"Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears: I will add fifteen years to your life". Isaiah 38:5

There are many needs in this world today that we ought to pray for and trust God to hear us and respond to what we have prayed for. Many times we pray with our lips and not with the heart and are surprised when nothing changes. When our heart is not in our prayers then it can simply be ‘vain repetition’ and meaningless words that can be repulsive to God. Conversely, there is no point in being driven to tears over things that happen in our life or to others and not bringing them to God in prayer. It is not the tears that are significant, but tears can be a sign that a person is earnest in his prayers. As James 5:16 puts it, ‘The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.’ When something touches you deeply and burdens your heart, then bring it to God in prayer. God will see your heart, hear your prayer, feel your distress and meet your need. Let’s put our heart into our prayers.

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"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12

Recently in Australia we have had memorial services throughout the country to remember past wars and battles won or lost. In comparison, our battles as Christians are not physical, nor of this world, but can be as painful and the consequences even more damaging. Our problem is that the enemy is not obvious and visible and therefore we need God-given spiritual protection, such as that described in Ephesians 6:14-18.

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"A thousand shall flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, like a signal on a hill. Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him." Isaiah 30:17-18

The nature of God is never to force Himself on us or demand that we love Him. He will, however, patiently wait while we try all that the world has to offer. He may take us through some tough times as a result and we may be found ‘up a flag pole’ with nowhere else to go. Why are we so slow to understand how much He loves us and is prepared shower his grace on us? It seems inconceivable that the God of all creation should be waiting for us so He can do something good in our lives!

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