My growing prayer list can easily become a source of resentment, especially when interpreted through the very skewed viewpoint of my own understanding. Ashamedly, there are times when I feel unrighteous anger surface. Obviously, this life then becomes all about me and the here and now. And then there is always the propensity to stop praying altogether and fall into grumbling and complaining.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your understanding of a [state of affairs, condition, circumstance, place…; YOU fill in your situation]— (Proverbs 3:5)!

At these pivotal moments I am thankful for the Lord’s reminders, whether it be through a sermon/God’s Word, a very wise author or a quote that flashes up on social media. He strategically places reminders all around me.

On Sunday, my husband preached a sermon that I have heard him share in the past. However, this time “the message” the Lord was sending made it to my heart. Open your Bible and drop in on John 5:1-18 and see the message for yourself. In the mist of a huge crowd of individuals with every imaginable infirmity, Jesus picks just one to physically heal. This messianic miracle is about so much more than a lame man standing and walking while all the rest continue in their disabilities. Later in the day, God’s Son finds the man in the Temple to share the message of spiritual healing. This message that leads to spiritual healing is a remedy for the soul that never dies. Jesus is teaching a most vital truth: (1) Our eternal destination is more important than our temporary disability. No matter how we suffer in this life, it is temporary, but our eternal destination is forever. And no matter what healing we find in this life, death still comes to all, because ALL eventually die from sickness or old age. Thus, (2) the Message is more important than the Miracle. You see, even though this man was healed he would still eventually die and spend eternity in one of two places: eternal damnation (Hell) or an eternity with Jesus Himself (Heaven). Jesus came to this earth to die for the sins of the world and make the one and only way for individuals to know Him and be saved to eternal life in heaven. His whole earthly ministry was preparing people for eternity. The whole reason for our existence is to know Him and spend eternity with Him in heaven.

We are all temporary travelers passing through this life heading for a certain destination. Along the way we encounter maladies and misfortunes of all kinds, but we are given the opportunity to believe in “the message” and live in such a way as to point others to the heavenly Father. There are only two destinations. Those who choose wisely like the lame man in John 5 will not suffer anything worse than what we must endure in this life. But those who choose to go the way of self and Satan will endure even greater torments than disease and disasters.

If you are God’s child, you have trusted in His Son as your Savior, and your prayer list is a way to become “a skillful tradesman” serving and bringing glory to our risen Lord. Our need and responsibility are to focus on the person and power of Jesus Christ and submit to His authoritative Word giving Him praise. This brings Him much glory: The LORD loves the godly!

“Praise the LORD! Let all that I am praise the LORD. I will praise the LORD as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath…He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever…The LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are weighed down. The LORD loves the godly…The LORD will reign forever…Praise the LORD!” (Psalm 146, NLT)

“Prayer is a trade to be learned. We must be apprentices and serve our time at it. Painstaking care, much thought, practice and labour are required to be a skillful tradesman in praying.”  -E.M. Bounds

“The Message” – Christ died for the sins of the world, was buried, and rose again! (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

Do you believe the Message?