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.
Well, today on encouraging prayer, we hope to be encouraged because we're going to be talking about praying. in and out of season sort of an in-depth look of at it right james Yeah, I'm so glad we're talking about this, Robbie, because it Is one of those things where if you have spent time with the Lord in prayer, and you and I were just talking about this a moment ago, you know, when you've tasted and you've seen that the Lord is good. Um then Some y you always want that. When you pray, right? Yeah, how can I get back there, right?
Yeah, how can I get back there is the question that we face, but you know, obviously, um. Mm-hmm. Maybe there's a reason why the Lord doesn't want us always going back. Those are special. Moments.
And the question is: how do we live through all of that? How do we pray? Through all of that. In other words, you know, just like scripture says, preach the word in season and out of season when things are going well, when they're not, you know, when you see fruit and when you don't, likewise, I think we're to pray that way. And what really got me thinking about this was a passage in 2 Chronicles.
uh chapter thirty two, verse thirty one, where Hezekiah Who was a good king? I mean, he was a great king.
Okay. Um He ends up making some mistakes. And right before those mistakes happen, it says God withdrew from Hezekiah. To test what was in his heart. And You know, I think that sometimes Maybe not to test us, yes, sometimes to test us, but also sometimes just to strengthen us.
so that we get up and go farther when we pray. God takes a step back so that we'll take a step forward. Wow, that's beautiful. Yeah.
Well, I think about a hymn that William Cooper wrote that says, Sometimes a light surprises the Christian when he sings. It is the Lord who rises. with healing in his wings. And it's like we know those moments where the Lord steps close. And you know, it's beautiful.
You know, we're praising him and then, ah, we sense that we're in his presence. But what are we to do when we don't sense his presence?
Well, first we examine our hearts, right, to make sure that we're not cherishing sin. in our hearts. But then secondly, I think We examine ourselves. to recognize Who we are. You know, we have this treasure in jars of clay, scripture tells us.
And that means that sometimes. You know, we may sense the Lord's presence and we may not. That's just how we're wired. Our emotions on a given day, the things that are happening to us. Um you know, and then you add to that the this Sort of dance, if you will, where sometimes the Lord takes a step back.
It's not that He isn't there. He's he's always there. But you throw all of this into the mix. And um It's in and out of season. Yeah, which is a common theme in the whole Bible of they call it running and returning.
Right. Yeah.
Think about Lamentations 3:44, where Jeremiah is saying, You've hidden yourself in a cloud.
so that no prayer can reach you. It's kind of an ironic statement because Actually, that prayer did reach God. He had it recorded in His Word, right?
So that we could all read it. Um and Yes, Jeremiah is writing about the sinfulness of the nation, and that is what happened in that context. But You know, we sometimes feel like, oh, God's not hearing my prayers, but just because we don't feel it doesn't mean that he isn't hearing them. It doesn't mean that he isn't right there. Yeah, that's beautiful.
And again, it's It's the point of Keeping on. Right. That my Experience tells me that if I s stay at it, We can begin to get there. Um Exactly. And sometimes You know, it may take hours, honestly.
Well, this is what brings us into a more mature faith. You know, just as Jesus was saying in the Sermon on the Mount, You know, keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking. That's the meaning of those words in ask, seek, knock. And you know that realization builds us, makes us stronger. I think that's a significant thing.
Spiritually. God wants that from us so that we can then help others who are struggling themselves. It's actually a beautiful thing.
So, you know, if you're not feeling it, Maybe God's actually making you stronger. Hang on to that, you know? And hang on to that and hang on to the prayer. Um be encouraged that You know, God is there and at work in what you're doing. And Wow, it won't be terribly long because there will be the point that you taste and see again and then it'll be, oh, it was so worth hanging in there, right?
Right. That's exactly right. Probably be a good time to pray now, wouldn't it?
Well said.
So, Lord, I thank you so much for this message as I certainly have lived it and live it regularly. What an encouragement it is to keep on and to grow our faith and to mature us. Lord, you know exactly what we need, and so you're working at it. And so, Lord, show us the way. Um what our appetites for more?
That we would be able to taste and see how amazing you are. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. 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.
