Revelations

Revelations, to me, are nuggets of truth.  Usually, they arrive unexpected.  It seems, they were always there but only at this point in time they make sense and voila! What a great idea!  

I got such a nugget today while studying Daniel the Old Prophet.

Daniel studied over the years the old books that were available to him: the Torah, Psalms and the prophets before him, so he knew what they said. He watched the signs of the time and the changes around him.  He wanted to know what the changes meant, so he checked again the writings of the Prophet Jeremiah and found that 70 years had passed and it was time for Israel to return home from exile. He asked God what is His will concerning the matter and how to pray about it. Then he prayed what God told him to pray. God sent an angle to Daniel with His answer.

We too study the books that are available to us, from Genesis to Revelation; 66 books are in this library. Like Daniel, we also watch the signs of the time, the changing of the seasons and the increased natural disasters. We see the increased criminal behavior and the lack of respect to others and to self. We hear of wars and rumours of wars, and from reading the bible we know that these changes point to the return of the Jews from exile (Aliya). We also know that a great war is coming and at its end Messiah will return to Jerusalem as King.

But how do we pray about it?  We want to pray effectively.

For a few years now, Willie and I are praying for Aliya and for protections of the Northern border. We know that God hears our prayers. Most times the Northern border is quiet, and people are coming home from exile. Our prayers are important. God answers all the prayers of the saints. (BTW, Saints in the book of Daniel refer only to the Jews). Daily, we prayed for a long list of family members and of Our Partners in Prayer. 

On the way to Jerusalem I prayed for people and wrote their names down on small pieces of paper that are now placed in holes on the Western Wall. However, standing in front of the Wall, I prayed about Aliya and the safety along the borders. This is what God wanted me to pray at this point in time. For that He told me to accompanied Willie on this trip to the Kotel.  Aliya and the protection of the borders of Israel are on God's heart.

Whatever God wants us to pray, at a specific point in time, is the most effective prayer.

So here is the nugget, the revelation: Ask God how He wants you to pray and then pray it. This is the most effective prayer.

23rd Day of Thanks - Thank you God for your answers to our prayers; thank you for teaching us how to pray effective prayers.

Prayerfully,

Orith