God is truly an amazing God. I fall into circumstances, and it is amazing how God brings things to me at the right times, when they are needed most. Of late I have been pondering the power of prayer. Just yesterday I was challenged by the parable of Luke 18 where it says in verse 2:

...men ought always to pray, and not to faint;


Prayer is vital to the Christian life. Prayers, however, will be answered in God's own time- whether it is 2 days or 20 years (or more). Sometimes God doesn't answer like we want, but he answers according to His plan. I am thankful for a knowing God who leads and guides according to his great plan.

A couple of ideas taken from Eric and Leslie Ludy's Wresting Prayer:

“It may seem ‘unnecessary’ to get on your knees for multiple hours each and every day, but may I remind you that unless someone rises up and says, ‘Lord, I’m willing to travail,’ there are lives, promises, and spiritual realities that will not be born into our day and age.” (p. 133)

“To pray instead of solve sounds like we are doing nothing, that we are shirking a duty, laying down on the job. But to pray is not the absence of work; it’s a completely different sort of work. It’s not an abandonment of good, old-fashioned work ethic. Rather, it’s a proper direction of it.” (p. 151)

"American culture trains us to be in a hurry. Everything is instant, and that ‘instant’ expectation has a tendency to warp our view of prayer. You see, prayer is participation in a very real battle. And depending on the thickness of the enemy resistance at the precise point you are addressing in prayer, the answer may not come quickly.” (p. 169)

“Prayer is a lot like caviar. It’s an acquired taste. If you don’t pray often, you won’t gain a love for praying.” (p. 188)

May these few thoughts be of a help to you and they have been of a challenge to my life.