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They say that prayer changes things, but does it REALLY change anything?
Oh yes! It really does!

Does prayer change your present situation or sudden circumstances?
No, not always, but it does change the way you look at those events.

Does prayer change your financial future?
No, not always, but it does change who you look to for meeting your daily needs.

Does prayer change shattered hearts or broken bodies?
No, not always, but it will change your source of strength and comfort.

Does prayer change your wants and desires?
No, not always, but it will change your wants into what God desires!

Does prayer change how you view the world?
No, not always, but it will change whose eyes you see the world through.

Does prayer change your regrets from the past?
No, not always, but it will change your hopes for the future!

Does prayer change the people around you?
No, not always, but it will change you~ the problem isn't always in others.

Does prayer change your life in ways you can't explain?
Oh, yes, always! And it will change you from the inside out!

So does prayer REALLY change ANYTHING?
Yes! It REALLY does change EVERYTHING!


Source Unknown

I bet I know the original source.  ;)
(And I praise Him!)

Did you ever stop and wonder how much of what we read (or hear) everyday is actually straight from Him with few or no middle-men?  God has never quit talking to us - but so many have quit listening...  :'(

A well known painter was finishing an incredibly beautiful painting. The painter was consumed by and excited with his own painting that he unconsciously took a few step backward while admiring the painting. He didn't look back when he walked backward. He kept on walking backward until it was a step away from the edge of the tall building. Just one more step backward and he could get himself killed.

A man saw what the painter was doing and was about to shout at him to warn him when he realized that his shout might have surprised the painter and thus made him incidentaly took one step backward and fell down. The man then took a brush and paint and began to paint on the beautiful painting until it was completely damaged.

Upon realising what's happenned to his painting the painter got very angry and moved forward to lash out at the man. However, some other people who were also present at the vicinity held him and showed him his last position which almost made him fall.

Sometimes we have painted our future with such beauty and dreamed of beautiful days we will spend with our loved one. But then God seemed to destroy our beautiful painting when He sees what danger lies ahead of us, and we become angry  or confused by what God has done, or allowed to happen to us, but remember He see`s that which we cannot!

Source Unknown

Pro 5:21  For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

Shylynne,
There you go with that "Souce unknown" thing again.  It's OK - you are allowed to give credit where credit is due.  
 :)
God bless you for your heartfelt posts.
JN

yes...and it is still always a thrill when I recognize His handiwork...or His voice...whew!  :D

To God be the glory!  :D

Cultivating a secret life with God.
by Bob Sorge
One of the best kept secrets of our faith is the blessedness and joy of cultivating a secret life with God. Imagine the sheer delight of it even now. You're tucked away in a quiet nook; the door is shut; you're curled up in a comfortable position; the living word of God is laid open before you; Jesus himself stands at your side; the Holy Spirit is gently washing your heart; your love is awakened as you meditate upon the gracious words of his mouth; your spirit is ignited, and your mind is renewed; you talk to him, and he talks to you in the language of intimate friendship.

Ahhh, it doesn't get any better than this!

Hell will do everything in its power to misrepresent and distort the exuberant delight of this dynamic reality; this present world system is strategically designed to squeeze out your time and energy for the secret place; the church usually focuses its best energies on getting saints busy; and there seem to be relatively few believers whose secret life with God is so vibrantly life-giving that it kindles a contagious desire in others to follow their example.

I connect viscerally with the pain of countless believers who carry a conviction that the secret place is central to an overcoming life but who struggle on a regular basis to maintain the secret place as a daily lifestyle. I know what it's like to live below what the Christian walk could be and yet feel almost powerless to change anything. I've watched myself return persistently to the sources which are no sources at all. For example, when wanting to get revitalized from a draining day, we look to television, as though its distractions will renew us—only to be left empty for the umpteenth time. Or, we will attend a church service in the hope that the preacher's walk with God will infuse us with fresh energy for the journey. But deep down we know that sermons and teachings, although edifying, can never replace the carrying power we find when we sit at Jesus' feet and hear his word for ourselves.

I don't want to add another condemning word to the berating voices we all know so well. What I want to do is to help encourage you in your secret place relationship with God. I want to strengthen you by sharing with you the secret of standing in your secret place.

When you retreat to the secret place, you are standing in the Spirit together with all the saints on the sea of glass and gazing upon the One who is seated on the throne (Revelation 15:2). Even though your eyes are veiled so you can't see him with the natural eye, you are still standing directly before the throne! The highest privilege of all creation is to stand before the living fire of God's presence and burn with holy affection for your Father and King. Standing here is your eternal destiny, and you can taste a bit of heaven on earth by shutting your door and standing before your God in the beauty of holiness.

Your schedule doesn't want to let you stand here; work demands militate against your standing here. But you are awakened to the beauties of holiness and now you long to come aside and stand in his presence. Just to stand, and having done all, to stand!

To stand, despite the warfare; to stand, despite the resistance; to stand, despite the hassles; to stand, despite weariness; to stand, despite distresses; to stand, despite the temptations; to stand, despite personal failure and collapse; to stand, despite the grief; to stand, despite the loneliness; to stand, even when chained; just to stand!

To stand, because of the cross; to stand, because of the Lamb; to stand, because of his affections; to stand, because of his acceptance; to stand, because of his mighty power within; to stand, because of fountains of living water flowing from the innermost being; to stand, because of his surpassing beauty and greatness; to stand, because of his eternal purpose; to stand, because of his everlasting mercies; to stand, because of love!

[img]Yep, prayer changes things.
Look in the mirror, who do you see... Jesus ???
Yes, prayer changes things... and people....and circustances....and hearts....and minds... and lives ,even mine!  ;D Glory to God !

amen  carsncandy!  :)

Praise God! Praise God! Praise God!