Throughout this Week of Prayer at First Baptist Church, I have decided to post testimonies and devotionals on prayer from various folks in our congregation. I pray that these contributions will bless and encourage you in your own prayer efforts as you read them.
Today’s contribution is by Ellen Capozzi, who along with her husband Joe, have been part of the FBC family for about a year and a half. They both teach Bible School classes and are devoted to the Lord and His Church. Here is what Ellen has to say regarding her own education in the school of prayer:
When I was a new Christian I loved reading and studying my Bible, but I didn’t pray much, if at all. I would call my sister or Pastor any time I had a problem, once even in the middle of the night. After a while, the Lord not so subtly was trying to teach me to come to Him, and not to put my hope in people to rescue me from my troubles. For a long time either no one was available to help me, or they totally let me down. My favorite verse at the time was Psalm 108:12- “Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.”
I’m so thankful that the Lord was so patient to teach me to pray, and so faithful and gracious to answer my prayers through the years. Truly “He is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Now I know that people can help me only as God helps them.
“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him” (Psalm 62:5).
For me a prayer life has always been a struggle. What I am noticing in life as I begin to age (some would say mature…we will see – haha) though is that if I want something valuable (a better job, better more fulfilling relationships, etc) I have to work hard at it. Nothing valuable is free or attained with minimal effort. Even though our salvation was free for us, a heavy and hard price was paid for it, our Lord Jesus’ life. For me, a sustained prayer life has always been difficult to attain because it is hard work. I pray that this year, I would give God my best in this area of my life.
-Jeremy
I just read my wife Ellen’s post about prayer and I realize that the prayers that she was initially referring to were probably mostly about me!?! She became a believer before I did and now that I know that the Scripture says “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife,…”(1 Cor 7:14), she was so significant as an intercessor on my behalf and my ultimately believing in The Lord.
I know that we are to present all our requests to Him especially intercession, but I’m mostly encouraged that “the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us…”(Romans 8:26) and “…since He( The Lord) always lives to make intercession for them.” (Heb 7:25). So, I’ve had the greatest intercessors anyone can ever ask for… Jesus, The Holy Spirit and my wife!