A thousand ways to get to know God.

“Knowing God Today.”

There was a time that I used to treat prayer like my investment in God and the answer to prayer as the interest of my savings to live daily.

The final result of this line of reasoning took me to see prayer as “The good works” which was my “New Bondage.”

Prayer as well as faith and salvation are from the Lord and are by grace alone.

Let me make my point in other words:

If on Monday I take Jesus at his word and separate Wednesday to pray for a specific request. On Tuesday I am already basking on the benefit of prayer the day before my prayer day started. What I am trying to say is that God is not “Time bound” for no other reason but not to share his glory with anyone but himself. Some other time we will talk about the “Ever presence of God.”

In other words, as much as I am a fanatic and dogmatic about praying in the name of Jesus, it is not at the moment that you and I say “In Jesus name. Amen.” that archangels, angels and Cherubim and Serafim run like athletes at the sound of the gunshot to see who beats who in responding to such awesome prayers of mine.

Let me speak like a fool for a moment, my brothers and sisters.

Let us go together to “the dark side of the moon” and see the return of Angels and Archangels, Cherubim and Seraphim reporting their competition to answer prayers on behalf of the prayer warriors.

Some angels reported that they did not succeed because the “Prayer warrior” finished his prayer casually just saying, “In your name. Amen.”

Another Angel said, “His prayers were in the name and title of Christ. Amen.”

And a third Angel said, “Amen only.”

Another Angel said, “His Prayer was not directed to God but to those around him.”

Another Angel said indignantly, “That was not much of a prayer but an abomination to the Lord.”

And then there was another Angel who happens to be the one who was encamped near a sick woman with an issue of blood for twelve years. He was happy to report that the woman hardly prayed any prayer but she was determined to touch the garment of Jesus. Lo and behold, the woman “By Faith” touched the garment of Jesus and she was healed immediately.

Whether she prayed in Jesus’ name or not I do not know, but surely she prayed to Jesus. (How good is prayer if faith in Jesus is absent?)

Oh, if I can just touch him... I will be healed.

She touched Jesus!

Someone touched me!!

Someone has withdrawn power from me!

Someone is doing more than talking about prayer but actually believes in me, said Jesus. How could Jesus know ...who touched him when there were so many pressing on him in Prayer? But Jesus knew it because “Power had gone out of him.”

Thus, in a faceless crowd one face stood out in a clear contrast which deserved a second look like a Father and daughter recognizing each other.

(What would I not give to look at the exchange of “Looks” that Jesus and the women had at that moment? It reminded me of the “Look” of Jesus to Peter and that of Peter to Jesus in the Sanhedrin.)

This is what I called another Divine appointment. Yes, a shepherd finding a lost sheep in the crowd. Then the broad smile of Jesus followed by the sweetest assurance: “Daughter, your faith has healed you, go in peace.”

Dearest daughters of Israel, I hope and pray that the next time you go to a prayer meeting you focus on breaking through and touch the hem of his garment.

“Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.” “Some went for wool but returned home sheared.” This is knowing God today in new ways that only a child is allowed to know. God is a timeless God sovereign over time and space.

He who has ears let him hear. This is an amateur herald on duty.

Gerry Gutiérrez.

PS. Teaching little ones to pray early in life.