Songs of Salvation – Toni Shiloh

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Join Christian authors as they share their "Songs of Salvation" to uplift and encourage believers and glorify God. 

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And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.

Revelation 12:11 NLT

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The Power of Prayer

by Toni Shiloh

This year has been a rough one. Sickness has plagued my household. Although if I’m honest, it’s certainly nothing new. Yet it seemed like it would never let up, and when one person was healed another would fall. Over and over again, exhausting me with every instance.

If that wasn’t enough, we’ve been plagued with financial woes. Every time I got a bill, I would cringe wondering how I was supposed to pay for it. Although God blessed us and provided, I often complained that we didn’t have money left over to use frivolously.  It was in those times I had to remind myself to be content and praise Him for the many blessings.

Besides my own troubles, my friends have experienced their fare share as well. They’ve shared their prayer requests with me and wow, did they weigh on me. Problems that far surpassed my own. I ache for them. My heart feels like it’s cracking as I wonder how I can possibly help. What could I possibly do to ease their suffering? I cannot take their pain as my own. I cannot take their place.

But James encourages us to pray.

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” – James 5:16 NKJV

As a believer, my prayers have powers. Not in my own strength but because of who I pray to. God is all knowing. He knows the troubles I face. The ones my friends are experiencing. And He cares for us all. More than we could ever fathom. So when I lift my voice to Him, asking for His help, He is ready.

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.” – Psalm 34:17 NKJV

God hears us. He has heard my cries over my life. Over my friends’. All of them have reached His hears. And the sweet promise of Psalm 34 lets us know that we will be delivered. I don’t know when that will happen. I don’t know what it will look like, but I know God keeps His promises. I know He’s faithful.

And in times when I’m in the waiting period, I can rest on that. I will continue to lift every concern I have to Him. I will continue to wait, knowing that He’s already worked out an answer. I’m just waiting for my timing to match with His. 😊

And if He says no or answers a prayer in a way I wasn’t expecting. I will know that it is for the best.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

I will continue to press through the rest of this year with prayer. Not a day will go by that I won’t lift my voice. Depending on the prayer, minutes may be covered with my prayers as I seek solace and comfort in the One who cares for me. And when I feel that my prayers are not effective, not enough to help another, I will remember what James says. I will remember that the saving grace of Jesus has equipped believers to pray. For ourselves. For our loved ones. For anyone who asks.

I will remember the power of prayer.

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