During the "dark nights of the soul" that Thomas experienced after his diagnosis, he began taking long walks in the country. One day, a sort of spiritual serendipity led him to a little church which had been built in 1868 by Czech settlers, but abandoned for the last 100 years.
As reported on KARE 11 News, "the foundation [of the church] was crumbling, the paint peeling, but it was there on the church steps, a man crumbling himself came to pray." Subsequently, Thomas contacted the foundation responsible for the upkeep of the church cemetery and told them he wanted to repair the church. The foundation called Thomas' offer "a godsend."
Today, as Thomas works, he also prays inside the church. "There's been a lot of tears shed on these [church] steps, and they've been tears of joy, tears of pain, but tears of blessings too." Miraculously, as the tiny church's exterior was restored, it seemed Greg's body was being restored as well.
"The old church is newly clothed in white," narrates KARE 11 News' Boyd Huppert in a video report, "And Greg's cancer is now in remission." "It's what He's done for me," Greg explains, referring to the Lord Jesus, "and this is my way of saying thank you." (Boyd Huppert - Kare 11 News, Nov 19, 2012, Teresa Neumann)
Prayer was instituted by God way back in the book of Genesis (Genesis 4:26). Way back then people learned they could pray and call on God and that He would answer! Isn't it wonderful to know that God is right there? He's there when we need Him and He's there when we don't need Him. He is just always there. All we have to do is call upon Him, and He'll be there to answer.
Read Matthew 7:7-8. Here we find a very simple promise. How can one fail when they claim a promise that guarantees an answer? If they merely ask, it shall be given them; if they seek, they shall find; and if they but knock, it shall be opened unto them. The promise may seem simple, but what a great promise it really is. It's a promise that encourages us to pray
Prayer is a matter of talking with God about the thing that's on our hearts. Now, this doesn't mean that you can just rush in making demands, such as: "God, Here I am! This is what I want." When I pray, I come into God's presence praising Him. I come thanking Him. I come worshipping Him, telling Him how wonderful He is and how good He is to me.
Before getting down to the business of the things you want to talk with God about, worship and praise Him. Offer up thanksgiving, glorying in Him. It's good to take time to just glory in His goodness, glory in His mercies, glory in how He has blessed your life. This is the right focus when we step aside to pray. Prayer is a matter of getting into the presence of God, where you can really feel at peace to ask Him to do something in the name of Jesus Christ.
In closing, remember these three things: Ask! Seek! and Knock! Understand that great things will happen when someone will ask; someone will seek; someone will knock; someone will show faith and hang on, no matter what it looks like. They know the Lord has said it, and they hold on to that and pray the door open.
Days and days and days may go by where they're still knocking, still holding on to God. They know God's will, and they're going to be believe God and pray for His will to come to pass. You never know when God is about to move, and it's important to be ready when the answer comes. You've got to stand and hold on in prayer.
Scripture: Psalm 100:4; James 4:8; Acts 14:27; Acts 18:9-10; Proverbs 8:17; Psalm 27:8; Psalm 34:17-18
Prayer: Holy, Righteous, and Only Living God, I hold you in the highest place in my heart. Forgive me when I do not hold you in the highest place in my life. Empower me with your Holy Spirit to give up all the little things that distract my allegiance to you and interfere with you being the Supreme and Sovereign God in my day-to-day life. In Jesus name. Amen. -Thank you Phil Ware
God bless you,
Lindsey
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