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Great Things Happen When You Pray

In this excerpt from PLUS magazine, Norman Vincent Peale shares insight on how to tap into the incredible power of prayer.

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
Prayer is a powerful force for good. At Guideposts, we believe in the strength of prayer to bring comfort, hope, and healing. Your generous donation today will help us continue to share the power of prayer with those in need. Together, through prayer and support, we can make a difference. 

Prayer is a mental process. When you think prayerfully, with Jesus as your guide, you break free from defeats. I believe any problem, any difficulty can be overcome through prayer.

The attitude that really leads to a life in all its fullness is that of a child walking with Him, loving Him, trusting Him, seeking to serve Him. When you develop a deep fundamental and powerful relationship to God, your whole mind and heart are ready to receive power from the Source.

Some people think that a deep relationship with God must happen in a certain way. Nothing could be more false. Springtime comes in more ways than one. If it were standardized, if you saw the same blooms, the same flowers and trees wherever you looked, spring wouldn’t have the glory that it does.

Christ comes like springtime in different ways to different human hearts. Sometimes He comes through feelings, sometimes He comes through theology, sometimes He comes from scientific reasoning and sometimes He comes through poetry.  As you pray and your heart is open to God, He comes.

Often a person will complain, “I’ve prayed and prayed and didn’t get what I wanted.” Well who said you are supposed to get what you want? Prayer isn’t a device to get what you want.

Prayer is a means of bringing you to the point where you will accept what God wants. If you’re using prayer just for getting what you want, your engaging in an improper use of prayer.

To live a full and happy life is to learn to say, “This is what I’d like to have Lord, if You think it’s all right for me. But if You don’t, then give me what You want me to have or show me what You want me to do.”

What is bothering you? What is your difficulty? Just start praying. Fill your mind full of God. Then have the audacity to pray big, daring prayers. What do you want to be? Tell the Lord you want to be that. What do you want to accomplish? Tell Him. What do you want to happen? Tell Him. And believe. Be prepared for Him to tell you no. But also be prepared for Him to tell you yes. Great things happen when you pray.

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