The Gift of Prayer – Sunday, July 27, 1980
Prayer has been a reoccurring theme on this program. We’ve commented about the continual need for prayer, about the strength and confidence it brings into our lives. We know that prayer is used not only in healing the sick, but in maintaining good health. When patients under stress begin to practice regular prayer, their blood pressure drops, digestion improves, tensions dissolve.
I suppose we sometimes wonder if God actually answers our prayers. Students in a religion class recently discussed the subject. Their conclusion was that God hears all our prayers, even though He may not always respond the way we want Him to, or expect him to. It has been suggested that God may feel real anguish Himself because He desperately wants to help us with all of our difficulties, but realizes the need for us to have growth experiences that come through adversity.
But there is power and comfort in prayer, even if we do not receive the answers we seek. It allows us to verbalize our concerns. Prayer is an intimate conversation with a close friend. In times of stress we often think: “Oh, if only I had someone to talk to.” Our Father-in-heaven can be that someone. He does listen, and He does care. And the opportunity to articulate our problems is in itself a psychological release.
In that sense, at least, prayer is always answered. But sometimes we don’t listen to the more direct answers that come to us. As one religious leader observed, the answers to prayer come quietly. They come when we are relaxed and not under the pressure of appointments. But we tend to complicate our lives in this fast moving world.
How often do we allow a few moments for quiet meditation after we pray instead of rushing back into our daily activities. Imagine what we might hear. . . or feel in those few moments . . . or how our lives might change. . . or the lives or others.
Prayer is a great communication tool, a divine gift given to each of us. It is real. It will work.
Yes, the Lord will communicate with each of us if we will but only give Him the opportunity.
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July 27, 1980
Broadcast Number 2,658