Until you've seen the power of fervent prayer working in your life, it's hard to imagine it's effectiveness. But those who've experienced it, have a quiet knowlege of what it means to posture yourself before the Giver of all good things...the One Who does all things well. Recently I had a conversation with a good friend and the subject of God's goodness came up. What do we make of circumstances that aren't so good? Is it a result of our not praying enough...not spending enough time in the Word...missing our "quiet time" (whatever that means)? Maybe it's our perspective. From where we stand, things look "bad"...in some instances, so bad that we can't imagine them ever getting "good" again. Yet we know that God is at work in our circumstances...molding...shaping...changing us to be like Him. Think about it. The most significantly "good" event in the universe involved a cross and God's own Son. From Jesus' perspective, when you glimpse it, it's difficult to see how that would ever be described as "good". Yet Hebrews tells us of Jesus attitude towards the cross..."Who for the 'joy' that was set before Him, endured the cross" (Heb. 12:2). For the "joy"...wow...it makes me love Him all the more...new vantage point...His vantage point...beautiful. That brings me back to fervent prayer...prayer that takes me to the Throne of the One I know is working "all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28). So I kneel not to get God to do what I want, but to find myself in the middle of His plan...trusting it completely to bring me "joy" in the face of the most difficult circumstances....quietly confident that He's in complete control and that nothing has touched me without first being sifted through His hand. Seasons of life come and go...some are unimaginably hard from my vantage point. That's one of the great things about prayer and time in God's Word. The enemy loses his ability to fill my head with the lies that weaken my courage and erode my trust in Christ to always have my best interest in mind regardless of the situation. When asked the common question, "How' y doin'", he wants me to respond by saying, "Pretty good under the circumstances." But I have an Interceder praying for me...spurring me on...and gently whispering to my spirit, "You have the victory. What are you doing 'under the circumstances'?"