The Price of Prayerlessness

[cmc]

March 25, 2009

Isaiah 40:28-31

The heavenly Father wants His children talking with Him. Jesus gave an invitation to speak with God about anything. He said that if you have a need, ask; if you seek answers, you will find them; if you want opportunities to open up, knock and He will respond (Matt. 7:7-8). Even so, there are believers who do not bother communicating with the Lord, except in emergencies.

Forsaking prayer is costly to a person's well-being. Those who will not make time for God daily are on a slippery slope. They slide through weariness, discouragement, and doubt to land in a testimony-damaging situation. Today we will focus on the first phase--weariness. Tomorrow we can examine the rest of the descent.

Certain situations take an emotional, physical, and spiritual toll--we call these burdens. Such low points can wear us out if we try to endure them alone. But God does not intend for that weight to fall on our shoulders. In fact, the Bible commands that those loads be cast upon Jesus Christ (Ps. 55:22). "Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden," cries David in Psalm 68:19. Remember, He is doing all the work to straighten out your circumstances anyway. So there's no point in both Him and you carrying that weight.

Hauling all our worries and cares around is wearying because we are not built for such loads. In God's design, His strength fills the believer to capacity. Picture Jesus' shoulders just above your own--with Him bearing your problems. The burden does not disappear, but it feels blessedly lighter when you hand it over to the Lord.

Dr. Charles Stanley

[CAPTAINZING2000]

Mine was getting rather heavy at times !!

[Angelic17]

CMC, Wow, that is so true. When I realized that my only child had a very severe drug addiction, it just broke my heart so bad. I became frightenend, worried, exhausted, and crippled with fear. I was more afraid that he would live being a junkie, than I was of him dying. I was filled with despair, because I am a recovering addict, who stopped taking drugs, with the help of GOD and my prayer. That is the only thing I used to get me though. I didn't go to NA or a therapist. I did it all on my own, with the help of GOD. I knew how tough it was for me, and I was so fearful for my son. I am a very religious person. I believe in GOD. I pray the rosary daily, and I go to mass at 8am every morning. All of the elders in my church,family, and friends would tell me to give this problem to GOD. I would, but then, I would always take it back. I made the decision to carry this burden by myself. I'm his mother, and I have to worry. It's only normal to worry, that's what I told myself. Until after about 1 1/2 years of rehabs and drug related problems, I became very ill. I wasn't eating, or sleeping. I had tremendous anxiety, colitis, and at a very young age, with healthy beautiful hair, I started seeing hair loss. My hair was falling out in clumps, from the stress. I couldnt hold food down. I was an emotional, physical, and psychological wreck. I would run through the house at 5 in the morning when my son was out using, and I didn't know where he was, or if he were dead or alive. Then the best priest I have ever known, pulled me on the side one day, and told me. Fear is a sin. God doesn't want you to fear, and you cannot carry this on your own. You are killing yourself. Now, I love Father Joe. He tried many times to help my son recover. He took him to lunch, he had meetings with him, and encouraged him. My son adored this man. But, he couldn't stop my son from the power of drugs and relapse. The day that Fr. Joe told me to give it to GOD, I finally did. I gave my son to GOD and I didn't take this addiction back as my own. I left it in GODS hands. I spiritually placed my son at the altar, and said GOD, it's up to you. Do what you want with my boy. Your will be done. I let go of the fear. And I am finally starting to heal. When I changed, so did my son. My son is now clean. He is continuing his care in a rehabilitation facility. He is seeing a therapist, and had a blood and urine test this week. Both came up 100% clean. He has a sponsor, and is working NA. I have learned, when I give a problem to GOD, not to take it back. Not even if it is my own child. What a tough lesson for a mother. I also for the first time in 28 years realized that my son was only lent to me for a short while. That his life is his, and not my own. Thanks for this post. It really hit home with me. I tried to carry my burden alone. It just didn't work. I put my trust in the LORD. It's the smartest thing I have done so far. Anything I have ever asked for in a prayer, has been given to me. I do believe that GOD will carry us through. Thank You again for this post. :praying

[CAPTAINZING2000]

kinda had to wipe a tear back

hugs

[cmc]

Angelic....thanks so much for sharing your story here. It will help alot of people who are in the same situation. God bless you.

[Angelic17]

Thank You CMC, It was your post regarding prayerlessness that inspired me to share. God Bless You.

[CAPTAINZING2000]

The Shield of Saint Patrick
Posted by: Joel Protusada for Catholic Prayers

I bind unto myself today the strong name of the trinity,
by invocation of the same, the Three in One, the One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever by power of faith Christ's incarnation,
His baptism in the Jordan river, his death on the cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spiced tomb, his riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, his might to stay, his ear to harken to my need,
The wisdom of my God to teach, his hand to guide, his shield to ward,
The Word of God to give me speech, his heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me;
Christ to comfort and restore me;
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name, the strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three,
Of whom all nature hath creation, eternal Father, Spirit, Word;
Praise to the God of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord!

[cmc]

March 26, 2009

Daily Devotional

The Damage of Prayerlessness


READ | Colossians 4:2-6

Prayer is a priority for any person who is used mightily by God. Jesus often slipped away to spend quiet moments with His Father. If the Son of God needed prayer time, then we certainly cannot live well without it! Yesterday we saw that those who go it alone become weary bearing unnecessary burdens. Today we will look at the results of slogging through life under that extra weight.

When someone is spiritually, emotionally, or physically drained, he or she becomes susceptible to discouragement. Joshua was exhorted to meditate upon the Law, because his success was dependent upon following God’s will (Josh. 1:8-9). Keeping the Lord at the center of one’s focus builds confidence. Without prayer and Bible reading—which cannot be separated—believers enter a vicious cycle where troubles loom ever larger as man-made solutions fail. Under such conditions, discouragement is unavoidable.

Loss of confidence is soon followed by doubt. A believer immersed in prayer and Scripture reading will find security in the Lord’s power and presence. But someone who questions God’s faithfulness will look for refuge everywhere except in those disciplines. Eventually, he or she is going to step out of God’s will while chasing a counterfeit solution. Sadly, a testimony-damaging situation often results.

Forsaking prayer results in a downward slide, but the good news is that the direction can be reversed at any time. The corrective steps are simple: confess your prayerlessness and then prioritize a regular quiet time with the Lord. In those moments of communion, He will make burdens light, offer encouragement, and fill His children with confidence.


Dr. Charles Stanley

[Angelic17]

CMC, again, truer words were never written. At one time during my son's addiction, when he relapsed, and went back out, I started doubting GOD. I was very discouraged. And at one point, I stopped going to mass in the morning. I'm not sure if it was because of my lack of faith, or my exhaustion from not sleeping at night. I know that its a sin, to doubt GOD, but I cried out to GOD and he wasn't coming to my aid. I prayed and prayed, the rosary, and novena's. Where is GOD? Why would he allow my son go back out and use drugs? When he know's I am sick with fright and suffering like this. I wanted results from GOD, why wasn't he coming to my aid when I needed him? The truth is that he was right there all the while, I was just interfering with his plan. Trying to change this and that. Once I backed off, things took a turn for the better. I will never ever again, Doubt GOD. I will continue to pray, whether or not, things go the way I want them to. For I know now, that prayers are answered in GOD'S time, not mine.

[CAPTAINZING2000]

God gave us a power of choice to use as we will.
It's not God's will for us to turn our back on him.
Sadly, so many of us do. Lucky are the one's that see in time the road they chosen without God is the wrong one. As a parent with a son in Afghanistan, I often wonder if, he's safer there away from drugs and alcohol

If, you raised your son in a Christian life, did the best in your parenting skills, you planted a seed much as it say in the Bible


The Parable of the Sower; Why Christ Taught in Parables; Of the Sower and the Seed.

1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

[Angelic17]

By the way Captainzing, I am sure that drugs and alcohol are over in Afghanistan also. Like you said, it's about free will. Your son, I am guessing is a soldier, and probably not interested in using drugs. God Bless him for serving our country. Thanks for your beautiful post.

[CAPTAINZING2000]

Alcohol is very limited to say the least.
The only drugs are from the poppy fields to my knowledge. Not sure, the soldiers have access to that

[IO Storm]

Praying for C, dear Chris.