The Power of Prayer, Part 2 by Laura V. Hilton

Laura V. Hilton

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)

Last month, I wrote about my prayer life as a child and how prayer seemed rote and boring. Then I attended a church where the pastor prayed as if he believed there would be an answer. He believed in the power of prayer and God answered his prayers.

I wanted a relationship with God like that. I wanted to pray and know that God listened. And I know He does. But sometimes, it seems as though God doesn’t hear. I see it on my weekly prayer meeting post on my Facebook page. The same requests. Week after week. Month after month. I post the same ones too. Because God has answered that prayer request with a “no” or a “wait.” I’m not sure which. So I keep asking. And asking. And asking.

One of the churches that I attended many years ago said that we only need to ask God once. Any more than that shows lack of faith. God heard the request. He knows. Don’t keep bothering Him. And yes, I suppose that is true. He did hear. He does know. But maybe He wants us to approach Him like children. Persistent children. And keep asking. And asking. Several stories in the Bible show how requests are granted due to persistence.

When we bring our requests to God, we honor Him. We reveal the desires of our hearts, and we admit that only He can meet them. Often, our repeated requests relate to other people. In those instances their hearts must be changed in order for our request to be granted.

We know God is good and He desires to give us good gifts (Matthew 7:7-11 and Luke 11:13). We can continue to seek Him through prayer and to make our requests known to Him (Philippians 4:6). But we must be willing to submit to God's will. We know that whatever we ask in His will is granted (1 John 5:14-15). Sometimes we don’t understand His will or His timing. Sometimes we must be willing to wait for God's yes. Other times we have to accept no for an answer. When we know God and trust Him, we can repeatedly bring Him the same request and rest in the fact that His answer will be best for us. God desires both our persistence and our submission.

I appreciate the prayers for my ongoing prayer request and enjoy being able to bring other requests for my Facebook friends and acquaintances before God. It’s a pleasure to see how God answers prayers. And I don’t want to sin against God by ceasing to pray for you.

Thank you for your continued prayers for me and my family. If you have any requests, please feel free to let us know what they are so that we can pray for you.

Thank you, God, for hearing our prayers. Amen.

About the Author

Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and three of their children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom, and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor. Laura also has two adult children.

Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as a three book Amish series with Whitaker House, The Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Bird House in September 2015.

See below for information on Laura's latest, The Amish Firefighter. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer.

Connect with Laura
http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q
visit her blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/ & http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Laura_V_Hilton or@Laura_V_Hilton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/

Amish Firefighter
by Laura V. Hilton

A Beautiful Young Woman Banished from Home
Abigail Stutzman thought it was bad enough being dropped at the nearest bus station and sent to live several states away with some relatives she'd never heard about, much less met. But now, just a week after her arrival in Jamesport, Missouri, she finds herself at the scene of a barn fire. An intentional barn fire. And all fingers are pointed at her. She's desperate to prove her innocence and protect her reputation, but nobody's making that easy to do. And God certainly doesn't seem willing to help.

A Brave Firefighter with an Agenda of His Own
Sam Miller is in the process of turning over a new leaf. Determined to atone for the follies of his past, he is a volunteer firefighter, an EMT, and a doctor-in-training. When local barn fires escalate, everyone suspects arson. And since the Miller family are among the victims, no one is more determined to see the perpetrators brought to justice than Sam.

A Kindled Flame Neither One Could Have Anticipated
When their paths first cross, at the site of a barn burning, the emotional intensity rivals the warmth of the flames. Soon, they must decide whether this fire is one they should feed or extinguish. And they'll discover that the truth can prove more dangerous than a blazing inferno.

Prayer Time by Marianne Evans

Marianne Evans

With so many things vying for my time, energy and attention these days, I’ve found myself convicted of a very important shortcoming:

A lack of dedicated prayer time.

Why is it when life turns crazy busy, when I struggle with the process of moving matters forward smoothly and participating in valuable commitments, etc., I lose sight of the need to go still, and pray? Lately I realize I need to make sure I spend time communing with God. I need to tell Him about my joys and victories, sorrows and failures, then listen carefully, in that ordained silence, for His loving voice.

We’ve recently moved and are still in the process of settling in our new home. We’ve welcomed our first grand baby into the world – a happy, healthy, completely awesome angel named Lukas! – There’s been so much going on that I’ve focused too hard on ‘getting things done’ or ‘being where I need to be.’ In the chaos I’ve been leaning on my own strength rather than God’s. Oh, believe me, I thank him, I rejoice in his provision throughout my days, but over and over again I keep receiving the message to P-R-A-Y. In fact, my daily devotionals of late have mentioned it repeatedly. This one came my way the other day really thumped me on the head:

Luke 5, 15-16: ‘But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

Wow. Jesus, struggling like we all do with the needs of others. The disciples needed his teaching and example. The sick needed healing. The oppressed and possessed needed freedom from their burdens. Everywhere Jesus went, he came upon people—people he loved beyond human knowing—in need of HIM. How did He discern? How did He regain strength? How He hear His Father’s call and stay true to his purpose?

Prayer.

Jesus purposely found a quiet place to communicate with God. A deserted place, where He could be alone with God. A quiet place where He could not only pray but listen. A place where his heart could be still to absorb God's will. I believe it is in that stillness  we can most clearly hear God's call and receive the grace of discernment.

And so, I’m trying hard to return to the feet of My Father in a more consistent way. I need to bow my head and pray in earnest, not just before going to sleep, or waking in the morning, but also before my fingers touch the keyboard. What God has given me as a writer is a gift. My mission isn’t just about telling a story, it’s about ministry. It’s about sharing a message and revealing God’s love to my readers. It’s about Him, and them, not me.

That’s not something to take lightly. That’s something that requires prayer. Deep, abiding prayer.

CLICK TO TWEET!

Let's discuss the power of Prayer!
Overwhelmed? Go still...and pray.

~~~~~

All she wants for Christmas is her Master’s Degree. All he wants is a one-way plane ticket back to Los Angeles. 

Tiffany Zelling’s mission is to become a crisis therapy counselor using specially trained animals as comfort tools. She's focused on reaching the end of her school career, and nothing will stand in her way—not even a fantasy-world attraction to colleague Mitch Alexander. 

After a year as interim Director of East Coast Operations Mitch's tenure has been a resounding success. Now, he’s set to return to California and lay claim to a well-deserved promotion. He can’t wait to leave behind the cold and snowy darkness of Manhattan, but when corporate bullying and a massive snowfall throws him together with Tiffany Zelling, Mitch wonders if heading west is his best future. 

As two hearts build a pathway to love, goals shift and evolve. But as Christmas joy and hope move through the streets of New York, critical decisions must be made. Can their lives truly meld? Can Christmas at Tiffany’s be God’s answer…for them both?

~~~~~

Marianne Evans is an award-winning author of Christian romance and fiction. Her hope is to spread the faith-affirming message of God’s love through the stories He prompts her to create. Devotion, earned the Bookseller’s Best Award as well as the Heart of Excellence Award. Hearts Communion earned a win for Best Romance from the Christian Small Publisher's Association. Finding Home won the Selah award for Best Novella. Marianne is a lifelong resident of Michigan and an active member of Romance Writers of America, most notably the Greater Detroit Chapter where she served two terms as President.

My Journey to Joy by Joy Avery Melville

Sometimes it's so easy to forget the most powerful resource that we as Christian writers have -- the power of prayer. The following is an account of the wonderful way the Lord provided a way for writer Joy Avery Melville to attend the 2011 ACFW Conference. ~ Angie

One of the most memorable journeys to joy I've experienced was being able to attend the ACFW Conference in St. Louis, MO in September 2011. It all began January 2011 when I started collecting pocket change from my hubby each evening. It wasn’t long before I started saving all the single one-dollar bills that I received in change, and later began raiding my dear hubby’s wallet for the same – with his permission, of course.

By May, I realized I was not going to meet my goal and that, as a new member, I was ineligible for the ACFW scholarship. I felt selfish going to the ACFW Prayer Loop with request for conference fees, so I decided to let it slide and pray on my own. Then in late May, we received a huge financial blow.

I knew I couldn't meet this on my own so I chose fourteen of my most trusted ACFW “pray-ers” and sent off an urgent request. One of those fourteen went behind my computer monitor and began a donation campaign. It wasn’t long before I received a check that amounted to within one penny of what we needed to take care of the immediate financial blow.

But, my prayer warrior wasn’t done. Later, she told me that someone from ACFW had chosen to donate my conference fees. Still later I received another check from my prayer group that paid for the hotel room. Conference fees and room -- done.

I was so happy, but I’d lost some weight and needed new clothes. Rather than bother the group, I prayed secretly for help. Just like that, I got an email asking me for my sizes and measurements. Soon, I received a box filled with beautiful outfits I needed for the conference. Every article of clothing was in a color and style I’d have chosen if I’d shopped for myself. Clothing -- check.

By late July, I was still didn’t have airfare, so I prayed for God’s intervention again. That week, my physical therapist asked about my writing and I told her about the conference. Two weeks passed and she asked if I’d be willing to split gas costs with her and her sister to go to St. Louis and back. Travel plans -- done.

Fifteen people prayed. One person put fingers to keyboard, another followed God’s gentle nudging while someone else asked a simple question and in a few short months I found myself in St Louis at the ACFW 2011 Conference.

God saw the immovable mountains standing in my way. Swollen uncrossable rivers messed with my route, yet He heard those precious prayers of His people. He moved those mountains, piggybacked me across the rivers and blessed my socks off at the conference with a spiritual connection unlike anything I’ve experienced this side of my salvation.


What mountains has God moved in your life?

Joy Avery Melville  live in Schoolcraft, MI with the dear man of her childhood dreams. They have two adult children, both married, and between them have seven grandchildren.

She is a writer of Christian Fiction with a touch of romance. She believes God has called her to write that which will further His Kingdom and glorify Him.

Connect with Joy:

Blog: http://www.journeystojoy.net

Critques By Joy: critiquesbyjoy@journeystojoy.net 

Facebook - Joy Avery Melville