How to Pray During Hard Times

This is Amy Thomas from the masculine journey podcast where we discover what it means to be a wholehearted man your chosen Truth Network podcast is starting in just seconds. Enjoy it, share it, but most of all, thank you for listening and for choosing The Truth Podcast Network.

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 prayer for product and many other books on prayer provides weekly biblical insight help you learn to love and now James today on encouraging prayer we can talk about how to pray during hard times. I James, what would give anyone the idea of the times might be difficult right now. I know I know we always worked so Robbie, but you know is this war going on in Europe and an insulation is hitting families hard every day and give it a friend of mine was at the gas station. He looks over and there's man pumping gas right beside him and he is crying is filling up his car because the cost is so high and there is a baby formula shortage and in several states, and an rising crime rate and seems like the value of life is is being questioned in many places, unlike ever before. And when we times like this. We can either gloss over them and kind of ignore them or we can look at them head-on, and it would that's where prayer comes in business is so important for us to do so, tell me what you mean by facing challenges head-on will what we don't want to do is become so focused on our problems that we forget about the hope that we have because we run to that hope with our problems will find solutions that we never thought that serve through God's hope in all things exactly in and that's really where we want to go today. We can ignore the problems around us or wish them away, but we can find the best way to maneuver when we are in the middle of them and that is through going to God in prayer. Psalm 46 tells us God is our refuge and strength, and ever present help in trouble. So we need to run to him and that means that no matter what is going on in our lives. We have to keep keep his kingdom first in our hearts and in their minds. So let's talk about what that means because some might ask, they might think of that that's an impractical approach in a simply nice words yeah yeah I know what it really means to live for God in everything we do.

It's not just words because when we do that when we really live for him.

We find ourselves praying a lot letting them into our everyday circumstances where he already is. To begin with and yet when we do that and and were aware of him and open to him. His strength can flow into us his thoughts can come into our mind and in ways that wouldn't happen if were just going our own way.

You know the Fleetwood Mac.

This is not true that will begin our best ideas from God, and they seem to come so effortlessly.

When were in prayer like that, like where did that come from yeah right right when you're in the middle of a problem and you give it to God and ask for his help. In it he has ways of planting suggestions and solutions in our minds we never thought of it. They may not come instantaneously but sometimes they do not only that we were in the middle of hard times we need to understand that he is Lord over every situation and if I read my Bible right hard times won't last forever. One day it will all be behind us and we will be with the king of kings forever in the wonder of all that he is in the beauty of his eternal kingdom and we've got to keep our hearts and our minds on him on that now. I really do because it's not careful, careful hearts can get pulled in the political stuff, we can start to put our hope in people rather than God in the Bible. I read that that never ends well. That is so true. But then the question becomes how do you get away from that, you know, the truth is, it's hard to run from politics is all around us just just heard on the news, which is supposedly objective you'll find their motives between everything that is said or everything not said because it's done by people and I think the best thing you can do when you hear the news is to learn how to pray. It takes time and a little practice, but every time you hear something that upset you were concerned you every time you hear about a real need. When evil in the world.

Pray about it right then and that as soon as it's reported on an you know if there something positive that your hearing pray for that as well so yeah turning the news and the prayers really great way to let God then it also helps us keep our motives right when we think about these things when things are said that no politicians seem to be crazy to us because his word tells us to pray for those in authority that's exactly right Robbie and we can also add to this that when there are things that are are not reported on the lack of mention that the glaring thing to you list set up in prayer as well that makes sense because God knows all of it right.

So James, what were talking about here is really following Peter's advice cast all your cares upon him because he cares for. That's right, no need to small or too large for God and he really wants us to bring them to him. So what we need to do is turn our worries and to prayer, Trying worries in the prayer that would help a lot. Especially when you realize how many people are suffering from anxiety and how much it matters for us to receive the peace that only Jesus can give. Think of what he said when he promised us. I do not give the world gifts you know he can give us a piece of the world cannot take away because he is our peace, and that's really the point of all of this focus on the kingdom of God, praying the news cast your cares if it's all about one thing I like that. What's that what will looking forward to him because as we do that we live with the hope of the world can never take away because of that we can find ourselves blessed. No matter what our circumstances because we have him to look forward to and I is not seen, nor ear heard, no mind to see what God is prepared for those who love him exactly what would you pray that we can keep our focus right keep our hearts where they need to be in all of this absolutely Jesus Lord, thank you so much that we can turn to you with so many unbelievable circumstances that we seem to face every day. Lord help us to just immediately have that reaction weathers listening to the news or hearing something from someone that we would turn to you first and and help us set our minds and hearts on you.

Yes, this is hear more from Pastor James by visiting the website. James bank.org or by visiting these church in Durham, North Carolina. May God bless you and encourage you. Pray this is the Truth Network