How to Pray in a Panic
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Your sister-in-law calls to say their little boy is in the hospital, VERY sick. The one you
especially love! Your spouse has some aches and pains that won't go away and has some tests done by the doctor. Next thing you know, there's a call from the doctor - "Not Cancer!" you shriek as you pound the wall with your fists. Maybe it is a call on the prayer chain from church. The most loved, faithful, considerate couple in the whole church have just been in an accident and both killed. Things can get rather tense and stressed out with your kids, or a co-worker, and you know you are at the end of your rope. It's time for a panic prayer, and instant answers. But...you worry about doing it right, don't you? Or that God doesn't like you to be always whining for help on short notice. Guess what. I've got plenty of experience with panic praying. I've even given my heroine in my first novel, Ruthe's Secret Roses a personality that is often shrieking to God for help. You should see what kind of scraps she gets into, and how wonderfully God comes through for her. Here's a sample from the first chapter:
Later that night she's rejoicing--
After a funeral for her friends' mother, Ruthe finds herself in a deep theological discussion with their father, and the priest. Again, she throws up a panic prayer;
Then there is the time she is driving around a run-down, older part of downtown, and visualizing what it must be like to live there. She is just driving through a back alley, when....
So, how can you learn to pray successful panic prayers? 1. Get assurance that you are in right standing with God beforehand. That is, make sure you have repented of your sins, and have humbly accepted that Jesus Christ's death was on your behalf. He in turn has given you His righteousness. You may wear it like a royal cape or gown when you pray, for you are truly in the presence of your Heavenly Father, when you come in Jesus' name and righteousness. God loves you as dearly as His Son, and will treat you like His beloved son or daughter whenever you pray sincerely with all your heart. 2. Discipline yourself for a daily quiet time to read the Bible and pray in a relaxed and companionably way to God. It's in reading the Bible you get to know what He is really like, and what He desires from us. You can comfortably tell Him your concerns and ask questions, and respond to His love. As you do, a wonderful relationship will grow between you and God. You will really begin to think of Him as your best Friend. Keep building that relationship the rest of your life. You're doing it for your sake in the end, although God dearly longs for such fellowship with each of His devoted children. 3. Practice praying, or talking with God in your thoughts throughout the day, whatever you are doing, or where ever you travel. This becomes easier if you have taken care of step 2. Ignore people who tell you that you have to be independent and not bother God with little things like parking spots, etc. Their words are whispers from Satan to drive you away from the Lord. It is true we are responsible for our own decisions, and God does not zap us with miracles while we passively wait for them. But He does understand if we are weak and frightened, and don't know what decisions to make. Those are the little panic moments when we practice calling upon God with Panic Prayers. We've got to form that habit. Because when the bigger crises arrive in our lives, we will not automatically think of calling on God, or know how, or what to say, if we have not build in that habit of talking with Him about every little things that causes us worry or joy or laughter, or tears. Guess what. When those big terrifying, stunning surprise TROUBLES attack us, it is that intimate relationship with God, that will help us to cry out to Him like a toddler lifting his hands and screaming, "Mommy! Mommy!" Yes, just like that, we'll call out, "Help, Lord!" or, "Oh Jesus, quick! I need You!" Instantly, a peace comes over you. You can think. You can decide what to do next. The problem may not disappear instantly, but you will have the strength and wisdom to cope. Basically then, to be able to pray good panic prayers, you need to have a clear grip on the concept that God loves you, and a habit of talking with Him in the ordinary days - about anything and everything. He is always there for us, and has promised never to leave us - even if the earth should appear to break apart and leave it's orbit! God is so great, so good, so grand, so gracious, so glorious - get to know Him, and bask in His glowing love for you. Get bonded to Him like a baby to its caring mother or father. I've walked and talked with the Lord like this since my early teens. It is the most unique and precious relationship I have. For years I've wished I could show others how to do this, and back in my early teens, (actually I was still twelve then), I had an idea for a book, a novel about someone who really lives this way. Then readers who longed for this kind of life could see how it works out in a person's daily life. It took me about 30 years to write this novel, Ruthe's Secret Roses, or as I used to call it for many years, "I Come to the Garden Alone." It probably took that long because God was still maturing and developing my relationship with Him. But it is available now, in both softcover/paperback, and as an e-book which you can download in a matter of minutes.
The e-book editions cost less, but you will need to read it on your computer,
or else print out the whole 467 pages from the PDF format on your home printer.
See this
order page for e-books.
You are on the site, Intimacy a sub-domain of Ruthes-SecretRoses.com |
