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Apples of Gold
Radio Script for August 14, 2009
“How Is Your Prayer Life?”
Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.
Today I want to inspire you to pray – to pray more often, to pray with more fervency, and to pray with more faith.
The Bible is full of praying people. Abraham prayed, and so did Moses and Elisha. Peter prayed, and Paul, and even Jesus. Especially Jesus.
Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed (Luke 5:16), and He taught others to do the same. He said, “…when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6)
Mark 1:35 speaks of Jesus praying very early in morning, but prayer can be done anytime. Acts 3:1 says Peter and John went to pray at three in the afternoon. While in prison, Paul and Silas prayed at about midnight.
We know that Daniel prayed three times a day. The book of Acts says the early church “joined together constantly in prayer.” It says they “devoted themselves” to prayer, and we are to do the same (Colossians 4:2). We are told to be “faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12) and to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). And Jesus taught in Luke 18 that we should “always pray and not give up.”
In fact, that’s one of the keys to answered prayer – not giving up.
First Chronicles 5:20 says that God “answered their prayers, because they trusted in Him.”
Jesus said, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Matthew 21:22)
He said, “…I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24)
James 5:15 speaks of “the prayer offered in faith…” and verse 16 says, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
The Lord “hears the prayer of the righteous” (Proverbs 15:29) and “His ears are attentive to their prayer…” (1 Peter 3:12). And First John 5 says that if He hears us, then we know that we have whatever we ask of Him.
Do we have to get in a certain position when we pray?
Well Moses spread out his hands when he prayed. (Exodus 9:29)
Daniel got down on his knees, and so did Peter. (Daniel 6:10, Acts 9:40)
Acts 21:5 says all the disciples and their wives and children knelt down on the beach and prayed.
Solomon knelt with his hands spread out toward heaven. (1 Kings 8:54)
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed with his face to the ground. (Matthew 26:39)
In John 17 He prayed with his face turned toward heaven.
Paul wrote to Timothy that he wanted “men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer…” (1 Timothy 2:8) And he wrote to the Corinthians that men should not pray with their head covered, and that women should not pray with their head uncovered. (1 Corinthians 11)
James said that when we draw near to God, He draws near to us. Deuteronomy 4:7 says, “…the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to Him.”
Hannah prayed in her heart, saying nothing out loud. (1 Samuel 1:13)
The early church “raised their voices together in prayer to God.” (Acts 4:24)
But the big question is, does praying do any good?
Well, the servant prayed that he would find a wife for Isaac, and even before he finished praying, here came Rebekah. (Genesis 24)
Isaac prayed for his barren wife, and Genesis 25 says, “The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.”
Elijah prayed that it would not rain, and it didn’t. Then he prayed again, and it rained. (James 5)
After having Samuel, Hannah said, “I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him.” (1 Samuel 1:27)
The Lord heard Hezekiah’s prayer and added fifteen years to his life. (Isaiah 38:5)
The Lord answered Manasseh’s prayer and restored his kingdom. (2 Chronicles 33:13)
Jonah prayed from the belly of the fish and his life was spared. (Jonah 2)
Zechariah prayed for his barren wife, and John the Baptist was born. (Luke 1)
Peter and John prayed for people to receive the Holy Spirit, and they did. (Acts 8)
Peter prayed for Tabitha who was dead, and she came back to life. (Acts 9:40)
The church prayed for Peter, and he was released from prison. (Acts 12)
And I could go on and on. The Bible is full of answered prayer, and so is church history.
Yes, as it says in the old English, prayer “availeth much.”
So be inspired today! God answers prayer, and He rewards those who pray.
So if your prayer life is lacking, if your fire has cooled and you’ve lost your spiritual edge – then be inspired to set aside some time, to get alone with God, and pray.
Comments?
E-mail me: dougapple@wave94.com.
May God bless you today! With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)
Why “The Arrow’s Tip”? Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold. Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.” I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.
Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL 32315
(850) 926-8000
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