Last week I posted a prayer by pastor Scotty Smith. Today it seemed like it would be good to post another one. This one stood out to me as one I needed to pray—a prayer about impossibilities. It is based on these words: “Jesus replied, ‘What is impossible with men is possible with God.’” (Luke 18:27)
*****
Merciful and mighty, Lord Jesus, how I need to wrestle with this hope this day. First of all, I want to thank you for the freedom the Scriptures give me to be honest about situations which are impossible to me. It’s so good to know that the gospel calls us to hope, not to hype… to believe, not to make believe… to intercession, not to presumption.
The disciples were vexed over a camel making it through the eye of a needle with greater ease than a rich man making it through the door into your kingdom. Sarah laughed at the thought of having a baby in her nineties. Mary was shocked at the thought of giving birth to you, as a virgin, and understandably so.
But because you did come to us, Jesus, in a most improbable, impossible-to-mere-man way, I am more inclined to say with Mary, “I am the Lord’s servant… may it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38). And because you did overcome death and evil through your resurrection, I am more ready to say with Paul, “this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead” (2 Cor. 1:9). And because “it is impossible for God to lie” (Heb. 6:18-19), I will flee today to take hold of the hope offered to me in the gospel—a firm and secure anchor for my soul, which is floating on a sea of seeming impossibilities.
Lord Jesus, I’m asking you to breathe new life into the hearts of some of my friends who are in the paralyzing lockdown of shame, guilt, contempt and utter despair. Bring your resurrection power to marriages of friends that are, at best on life support, and others that are about to be rolled into the morgue.
For my friends who have spent everything they have on a multitude of doctors and cures, but are not better at all, have mercy Jesus, have mercy, I ask. For me, Jesus, please give me the assurance that you really are at work in my life—freeing me from the idols of my heart for the passions of your heart and kingdom. Whatever is impossible with me, is more than possible with you. So very Amen, I pray, in your anchor-for-my-soul, Name.
Comments (10) »
1. Mark
November 15, 2009
8:42 AM
This is a really good prayer Tim.
2. Bob Kirk
November 15, 2009
9:18 AM
Tim, what a wonderful and apt prayer, thank you for sharing. I just finished reading “And God Changed His Mind,” a now OOP book by Brother Andrew, where he references similar situation prayers by Corrie Ten Boom. Blessings for the day to you.
3. Kaylene
November 15, 2009
10:08 AM
Thank you for sharing.
4. justkathy
November 15, 2009
10:55 AM
Thank you so much, Tim Challies.
5. Pastor Bob Leroe
November 15, 2009
2:42 PM
I love well thought-out written prayers. I think it is time to do a kind of sequal to The Valley of Vision with substantive, contemporary prayers like this one. Sometimes when I have no words of my own it really helps to read someone else’s intercession. If nothing else, it helps “prime the pump”. Too many prayers sound like no thought was given to them, yet consider the Audience. If we were to address the President, we’d come better prepared. I think this prayer would be good for a congregation to read together, or at least as a church bulletin insert for personal/private prayer. Thanks.
6. Nicodemus
November 15, 2009
4:30 PM
As a leader in my church friends come up to me and say we have prayed and prayed for this situation that just seems impossible and our hearts ache to see God answer. A young man in the grip of alcoholism, another confined almost permanently to bed due to a degenerative condition, another who appears to have cut his family off at least in a way that seems so harsh when he got married. And it is difficult to answer them only that we should never give up hope that God can change things that for some the very fact that they know our Saviour is wonderful in itself, that we should persevere and keep that joy in Him and be thankful for all He is to us.
7. kitchen table
November 15, 2009
9:26 PM
Thanks for sharing this wonderful prayer to us! This means a lot to me because of the problems I am facing right now! With Him, nothing really is impossible!
8. peggy
November 15, 2009
10:24 PM
Thank you for this prayer. Satan has certainly sent by marriage to the morgue and I am praying in full Faithful anticipation of a restoration and for other marriages under full attack.
9. Cindy
November 16, 2009
10:53 AM
I really like this prayer. Too often we limit God with non-fervent requests or by not even praying. I happen to work at NavPress and know that we have some very helpful prayer cards for many circumstances. Use this coupon code L69E1D8W3 - 20% off any item.
10. Paul C
November 16, 2009
11:06 AM
Thanks for this prayer - it is a very timely reminder for me personally as I battle with planting a church. The odds seem impossible indeed, but with God, all things are possible and we must remember this.