Unchained Prayer

It's always remarkable to me how God showcases prayer as a means for His ends. Hezekiah serves as an example. Confronted by a severe threat from the Assyrian army, we're told Hezekiah prayed to the Lord (Is. 37:15). It's worth checking out what he prays. A few verses later we find the words coming from the mouth of the Lord, "because you have prayed..." In the next chapter in an entirely different matter, our attention is again drawn to Hezekiah praying (Is. 38:2). Likewise, a few verses later the Lord declares: "I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears." What I find so remarkable is not just God emphasizing prayer for the accomplishment of His purposes, but how it is so startling to me each time. The only answer has to be the forgetfulness of my unbelief. Instead of being tethered to the theology and experiential example inscripturated in God's Word, I fear my prayer is chained to unbelief. As I result, I don't pray with urgency. I don't pray with expectation. I don't pray.

Just today I read a note a pastor friend passed along to me. I've pasted it below with the names deleted. It serves as a vivid reminder of the difference between prayer tethered to God's Word and prayer chained to unbelief. May God help me and all "believers" in our unbelief.

God is working in _______'s family. Fear and discouragement are a normal and accepted part of peoples' lives in our area and the spiritual oppression is quite shocking. Recently, we have been receiving requests for prayer among _______'s extended family along these lines. The requests are coming as a result of God answering our prayers openly and releasing people from some extreme symptoms. The first time we prayed for a cousin of his, the guy was healed that day! He had been acting like a lunatic with extremely erratic behavior and since our prayer for him, he has had complete relief! _______'s family (aunt's & uncles) have since been calling him for prayer! Instead of the persecution that I feared was imminent, the opposite is actually happening. The oppression that these people have been living under is too much to bear and the (other religions') options have provided no deliverance or relief. Christ has come that they might be released from this bondage and live in abundance and overflowing joy & peace. Recently, ___________and I prayed for another cousin of his who is also having extreme emotional and spiritual difficulties, and the next morning they contacted __________to tell him about the amazing improvement overnight. Prayer is the tool that God is using to reveal His goodness. People are seeing the clear difference between ritualistic religion that offers no hope, and the power of God through Jesus to deliver them. __________is teaching his household (3 nieces, a nephew, 2 daughters, a wife and his mom) all the lessons and stories he is daily learning from the Bible - that's awesome! Keep praying that God would exponentially increase the knowledge of Christ in this community and that ____________would grow daily. It is important to keep in mind that we have been working for over 4 years and are beginning to see God work in this way. We are vessels for His blessing, but He chooses the time and manner in which He will carry out His will.