Author: Mary Custer

We spend a lot of time talking about what prayer “is”.  Today I want to talk about a few things that prayer is “not”.

Prayer is not something you give God as leftovers.  He wants to hear from you first.  Prayer should never be a “Plan B”.

Prayer is not unanswered.  Sometimes the answer is “yes”, sometimes it is “no” and sometimes it is “wait”.  Sometimes not having an answer, is the answer.  An old quote says it well…”There are times God punishes us mildly by ignoring our prayers and severely by answering them.”

Prayer is not just a 30 minute session at the altar at church.  Prayer is a way of life.  It is a constant state of mind.

Prayer is not ordinary.  Prayer should be expecting the miraculous.  It is communicating with the God of the universe, so it could never be described as “ordinary”.

Prayer is not you solving the issue for the Lord.  Your prayers should be taking a situation before God and laying it at his feet, not giving Him instructions on how He should fix it.

Prayer is not a one-way conversation.  Spend more time listening in your prayer time than talking.

Prayer is not an option.  It is a biblical mandate.

Prayer is not a means by which to escape the biblical principal of reaping and sowing.  You will reap what you sow.  Many people make bad decisions and expect to pray themselves out of the consequences.  It doesn’t quite work that way.

Prayer is not a guarantee against suffering.  Prayer may not keep you from suffering, but will certainly help you to endure it.

From Flo Shaw,  World Network of Prayer

I know this title may seem a little long, maybe a little strange, but you do not understand how important it is to me. My salvation, my whole life as I have known it, probably depended on a simple saint who was faithfully committed to prayer meeting.

It was in the early ’30’s when walking was more common than driving. Port Arthur, Texas was the place. A young couple from central Texas had moved there to work in the oil refinery. They called a small apartment home for themselves and their three young children. Church attendance was not on their weekly agenda. In fact, it was not on their agenda at all. But a faithful prayer warrior changed that.

Every morning a little before nine o’clock, a little lady passed in front of their little apartment with her Bible under her arm. To the young mother inside the little apartment it soon became a part of her morning routine to watch for the little lady who always passed her door a little before nine o’clock.

Where is she going every day? Why does she always have a Bible under her arm? Who is she? What is this about?

Then one morning, some would say as fate would have it, she stopped and knocked on the door. (From my vantage point, I know it wasn’t fate, but unspoken faith from a fertile heart.) When the young mother stood face to face with the lady from the sidewalk, she received an invitation to an old-fashioned tent revival. Few words were spoken, but the simple invitation seemed to speak to the young mother all day from its resting place on the dresser. By five-thirty in the evening the children were bathed and dressed for going out and supper was on the table. A little bewildered, the hardworking young man looked at his lovely dressed-up wife, wondering.

“We are going to church tonight,” she explained.

Willingly, he agreed.

It was a strange experience–the tent, the people, the praying, the preaching. But at the close of the service the young father said to his wife, “You go and pray. I’ll stay with the children.”

Kneeling at an altar, she was totally transformed by the baptism of the Holy Ghost!

Among those gathering around was the little lady from the sidewalk with the Bible under her arm.

“Where do you go every morning?”

“We have nine o’clock prayer meeting every day.”

“Could we come?” asked the young couple.

“Well, we normally don’t have prayer meeting on Saturday morning,” the Pastor interjected, “but we will if you want to come.”

Saturday morning, nine o’clock prayer meeting found the young couple joining the faithful saints. Prayer was made. Baptism was explained. Both agreed to baptism in the name of Jesus Christ. Now, it was the young man’s turn for transformation as he broke the waters of baptism, speaking in tongues, filled with the Holy Ghost.

The young couple were my mother and father, E. W. and Johnnie Ruth Caughron. These events transpired before my birth. Consequently, I was born into a Spirit-filled home. My parents’ dedicated ministry carried them in soul-winning revivals and building of churches from Texas to Alaska. Dozens and dozens of preachers were called and hundreds and hundreds of saints were impacted by their ministry.

What if the little lady on the sidewalk with the Bible under her arm had not been faithful to prayer meeting? I shudder at the thought–I probably wouldn’t be writing this article. 

Thetus Tenney, Guest Writer

Interesting Read

The Story is familiar. Moses sent 12 spies to investigate what needed to be done to take the Promised Land. When they returned from their trip, 10 spies spoke words of unbelief. The children of Israel listened to them more than the two men who said they were well able to take the land. The 10 spies were negative and filled with unbelief. They believe what they saw, more than what God had promised them.

In order to take the world we must cleanse our mind of negative thinking. Our attitude is crucial in conquering, The mind must be cleansed from anything that is connected to unbelief.

Paul wrote, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5). The mind of Christ! What we feed the mind will determine what we are. Understanding this should cause us to be extremely careful, for our mind is like a computer: what you enter into it determines its performance. Thus our meditations are critical. What the ear hears, what the eyes sees, what we read, the music that is listened to, anything that affects the mind needs to be critiqued.

“Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8). Whoever you run with will influence the way you think.

We are the product of our environment. Every one must selective of their choice of friends. Who you run with will rub off on you. Negative conversations produce negative thoughts. Paul said, “Bring every thought into captivity.”

What discussions go on between you and your friends, even preacher friends, will determine your performance. To discuss negative situations, bad things that happen to people, even people that do bad things, is not edifying. There is a time and place to deal with the failures of men, but to dwell and linger on negatives will adversely affect you. One cannot expect to have and fruitful and productive ministry dwelling in such a negative atmosphere. There is plenty of doom and gloom if one looks for it. However, it will keep the church from living in a growth mold and hinder revival! It is imperative to control our minds in order for us to go forward.

As the children of Israel listened to the wrong voices, so can we if we are not careful. If one listens to those who are anti-revivalists, those who say the church is not what it used to be, it’s going down, such notions will keep you from the Promised Land.

Kenneth F. Haney

Don’t do things on purpose, do things IN purpose…. Pastor Custer