Word From A Guest Writer

Hey Readers,

Periodically, I post an article on my blog from various leaders and colleagues I’ve known over the years. This week’s article is from my good friend and special mentor, Dr. Dan Beller. Dr. Beller is retired from the pastorate but still very active in ministry.

Dan pastored Evangelistic Temple in Tulsa for over 34 years, growing it to mega-church status, even before mega-churches were popular. Dr. Beller also serves with Dr. David Yonggi Cho as a Board Member of Church Growth International and is privileged to periodically speak at the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, Korea.

He is married to his lovely wife Marie, for over 53 years. They reside in Tulsa, OK. He has an earned Doctor of Ministry Degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. You are in for a real treat; I trust you will enjoy his article.

Blessings,
Coach John

Prayer Changes Your World

Susan Wesley, mother of John Wesley, had nineteen children but she prayed for one hour each day. She had no private place to pray but she would sit in a chair, cover her face with her apron and pray. The children were instructed not to bother her when her apron was over her head.

One hour of prayer each day will change your world. Notice the one hour is less than ½ of a tithe of your time. Giving God one hour each day in prayer equals 265 hours per year, for a total of forty-five 8 hour days. Can you imagine taking off 6 weeks from your work and spending that time with God in prayer?

E. M. Bounds stated, “Prayer is the contact of the living soul of God. In prayer, God stoops to kiss man, to bless man, and to aid in everything that God can devise or man can need.” Prayer gives eyes to our faith. In prayer we see beyond ourselves and focus our spiritual eyes on God’s infinite power. Prayer is man’s ultimate indication of trust in his Heavenly Father. Only in prayer do we surrender our problems completely to God and ask for divine intervention.

In prayer, God changes you into a forgiving person. We are inspired to forgive others when we realize how God has forgiven us. Jesus illustrates this truth by telling of a man who had been forgiven of ten million dollars, but was then unable to forgive a small debt of $20.00. (Matt. 18:22-35)

Prayer changed the life of Hannah. When she began to pray at Shiloh, she was “in bitterness of soul” (I Sam. 1:10) but as she wept and desperately prayed, she stated, “My heart rejoices in the Lord…I delight in your deliverance. There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” (I Sam. 2:1-2NIV)

The change in us is probably the most significant reason that God lets us seek desperately and earnestly, for a period of time, those things which we desire. The greatest result of daily prayer is that it changes your world.

Let us live with an attitude of prayer and see our world change. “…While they are still talking to me about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers.” (Isa. 65:24 LB)

Dr. Dan Beller

Comments

[Wade Thompson]

John Your featured article on prayer by Dr. Beller was powerful, we need to be reminded where the power of our life comes from, and what a loving and merciful Father we have. Jesus ministry flowed out of his prayer life! Thanks for sharing this