PRAYING WITH IMPACT

Years ago I attended meetings on prayer. The speaker went on and on about how we had to pray “right” to expect an answer. He left the audience feeling like we should tread lightly and be wary of our words as we prayed. I wasn’t comfortable with his theories and began searching for a more biblical approach to prayer.

Recently, I listened to Charles Price preach about the first miracle Jesus performed at the wedding in Canaan. (John 2:1-11) Something he said put all the pieces into place—we need to be the water. Let Jesus decide what to do with that water. It’s all so simple. I have to be the water, filling the cistern to the brim. Nothing special; just water. Jesus will add the miraculous.

With every aspect of my faith now in a new focus, I listened to Charles Price the next week and he spoke about the feeding of the five thousand. He pointed out something I’d never noticed before. John 6: 11 says:

“And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.”

Then in John 6:23, it says:

“Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:”

There’s no mention of the number of people fed but there is mention of Jesus giving thanks.

Now my life has changed. I’m comfortable as the water, sending my requests to the Father with thanks, trusting Him to take my ordinary words and do the extraordinary.

Tammy Wiens

Tammy lives in Saskatchewan with her husband. They have four children. She enjoys gardening, walks along the beach and being on the farm. She has a passion for her faith, studying the Bible and prayer.

She has published two books; Where a Little Rain Comes Down and Making the Bitter Sweet. A short story, “May’s First Christmas” appeared in Christmas Chaos, a collection of stories about Christmas experiences that don’t make the fronts of Christmas cards. “Careful What You Whisper” is another short story about Tammy’s experiences after breaking her back. It can be found in A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider. Visit her website for more information about Tammy’s books and workshops.