Amy Carmichael was a missionary in India. She rescued little girls from being temple prostitutes. She had a huge orphanage. One night on a rescue she stepped into an abandoned well and shattered her ankle.

She lived in pain, bedridden the rest of her life. She wrote a book while in her pain to those who are in pain. Page 113 in Rose From Briar says, “For grace to endure and to conquer is never given until the moment in need.”

Paul wanted the Lord to take away his thorn in the flesh. Whatever it was dogged his steps and he was weary and weak. The Lord’s words penetrated Paul’s heart with a revelation that is timeless.

2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “…My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness…” Years ago I gave this illustration in our jail Bible study. Take a long hair and weave it through the links of a chain. The hair is empowered through the strength of the chain. God’s grace is our strength to do all that He has called us to do and be. 

Have you ever asked the Lord to remove a trial? I remember years after I fell into the ravine, about every four month or so I’d say to the Lord, “I can’t take this anymore.” I didn’t understand in those days what I’ve learned through perseverance and character development.

Steve and Ginny Saint had four children ~ three boys and a girl. Steve and Stephenie were really close. She had been gone for the summer on a music tour. The day she came home, family and friends had gathered to welcome her with a party.

She got a headache and said she was going to her room. Headache intensified. As she lay in the hospital, dying from a massive aneurysm, Steve prayed. I wrote his words in the front of my Bible. 

“If I asked God to change things, and He gave in to me, how would my change alter the rest of His plan? I do not want to ask God for what I desperately wanted in the short run, only to find out it had cost us what God wanted for us in the long run.”

The Thessalonians received the gospel. Paul described their actions among those church folks. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 says, “But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.” 

Verse 8 says, “…we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.”

In the 17th century John Donne wrote “No man is an island…” Our lives are seen by believers and unbelievers. What do they see? The ruling council of the Sanhedrin saw Peter and John as having been with Jesus. Acts 4:13.

In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul wrote, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” I started memorizing 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. I noticed something I never thought about before. Paul pleaded with the Lord three time to remove his thorn in the flesh.

Jesus cried out to His Father three time while praying in the garden. Matthew 26:39, 42, 44. Each time He gave up His will to accept the Father’s purpose set in eternity.. 

Hezekiah made a fatal mistake. Remember that the Lord gave him 15 more years. 2 Chronicles 32:25 says, “But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem.”

When he recovered from his sickness, he received an envoy of ambassadors from Babylon. We have to pick up the story in 2 Kings 20:13 says, “…There was nothing in his house or his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.”

The word of the Lord came to him that the day would come when everything would be carried to Babylon ~ nothing shall be left. He answered in pride. Verse 19 says, “…The word of the Lord…is good! Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days?”

We need to consider our actions today in light of their impact on those under our care, and the next generation. I see this so prevalent with the teen mentees I counsel. Hezekiah’s pride kept him from protecting those in his kingdom ~ as well as his children.

There will never be a situation where we cannot trust Him. Our watching in prayer aligns our hearts with the truth of His word. Prayer is a posture of trust. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”

Our heart is our belief center. We are instructed to fill it with God’s word so we won’t sin. Psalm 119:11. Memorized Scripture lays a foundational reservoir to draw from. When we are tempted, the Holy Spirit will recall that word to stop us in our tracks.

Do you listen to your thoughts? When a thought of doubt comes into your mind, beware because it is a fiery dart. Doubt is a seed that the enemy hopes to plant in our hearts. Yet we are equipped with a mighty weapon – the shield of faith. Ephesians 6:16 declares the truth, “…with which you will be able to quench ALL the fiery darts of the wicked one.” 

It is up to us to not allow that seed-thought to penetrate. Don’t dialogue with the thought because that allows it to penetrate.

James tells us that we fall for the enemy’s temptations when we dialogue with the suggestion to sin. James 1:14 says, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.”

My Grandpa Clausnitzer had a lot of lures. He used them when he went fly fishing. He tricked the fish into thinking it was something delectable, but if they took the bait they were caught. The devil is a deceiver – he cannot tell the truth.

2 Timothy 2:25-26 was written about those who were trapped by the devil. It says, “…if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

Remember Samson? Here is the enemy’s talk behind the scenes. Judges 16:5 says, “…Entice him, and find out where his great strength lies…” What is our strength as believers? Our strength comes through praying in faith, taking God at His word because He is Trustworthy.

I’m still working on memorizing Ephesians 6:18. There are so many truths packed in this verse. This phrase ‘being watchful’ took me on a trail. Let’s visit Jesus in the garden. As we read Luke 22:39-46, we see that it involves being watchful in prayer.

In verse 40 Jesus instructed Peter, James, and John, “…Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Then He withdrew from them to pray. When He rose up from prayer, verse 45 says, “…He found them sleeping from sorrow.”

Do you ever take a nap when you are overwhelmed? Verse 46 says, “…Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” Matthew 26:41 gives us a clue about being watchful. It says, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

The Greek for watch means to be on the alert, and vigilant. Peter warned his readers to be sober and vigilant. 1 Peter 5:8. The tempter is always at work, scheming how he can lead us into temptation.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

We are saved by grace. We will live victoriously when we lean hard on grace. 2 Corinthians 9:8 says, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

The above Scripture was written regarding finances, but we can apply it to every aspect of our lives. His abundant grace is bestowed on us when we walk in humility.  James 4:6 says, “…Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

It takes humility to thank the Lord in everything we are going through. Prayer is the posture of humility. We agree with Him that He alone is our Provider. Pride is defeated when we acknowledge that we are absolutely dependent on Him.

Who are you standing in the gap for? James 5:19-20 says, “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back…will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”

There is no viable excuse for not praying. I have read biographies where the son was wayward. Yet the effectual fervent prayers from their mother’s broken hearts were answered in unimaginable ways.

Our mandate is to pray, but the answer is from the Lord. Proverbs 16:1 says, “The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.” Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever…”

Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” As we seek the Lord through prayer, He may put words in our mouths, or He give us parts of Scripture. Prayer is a posture of faith.

Think of the apostle Paul. In his prison letters, he told his readers that he was praying for them. Colossians 1:9 says, “…since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”

Ephesians 1:15-16 says, “…after I heard of your faith…do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.”

James reminded his readers that Elijah had a nature like us. James 5:16 says, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Praying for others is a strategic ambush against the enemy of our soul. In Ezekiel 22:30 the Lord posed a need. It says “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” Sobering.