"Take Your Burden To The Lord
Disciples of Jesus are prayer-learners. We learn to pray, in prayer, and by prayer. And like everything to do with with discipleship (learning), there is a constant growth pattern available to us. Nothing happens fast, but the joy we experience is just in knowing something's happening.
Where are you? In terms of prayer learning? It's a highly important question right now; important for you personally, and important to us collectively. For we live in a day when there is a desperate necessity for for spiritual awakening, and that usually requires dramatic preparation, the most significant of which is prayer. Let me suggest several passages of Scripture to read if you're a candidate for growing in prayer. I observe our Lord at prayer, and it moves me (Mark 1:35; 6:46; Luke 5:15,16; 6:12; 9:18; 22:41), and I hear Jesus teach prayer, and it prompts action (Matthew 6:^; Luke 11:1-13; 18:1; Mark 11:22-26).
Why do we get so busy at everything else but prayer? Why do we say so often, 'Well, I've prayed, but what can I do?' Why does flesh find it so painfully necessary to 'sweat it' rather than 'cast it' (Psalm 55:22; I Peter 5:7)? Why don't, and how can, messages like those in the hymns 'What a friend we have in Jesus' and 'Take Your Burden to The Lord and Leave It There' lay permanent hold on our soul? Answer:
1. Begin to pray immeditately when you see trouble arise.
2. Cease from carrying everything yourself; give it to the Lord
3. Seize as many opportunities for prayer as you can.
Some possibilities: (1) This week, don't get in bed without first getting beside it. Review the day and all unresolved matters before Him. (2) Attend prayer meeting; the sharing in prayer will be strength to you and those for whom you pray. (3) This month, set aside one or two hours of your time and be only with the Lord, in the Word, and in prayer. And...
...And you'll become a person who learns that when you have prayed, you have done the most completely adequate thing that can be done. And when you've done that, 'anything else' will b taken care of by Him who 'doeth all things well.'
Ron Mehl"