Angels In The Alley

Diane, a young Christian university student, was home for the summer. She had gone to visit some friends one evening & the time passed quickly as each shared their various experiences of the past year. She ended up staying longer than she had planned. Evening came & Diane had to walk home alone. But she wasn't afraid because it was a small town and she lived only a few blocks away. As she walked along under the tall elm trees, Diane asked "God" to keep her safe from harm & danger.

When she reached the alley, which was a short cut to her house, she decided to take it. However, halfway down the alley, she noticed a man standing at the end, as though he were waiting for her. She became uneasy & began to pray, asking for "God's" protection. Instantly a comforting
feeling of quietness & security wrapped around her; she felt as though someone was walking with her. When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man & arrived home safely.

The following day, she read in the paper that a young girl had been raped in the same alley, just twenty minutes after she had been there. Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy & the fact that it could of been her, she began to weep.

Thanking the Lord for her safety & to help this young woman, she decided to go to the police station. She felt she could recognize the man, so she told them her story. The police asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to see if she could identify him. She agreed & immediately pointed out the man she had seen in the alley the night before.

When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately broke down & confessed. The officer thanked Diane for her bravery & asked if there was anything they could do for her, she asked if they would ask the man one question. Diane was curious as to why he had not attacked her. When the policeman asked him, he answered, "Because she wasn't alone. She had two tall men walking on either side of her."


NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF PRAYER

Prayer

The Bible instructs believers to pray "without ceasing," which is more difficult than most of the better-known Ten Commandments. Are you really supposed to pray constantly, continuously? What about eating and sleeping? And working? And building relationships with your family and friends? And listening to music? And watching movies? And doing homework? And checking out the newest stuff on the Internet?

Is it possible to pray all the time?

A posture of awareness

From my perspective, prayer is a posture. By that, I mean that it's a way of approaching God -- and it's a way of approaching your life. A "prayer full" posture does not mean one literally spends days, weeks, months and years on the knees locked in conscious conversation with God. Rather, life is spent growing ever more aware of the source of deepest gladness and trust-- in constant comunication through that awareness.

Be a person of prayer -- in a posture of awareness of and gratitude to God. For further insight into prayer, read Philippians 4:6-9. For the prayer Jesus taught to his followers, read Matthew 6:5-15.

More Scriptures on prayer
Following the links below will take you straight to the Bible text:

Psalm 34:4-8 -Those who look to the Lord are never shamed.
Psalm 34:15 -His eyes on the righteous.
Proverbs 3:5 -He will direct your paths.
Jeremiah 33:2-3 -Call and He will answer.
Matthew 7:7-11 -Ask, seek, knock.
Mark 11:24-25 -Forgive others, THEN pray.
Luke 18:1-7 -Parable of prayer and never giving up.
John 14:14-16 -Obey, THEN pray.
Romans 8:26 -The Spirit intercedes for us in prayer.
Ephesians 3:20 -He is able.
Hebrews 4:14-16 -Approach the throne with confidence.
James 1:5 -Pray for wisdom.
James 5:16-18 -Confess, THEN pray. Elijah's example.

Finally, if you're having trouble praying, notice the common thread in the above passages. Is there unconfessed sin in your life? Lack of obedience? Someone you need to forgive? Make it right first, THEN pray.

taken from www.gospelcom.net