally have been thinking all week about Psalms 22, where the third verse says, but you are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.
And the idea of him being enthroned is actually in your heart. And so, as you're praising him for your lock actuator, right? You're enthroning him and In a really cool way, it's a joint. effort that of being together with him and it's communion. Yeah.
And that led to other things as well. As I started thinking about his mercy that was new for me that morning, I started praying his mercy for my wife and his mercy for my children, you know, and for others.
Well, this be a good time to pray.
Well, let's do it. Father, we do pray your mercy for each of us, for our listeners. Lord, that you would help us to affirm, oh, you are so much greater than He who is in the world. You are greater than anything we face. And so, Lord, we just want to affirm you have lavished your love on us, and we are yours, and we praise you for it.
In Jesus' name. I'm there. 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.
