This resolution of Daily United Prayer is based on An Humble Attempt, originally put forward by Jonathan Edwards in 1748. Its design is to encourage God's people in the duty of united extraordinary prayer; setting aside some time every day to pray for the revival of His church and the advancement of Christ's kingdom in our homes, in our churches, in our nation, and in the world.
"And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?" Luke 17:17.
Does God answer prayer? Yes. He most certainly does. This story of the ten lepers is so instructive because all ten lepers were cleansed but only one returned to give glory to God through his public thanksgiving. So often this is the case with us. Does God answer prayer? Yes, He does. But our silence in giving thanks may give the appearance that prayers are never answered. This does not give glory to God. Christ's question, "Where are the nine?" almost sounds like another question, "Where are the answers?" I know FOR A FACT that God answers prayer. He has done so over and over again with me personally and he has done so with you as well. Let us be as that one leper and give Him thanks.
Just this past Saturday, I had the wonderful opportunity to spend fifteen minutes with a young man, Antoine, outside of a Walmart explaining the Gospel to him, giving him a Fragment, and making sure he understood how he can be ready to meet his God one day. He was extraordinarily receptive, and I'm thanking God publicly for that. God answered prayer that day. And He's doing it with you too. Also, God is answering prayer regarding The Vault. Construction is well underway and as I was sitting in that space on Friday, I couldn't help but think that it was a year ago that we took our first step of faith. God brought a donor along "out of the blue" that has committed himself to fund the renovation totaling $400k and we've never even met in person! God has brought another to start a non-profit to provide a solution for sermons to be broadcast in perpetuity. Where are the nine? Where are the answers? The answers are all around us. Pray with me as we seek to introduce United Prayer to the students at BJU by way of The Vault. The Vault is many things. It is physical infrastructure with servers and storage for the preservation of sermons (which, by the way, we still have to pray in the funds). But above all, it must be space where people can see with their own eyes that God answers prayer.
I would like to encourage you to be in the habit of remembering to thank God publicly for answered prayer. This is important because, as our text says, it brings glory to God. And it most certainly strengthens the faith of our fellow believers. If you have submitted a request for prayer in the past, whenever possible, please do send a follow-up of any revealed answers so we can rejoice with you.
God answers prayer. It's true. Don't let the devil convince you otherwise. Rehearse the words of John Newton:
Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such,
None can ever ask too much
DAILY UNITED PRAYER unitedprayer.net
Mon-Fri @ 12pm EDT // Sat @ 10am EDT
We invite you to join our dedicated and earnest group of praying participants of all ages from around the world that meet every day over Zoom to pray. At the start of each prayer call, a different individual will bring a brief Scriptural meditation. Here's the most recent:
