What to pray

What are you praying for today? If you're like me it probably goes something like this, "Lord, please be with my family and strengthen us and please take away my pain."
But...maybe, just maybe, God desires that YOU and I have THIS pain. That we have this Cancer, this death in the family, this mystery illness. Maybe, just maybe He is working IN your pain. Maybe He wants to draw YOU to Himself and this is the way He knows how to get a hold of you.
There is much suffering happening in our world right now and although we are two thousand+ years removed from biblical times, our issues are no different than those who prayed and sought after the Lord in the Bible. But what if we changed the way we pray? What if we sought after being holy, having wisdom, loving what God loves and WHO He loves like those in the early church did? What if we started THANKING Him for our pain. This pain you and I have is a STAGE for Christ to shine on.
When we praise Him during our pain all glory goes to Him! The world has NO hope without Him, let's show them what a GREAT GOD we SERVE!
I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren (Luke 22:32)
I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers . . . that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints (Ephesians 1:16,18)
Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest (Matthew 9:38)
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him (James 1:5)
Don't waste your pain

Beautifully written!

This prayer from Valley of Visions book really ministered to my heart. May it do so as well for yours!


My Father,

Enlarge my heart, warm my affections,
open my lips,
supply words that proclaim ‘Love Lustres at Calvary.’
There grace removes my burdens
and heaps them on thy Son,
made a transgressor, a curse, and sin for me;
There the sword of thy justice smote the man,
thy fellow;
There thy infinite attributes were magnified,
and infinite atonement was made;
There infinite punishment was due,
and infinite punishment was endured.

Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy,
cast off that I might be brought in,
trodden down as an enemy
that I might be welcomed as a friend,
surrendered to hell’s worst
that I might attain heaven’s best,
stripped that I might be clothed,
wounded that I might be healed,
athirst that I might drink,
tormented that I might be comforted,
made a shame that I might inherit glory,
entered darkness that I might have eternal light.

My Savior wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes,
groaned that I might have endless song,
endured all pain that I might have unfading health,
bore a thorny crown that I might have a glory-diadem,
bowed his head that I might uplift mine,
experienced reproach that I might receive welcome,
closed his eyes in death that I might gaze on unclothed brightness,
expired that I might forever live.

O Father, who spared not thine own Son
that thou mightest spare me,
All this transfer thy love designed and accomplished;
Help me to adore thee by lips and life.
O that my every breath might be ecstatic praise,
my every step buoyant with delight,
as I see my enemies crushed,
Satan baffled, defeated, destroyed,
sin buried in the ocean of reconciling blood,
hell’s gates closed, heaven’s portal open.
Go forth, O conquering God, and show me
the cross, mighty to subdue, comfort and save.

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