The Power of Prayer

Many a times we have often heard this phrase. 

"The Power of Prayer."

Often, however, people forget about it.

I never really understood the power of prayer. I knew how important it was, but I was always afraid to ask for too much. That week Pastor Prince's sermon talked about our undeserved favour and he said that God will give us way more than we ask for. All we have to do, is receive.

 

{Mark 11:22-24} 'Have faith in God,' Jesus answered. 'I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, "Go, throw yourself into the sea," and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.' 

Sounds too good to be true? Well, believe it! 

From that day onwards, I truly truly truly experienced the power of prayer. When I was going through a tough time, I prayed for God to give me a close friend who could cheer me up, and I prayed for a strong woman of God to come into my life and give me advice. 

And guess what? I got all of them! Along with many other things I prayed for. God answers all prayers that are in His will, no matter how small the request is! It doesn't need to be abstract or something noble, it could be simple things in life. And if you're ready to believe it and receive it with open arms, you will truly experience the kind of miracles God can create in your life. 

Then again, some people say, "But sometimes I don't see the effects right away!" Or even, "My prayers weren't answered!"

{Mark 4:26-29} He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain--first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."

The message I received last week was exactly on this. Sometimes we pray for something, yet we question, "Why is it not happening? Are my prayers unanswered?" Because we expect to see immediate effects. But like the seed, it sprouts and grows, though we do not know how. 

For we know that God made all things beautiful in His own time. 

No, it's not that God didn't hear your cry, neither are you on His waiting list. He heard you, He knows your pain, and He wants to make it right for you. But you have to believe that God will deliver it at His own pace. For He has a wonderful plan for you, which He will unveil with time. 

{1 John 5:14-15} "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him."

 

Now I live to bring praise.

{Matthew 11:28} Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

With a beautiful verse, I start the beautiful first post of this blog.

I created this blog, to record the many miracles that God has, and is going to, put in my life. Being an avid blogger, I couldn't find a better way to bring myself closer to God.

This is my personal testimony. Though not anything fantastic, it's special in a way that it is how the Lord has touched my heart.

I got to first know God when I was 3 years old. I attended a kindergarten at a local church, but honestly, I was too young to know anything else than having to give thanks for my food. And when I was 7, I joined the school's Girls' Brigade. It was a non-secular cca run strongly based on the influence of Christ, and there kicked start my enthuiasm in praising the Lord and getting to know Him better. Every week, we had worship sessions and badgework etc, and I really felt myself drawing closer to Him. In my third year, we had a camp and the leader asked whoever who wanted to receive Christ to say a prayer, and I did. It took me alot of courage because I didn't know how to react. However, the year after the next, I left the brigade due to my passion for cheerleading.

Slowly, I drifted further and further away from Christ. I sometimes prayed, but not often and only when I really needed to. My family were buddhists so they naturally expected me to be the same. And being a vulnerable kid with no say, I blindly did so with much reluctance.

Then came my years as a naive teenager. I didn't believe in religion, and I thought I was as free as a bird. Transiting into secondary school at the start was difficult. I met with so many challenges. Being cheated both physically and emotionally, being judged by my friends, handling peer pressure, it was a dark period. How I wished I turned to God then. But God sent me someone else. Let's just call him Samuel.

My dad is from Kuching, and every year we would go back there. My uncle's a pastor at his church and one Sunday I decided to follow my cousins (when I was only 9 years old) to attend service there. It was a Christmas, and in sunday school I met Samuel, a friend of my cousins. Fast forward 4 years, he added me on MSN on one fine day. And from then on he was my soulmate, who went through thick and thin with me, who watched me 'grow up'.

When I was 14, we hooked up. It was a long distance relationship, and it was difficult. The relationship we had was really special, because we were more than just a couple. He was my strength, and my only support all these years. And I really treasured such a blessing.

In June 2008, I visited Kuching again. I went to my cousins' church that Sunday, and there was a guest speaker. She talked about God in a way I've never visioned Him to be. And the whole room was filled with such a strong prescence of God. Somehow, I tried to reject it. But it was too strong and I gave in. And I cried. I couldn't understand why, and I couldn't help it, but I cried. It's as if the Lord touched my heart and opened up my eyes. He filled my whole body with such a rejuvenating feeling, such an indescribable feeling. I knew that meant something. And I couldn't stop thinking about it. I wanted more of that goodness, however I was way too afraid to accept it just yet.

Due to our hectic lives, my relationship with Samuel started going downhill. Half the time we would be fighting. Half the time I would be crying. I was miserable, he was miserable. One day, he had enough, and he told me he lost it, and he broke up with me just a few days after our one year anniversary.

That was when I tore apart. I was way too dependent on him. I've been leaning on him for three whole years ever since I started out to find my identity. I was helpless, and I was lost. The Lord has always been on my mind since that fateful day, and at this moment, I realised that if there was someone I could lean on, it was God.

{2 Corinthians 12:9-10} But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weaknesses." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in my weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecution, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

And thus, I looked towards the light.

That was when I started attending New Creation Church. In primary school, it felt like I only accepted the existence of God. But as a 15 year old now, I'm more sensible. And now, it feels like I have placed my life in the hands of God. And I'm glad I did so.

Take the first step, He will do the rest for you.

I wouldn't say that my wounds are completely healed. But I know they're slowly nursed by His power. Now I take on each day, one step at a time, with the help and guidance of the strength of God. I know that if I hadn't made this decision, I would be in a far worse state than right now. It's never easy, but I know I can stand up strong again. Even as I stumble, I grow.

So that's how I got here. I'm excited about my days ahead. When you let Christ into your life, you can never be the same anymore. And I'm glad to be a new creation all over again.

I hope this blog can serve its purpose in helping you know more about the miracles God can create, and allowing me to glorify, praise, and worship God for all the awesome things He has done.

Looking forward to posting more entries the next time! (:

Hope you enjoy your stay.

{Proverbs 3:6} Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.