Just a point of interest Will, according to a study by Central State Hospital, “the psychological benefits of prayer may help reduce stress and anxiety, promote a more positive outlook, and strengthen the will to live.”
“Shamgar…smote of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox-goad (a long stick with a pointed end, also known as the cattle prod.): and he also saved Israel.” (Judges 3:31) Contained in this one verse, we see three things Shamgar did that resulted in his life having an extraordinary impact:
- He offered God his willingness.
- He used what God had given him.
- He stayed true to who he was.
Shamgar’s story should stir our souls. He was an ordinary person, in an ordinary place, doing an ordinary job. The thing that made him EXTRAORDINARY wasn’t anything external. It was his internal drive to do the right thing and BE OBEDIENT TO GOD, right where he was. His job was to be obedient to God. God’s job was EVERYTHING ELSE. The same is possible for us. If WE ARE OBEDIENT TO GOD in the midst of our ordinary lives, EXTRAORDINARY IMPACT IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE.
“Let my prayer be set before You as incense…” (Psalms 141:2) God receives our prayers, and then puts them into action. Amazing things happen resulting from our prayers, not just within us, but also on earth! How encouraging it is to know that our prayers have an effect in this world, even though we may not see that effect right away! They ascend to God as a sweet smelling fragrance and are powerfully hurled on earth to accomplish His purposes. Let us “always pray and not give up.” (Luke 18:1b)
-Bill Stockham