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Dani sat in the prayer meeting, almost wishing she hadn\u2019t come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All over the sanctuary, hands were going up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPlease continue to pray for Mike, Joanie, Peter, Chuck, Sue, and Ms. Sally as they battle cancer. And add Sarah Johnston to the list. She got word this week that her lymphoma has returned.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019d appreciate prayer for my son Tony,\u201d a quiet woman in the back said. \u201cI haven\u2019t heard from him in months. We\u2019re afraid he\u2019s using again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A father of four spoke up. \u201cA tree fell through our roof in the storm on Tuesday, and we\u2019re living with relatives until the damage can be repaired. We hope insurance will cover it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For ten minutes, the requests poured in until Dani felt as though she was drowning in a sea of brokenness and pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So many needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So much sickness and sadness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So much spiritual darkness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead of feeling uplifted, as she hoped when she headed to church that evening, Dani felt overwhelmed and discouraged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our world is so broken, <\/em>she thought. Is there any hope?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re a Christian, you\u2019ve probably felt as Dani did. Your prayer list is overflowing with unsaved loved ones, strained relationships, and sick people. Financial concerns, work situations, and hurts too painful for words. Cancer, culture, and conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The list is a mile long and three miles deep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And yet, Jesus invites us, \u201cCome to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest\u201d (Matt. 11:28<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not physical sleep, although He often sends this blessed gift, but spiritual and psychological rest\u2014the kind of deep peace that snuffs out every fear like a fire blanket smothers a kitchen fire. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, let\u2019s consider three truths to help us pray and not lose heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God is the ultimate efficiency expert. He never wastes time, energy, or effort. His plan moves on, unhindered by time or circumstances (Job 42:2<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Wonder of wonders, He chose to incorporate the prayers of His saints into the mechanism that moves His will forward. Through the apostle Paul, God commanded, \u201cPray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints\u201d (Eph. 6:18<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul was confident the prayers of believers would bring about God\u2019s will in his life. He told the church at Philippi, \u201cI know this will lead to my salvation through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ\u201d (Phil.1:19<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n We don\u2019t always see deliverance in this lifetime, but nothing that enters our life does so apart from God\u2019s will. Because of this, we can pray confidently. If God calls us to pray (and He has), He will use our prayers to bring about His good and perfect plan, whatever that looks like. Jesus said, \u201cMy Father is still working\u201d (John 5:17<\/a>). Through prayer, He invites us to partner with Him in His work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I take great comfort in the fact that Jesus knew His children would grow weary in prayer. To prepare us, \u201cHe told [His disciples] a parable on the need for them to pray always and not give up\u201d (Luke 18:1<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n The parable involved an unrighteous judge and a persistent widow. The widow knew the judge was the only one who could help her, so she returned day after day to petition him to act on her behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some days, I feel like that persistent widow. Day after day, month after month, year after year, I ask God for salvation, healing, and restoration for myself and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thankfully, unlike the judge in Jesus\u2019 parable, our God isn\u2019t cruel-hearted or disinterested. He\u2019s the exact opposite. He knows the desires of our hearts, the needs of our lives, and the circumstances that trouble us. He not only knows them, but He cares deeply about them. Jesus expressed this at the conclusion of the parable when He said, \u201cWill not God grant justice to his elect who cry out to him day and night?\u201d (Luke 18:7<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our good God is on the throne, hearing our prayers and answering them in the way that is best for us and those we care about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether God answers our prayers quickly or slowly, Jesus encourages us to keep praying and not lose heart. Our good God is on the throne, hearing our prayers and answering them in the way that is best for us and those we care about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have you ever wondered why God included thousands of promises in the Bible? Was it so we could have something to hold over His head and force Him to act on our behalf? I don\u2019t think so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God made promises to His children to give us hope and to reveal His nature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He promised to provide our needs because He\u2019s a generous God who takes good care of His children (Matt. 6:26<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n He promised never to leave us or forsake us to show us that He\u2019s a faithful God who won\u2019t abandon us in our times of need (Heb. 13:5<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n He promised to guide us through life because He\u2019s a kind Father who wants us to experience the joy of obedience and avoid the pain of foolish actions (Psalm 23:3<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each promise gives us hope, reflects His character, and affirms that He\u2019s a good God, worthy of our trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dani listened as the prayers swirled around her in the church sanctuary. She heard fellow believers calling the names of those who were struggling. Several mentioned God\u2019s promises to guide, provide, and accomplish His good will. She heard tear-choked voices crying out to the God who can do all things and for whom nothing is too hard (Jer. 32:27<\/a>). By the end of the evening, she no longer felt overwhelmed. She felt empowered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God hears and answers prayer. He calls us to pray. We can claim God\u2019s promises and trust His character. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We can pray on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n What a wonderful Launch Week it has been! Thank you to so many of you who prayed, emailed, and ordered copies. Amazon sold out of its stock on the first day! But fear not, if you haven\u2019t yet ordered your copy, they\u2019re restocking. Also, Christian Books and, of course, Our Daily Bread still have LOTS. Sales that happen in the first months after publication REALLY help because Amazon will begin promoting it. Thank you for helping me reach readers who are either struggling in their faith or simply want to be reminded of all the glorious reasons we have to believe in God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our Daily Bread, in partnership with the You Version Bible App, recorded five devotions from Lord, I Believe and included them both in You Version and on the Our Daily Bread app. The reader is FABULOUS. She brought tears to my eyes, and she was reading MY WORDS. But you know what brought the tears? Not my words, but God\u2019s Words contained within the devotions. Oh, I want you to hear it! Please go here to download either the Our Daily Bread app <\/a>or the YouVersion app<\/a> to your smart phone or computer, then search for Lord, I Believe<\/em> under Plans<\/em>. You\u2019ll be glad you did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are two happy pictures from launch day. Lord, I Believe<\/a><\/em> made it to #6 and #7 in two New Release categories on Amazon. Considering that the new Bible Recap Bible was #5 in one of those categories, I\u2019m pretty pleased with this \ud83d\ude42 <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFeeling Overwhelmed? Three Truths to Empower Your Prayers\u201d<\/a> first appeared on ReviveOur Hearts.com and is shared with permission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lori here. Do you ever grow weary, overwhelmed, and discouraged in your prayer life? So many needs! Today\u2019s post shares three powerful truths from God\u2019s word to help us pray and not give up. Dani sat in the prayer meeting, almost wishing she hadn\u2019t come. All over the sanctuary, hands were going up. \u201cPlease continue […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2934,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37,21,1],"tags":[1079,1076,11,1077,23,65,1078],"class_list":["post-2930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-christian-living","category-prayer","category-uncategorized","tag-help-for-discouraged-prayers","tag-lord-i-believe-lori-hatchers-new-book","tag-lori-hatcher","tag-powerful-truths-to-help-you-pray-better","tag-prayer","tag-refresh-blog","tag-what-to-do-when-you-feel-overwhelmed-by-your-prayer-list"],"yoast_head":"\nIs There Any Hope?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Three Truths to Help Us Pray and Not Lose Heart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. God hears and answers prayer.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Jesus knew we\u2019d grow weary, so he encouraged us to pray on.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. We can claim His promises and trust His character.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Update on Lord, I Believe<\/a><\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Fantastic Audio Resource Featuring Lord, I Believe<\/em>!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Two Happy Pictures from Launch Day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019d like to receive Lori\u2019s weekly 5-minute devotions to help you rediscover your passion for God and His Word subscribe HERE<\/a> .<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"