This is the second three points of one of my short e-books. If you haven’t read them yet, you can read the introduction and Part 1 (“The trials will come,” “There will be an end,” “Act, don’t react).

Photo by Stephen Orsillo | PhotoXpress.com

Prepare in prayer

Prayer is the greatest weapon we have. It is also the least used weapon. It is so forsaken that it has started to rust in many lives.

There are many verses in the Bible that speak about the power that prayer has:

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Matthew 21:22)

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41)

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)

When we, by faith, go to God in prayer, it takes our problem and lays it at God’s feet. God has promised to take care of us if we are faithful to follow Him.

Re-enforce by reading

This does not mean to grab the newest Reader’s Digest or magazine in the impulse aisle in the store (you know, by the check-out lines where you impulsively decide you need something). Read the Bible. Faithfully.

The Bible is the ultimate source of wisdom for us. It is also God’s love letter to us. God instructs us, leads us, guides us, speaks to us, and even whips us.

Bible reading goes hand-in-glove with prayer. One without the other is much less effective. If you were hanging from a cliff, your chance of survival would be greatly increased if you were using both hands instead of just one.

Joshua 1:8 is the only verse in the Bible to use the word “success.” That word is used as a result of one thing – meditating on God’s Word. There are other verses that also speak about the role that Scripture should have in our lives:

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Joshua 1:8)

But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (Psalms 1:2)

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Fuel by fellowship

Hebrews 10:25 tells us to attend church faithfully. It says not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Nowadays, it has become popular to stay home: either to rest and relax or to worship at home or to watch/listen to church on TV, radio, or internet.

God’s plan was, and still is, for us to go to church.

Part of this is for worship. Yes, you can worship on your own, and you should. God has ordained for His people to come together to worship. Psalm 24:3 says, “O magnify the Lord with me; and let us exalt his name together.”

Church is also for fellowship. It’s a chance for believers to help encourage and uplift one another. There is an opportunity for accountability with each other also.

When it comes to trials, church is one of the best places to be. First of all, God will bless your faithfulness.

Secondly, you’re not the first to go through that trial. Someone at church may have gone through something similar and might be able to be an encouragement for you – or vice-versa.

Thirdly, you can have the prayer support of others. It’s one thing to go to God for yourself – it’s another thing to go to God for someone else.

And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. (Mark 2:1-5)

Stay tuned for the other 4 points coming this week.

Please leave your comments below and share this with your social circles.