12. Prayer Prevented A Law Suit

I own a copier business in Longview, Texas. We also serve Mt. Pleasant. One day, I got a call from a ministry outreach there who had recently leased a new machine on a 3-year lease. Steve was quite upset on the phone, and wanted his machine picked up as soon as possible. He said, "Your salesman promised that we could cancel this lease at any time, so I'm calling now to get it picked up." I took down his number, and promised to locate his paperwork and call right back.

I discovered he was 6 months into a 3-year lease, and that he was 4 payments behind. In addition, he owed us over $300 in service and supply charges. It seemed obvious to me that he was in a bind financially, but there wasn't much I could do at that moment. We had already been paid by the leasing company, and he owed them the balance of the payments.

I returned his call, armed with this new information, and was greeted by a rather cold response. I apologized that he had the misconception that he could cancel at any time, because we go to great lengths to train our salespeople NOT to say that. However, since I was now aware that he needed out, I promised to make every effort to find someone else to take over the payments for him, thus relieving him of the obligation. He then asked what I was going to do for him "today". I suggested that all I could do "today" was recommend that he catch up on his payments, since he was four payments behind.

His response was curt and rude. He said, "I have already talked to my lawyer about your salesman's promise, and he said that it was definitely a verbal contract. So you will be hearing from my lawyer SOON!"

"O.K.", I said. "But before we hang up and you go see your lawyer ... you're in the ministry, right?" "Right", he said. I asked if we could pray about it together on the phone before we hung up. He said, "... o k ...". I have been in situations before where conflict was involved and he other person offered to pray, and they prayed a very condescending prayer. So I said, "I'll tell you what, I will start the prayer and you can finish it." He agreed.

"Dear God," I prayed, "please bless Steve in his ministry work there in Mt. Pleasant. I feel like he is in some financial trouble right now, and I pray that whatever you want him to learn from this that he will learn QUICKLY, so that his life, his work, and his ministry can be a blessing to you. And if I have done anything wrong or unfairly, I pray that you will put it on my heart to make that right. In Jesus Name, ... ".

There was a short pause, then I heard Steve quietly say, "God, ... I agree with everything he said. In Jesus Name, Amen."

I never heard from Steve again, OR his lawyer. And he paid us for the toner. Prayer worked ... again.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

7. Always Consult God

“When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he and his men marched out to meet them. The Philistines had arrived in the valley of Rephaim and raided it. So David asked God, Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”

1 Chronicles 14:8-10 NLT

God gave David a great victory over Goliath the Philistine. Odds were against him. He was inferior in size, strength, and experience. But David had God. But did this mean that every time the Philistines posed a threat that David automatically assumed a Divine Mandate from God gave him assurance of victory in battle? No. Even though he had just become king, David asked God what to do. So should you.

God wants you to get in the habit of consulting Him in all things.

God always wants His covenant partners to seek His direction.

Satan wants you to think that God already approves of what you want to do.

God wants you to seek His advice in daily decisions of life.

Heaven knows the future, and offers direction that’s in your own best interest.

God literally wants you to get in the habit of consulting Him regularly.

Lord, remind me to always consult You before making the final decision. Don’t let me be deceived into thinking I automatically have Your approval for whatever I want to do. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

6. Pray For Your Enemies

“Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:44-45 NLT

Don’t “cast stones” on your enemies; Jesus wants you to pray for them. This may be one of the hardest things in the world to do, but it’s also probably the most Christ-like think you can do. Try it. When you’ve trained yourself in this invaluable art, you’ll be glad you did. It’s also a very “freeing” experience.

God wants us to act like His true children by praying for our enemies.

Enemies will persecute you in this life if you’re a child of God.

Praying for an enemy reveals that you’re a true child of God.

Heaven is where God is right now.

God literally wants you to pray for people who do you wrong.

Lord, right now I choose to pray for my enemies. You know who they are. Bless them in the way that You know is best for them, and best for the Kingdom. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

5. Pray When You’re Afraid & God Will Help

“I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4 NLT

Fears paralyze us. Prayer frees us. Participate in the latter.

God answers our prayers and frees us from all our fears.

Satan and his forces work to paralyze us through a variety of fears.

Fear can enslave you, but God can deliver you from it.

Prayer to God can literally free you from any fear that enslaves you.

Lord, I confess that fear often paralyzes me. Help me overcome. Give me the peace I seek and help me to rest in the assurance that You are greater than anything I could possibly fear. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

4. Look To God For Help And Freedom

“Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.” Isaiah 55:6 NLT

God is close by, but don’t wait. Seek Him out and you will find Him.

God is near and easily found by those who seek Him; for now.

Satan wants you to neglect seeking the Lord until it’s eternally too late.

God is nearby, but unless you seek Him, that won’t always be the case.

Heaven is God’s abode, but it’s apparently not a far-away place.

God is literally nearby, close to each of us.

Lord, I seek You now, while You’re near and findable. Reveal Yourself to me. Give me eyes to see Your presence right here around me. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

2. Devote Yourself To Prayer

“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Do not forget to pray.” Colossians 4:2-3 NLT

Your eyes do not have to be closed. Pray as you go. Pray continually

God wants us to pray with a thankful heart.

Pray with an alert awareness of the true enemy, Satan.

If you’re not careful, it’s easy to forget to pray.

Heaven deserves our thanks.

God wants you to literally be devoted to prayer.

Lord, remind me to pray; don’t let the cares of this word keep me from this most important task. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.

1. Learn To Pray

“One day he was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, ‘Master, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.’ ” Luke 11:1 The Message

The disciples never asked to learn how to preach, but they recognized how important it was to learn to pray.

God notices your devotion to prayer.

Satan does not want you to learn to pray.

Jesus practiced regular, often extended, prayer.

Prayer is literally one of the most important things you can ever learn.

Lord, help ME to learn to pray. Help me to trust You as I begin learning how to have a continual, daily, personal relationship. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Steve is author of a book featuring an in-depth study of heaven called, "My search for the Real Heaven." It's available @ Amazon.com and on His www.PrayerThoughts.com web site.