Firstly, I must say that this blog could be much longer, but I will try to condense it as much as possible, for time’s sake. Secondly, I am only choosing to share about two instances, but I have many more I could share, from first-hand experience. Regardless, I hope this encourages you to pray, pray more, and continue to pray without ceasing.
Several years ago, I began praying for my friend. Things were not going well for him and he was not showing the effort that was needed to improve his situation. He was addicted to narcotics and had overdosed on more than a few occasions. He was revived and revived again. He got better, then he got worse. He became homeless and he went to prison. He would do well for a while and then he would become sick again. He would build it back up and then tear it down again. All the while, we remained friends. I would encourage him and support him however I could, but it was never enough to do what he needed to do for himself.
At times, I became angry because I wanted my friend back. I missed his personality and I missed his friendship, but more than anything—I wanted him to live a good life and be there for his family. Oftentimes, the only thing I could do was pray and have faith that God was hearing my prayers. All of the things that were out of my control were exactly the things I prayed about. When I got tired and angry, I prayed for strength and patience. When I didn’t hear from him, I prayed that God would bring him back into my life. Somehow, I always found the patience (even if I lost it for a brief moment or two) and he always came back around. He never stopped calling and I never stopped trying.
Last year, I was going through a difficult time after losing my mom, and one of the most encouraging people in my life was this same friend. He has been doing really, really well for a while now. Not only doing well for himself, but he is encouraging others and lifting them up. He has changed his life and he was able to be there for me in a time that I needed him most. The story isn’t over and he and I both know the work must continue, but the progress in his life and his ability to support me in such a tough time is nothing short of a miracle. It is something that only God can do. He knows this and I know it too.
The second story is much shorter, but very powerful: I met my other friend about two and a half years ago. We got along well and began working together to improve his circumstances—once again, things were not going well for him and he was not doing the things he needed to do to improve his situation. He didn’t understand why things kept happening and I didn’t feel like he understood the importance of his role here on earth, so I began praying for him. I began praying a specific prayer: “God, please speak directly to _______, and put a call on his life.” I began saying this prayer regularly and have continued to say the same prayer regularly, ever since that day.
Last week, he texted me earlier in the morning: “I had the craziest dream. I woke up at 4 a.m. because I heard my name out loud, but nobody was there and there was nothing on my phone. It was the craziest thing. It felt like a call to purpose.” I immediately knew what had happened and I told him what I had been praying for the last two years. We both felt the chills.
It is important to pray about who we meet, what we do, and what we need God’s help with. He is the reason we are here and he is behind us when we align ourselves with his calling on our life. If we ask for his help, I promise you: He will respond. But, if you don’t talk to him through prayer and if you give up on praying because you don’t get your answer quickly—you will surely not experience the fullness of God. So, I want to encourage you to pray, pray more, and to pray without ceasing. He hears us.
Have a great week,
Neal
WORKOUT OF THE WEEK
From Juan Martinez, Owner/Trainer at WTS:
As a strength and conditioning coach, I believe in the power of movement for physical health and mental well-being. Regular strength training can improve mood, reduce anxiety, and help manage stress.
Workout: Energy Boost – High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
Focus: Boost your energy with quick bursts of high-intensity work.
- Jumping Jacks – 30 seconds
- Burpees – 30 seconds
- Squat to Press – 30 seconds
- Mountain Climbers – 30 seconds
- Rest 60 seconds, repeat for 4-6 rounds
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