Mother Stopped Praying

"I've always realized the real power in my mother's life was her prayers," a young pastor said. "When I was in my upper teens, my mother became concerned about where I would go to college. She talked with me about it, and I knew she was praying. I could sense that she was under a burden, even though she didn't go around long-faced. I was praying, too, but we were not in agreement. I wanted to go to the university and she favored a Bible college.

"One day her countenance was completely different. She seemed to be released from the burden. After the situation had run its course, I asked, 'Mother, why did you stop your praying about the matter before the issue was solved?'

"She said she had totally committed her burden to God, and He had given her a promise that things were going to work out right. God assured her He was working and had solved the situation already, although the answer was not visibly apparent. She rested on God's promise, and God answered her.

"I hate to admit it, but Mother was right," he grinned.

Because faith is the evidence of the unseen, it is possible to pray until God says, "You don't need to pray any more because I've heard!" By faith we can rest from our own efforts and "stand still and see the salvation of the Lord."

Dear Father, I know that when I rest on Your promises, even when there are no outward signs of victory, You will do what You say.

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him" (1 John 5:14, 15).