Over the last few years, I have learnt the importance of making sure that when I pray for someone, I actually focus on the cause of the problem and not allow myself to be sidetracked by praying instead, against one of it's effects. I have come to realise that focusing on the effect, rather than the cause of the person's problem, is a major reason for prayers not being answered.

The scriptural name given to many of the problems we encounter during our lives is "strongholds". That definition is pretty much self explanatory......if something has a strong hold on some area of your life, that's exactly what you are experiencing.....a stronghold.

As I was starting my "quiet time", last Saturday morning, my thoughts were directed to what I should write about in this month's blog. I found myself concentrating on the expression, "tough seasons", which I initially wrote about in my first book, "Ulitmate Journey". Every one of us has difficult issues to deal with during our lives. The way we react to these situations, can either make us or break us, as the saying goes.

In December 2012, we recorded the highest ever number of hits on our website Google Ads, with regard to Powerful Prayer Answers. Many of these were enquiries concerned How to Pray for Healing. In all three of my books, I outline powerful Biblical strategies which explain clearly and simply how you can receive answers to your prayers. It is important to know what these strategies are and how they can work, to release the power of God into your situation.

With Christmas only a few sleeps away (as my grandchildren put it) I want to share with you a powerful process that you can utilise to release Christ's power into your life... especially if you are dealing with a difficult situation at present. A much better idea is to confess the truth of God's Word over the problem. This brings a scriptural source of power into play, which will work in our favor. Consider this...

I get a lot out of reading about specific incidents that happened during the three years of Jesus' ministry, especially those where people benefited from His healing power. In the 14th chapter of Matthew's gospel, there is a brief but important account of what took place on the occasion that Jesus arrived at Gennesaret. Matthew tells us, in verses 35 and 36, that "when the men of that place recognised Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region and brought to Him all who were sick and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment and as many that touched it were made perfectly well." There is a two part strategy here, that is available for us to take advantage of right now.

Recently, I've been re-reading the account in Luke's gospel, chapter eight, verses 43 to 48, of a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. She had spent all her money on doctors, but none of them had been able to help her.

For quite some time now, the greatest number of hits on my website have been registered on Google Ads dealing with the issues of receiving answers to prayer and knowing how to pray, in order to see this actually happen. I have felt for some time, that it is important for us to understand that the way to have our prayers answered, is for us to personally call on God with our specific needs.

The greatest number of hits we receive on our website each month, is associated with the Google Add entitled; "Powerful Prayer Answers". I chose the words for this add deliberately, because they highlight the most powerful and life changing experience any one of us can have... connecting with God. Let me explain what this means...