This Divine Mystery: Faith for Answered Prayer
()
About this ebook
Are you ready to experience a radical shift in your prayer life? This Divine Mystery: Faith for Answered Prayer holds the key to unlocking the assurance that your prayers are already answered.
Laura Taylor Cox
Laura Taylor Cox was born in Nashville,TN and raised in Lewisburg. She earned her BS degree from Vanderbilt University and holds a Masters of Communications in Theater Arts from Regent University. While studying at Regent, she met her husband, Bill. They have been married over 40 years and have four children and 7 grandchildren.Laura studied drama at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles, then studied Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England. She has had numerous roles in industrial films and videos. Laura has written, produced, directed and acted in many plays and sketches for her local churches over the years.Laura has believed in Jesus since being a young child. When Laura was 17, she became an avid follower of Jesus and a student of the Bible. Her journey with Him over the last five decades had been an adventure of growing in the grace and knowledge of her Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Messiah.
Related to This Divine Mystery
Related ebooks
Prayer: Unlocking the Mysteries Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJournal Your Prayers Praying Women: Praying Women Behind the Scenes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAPOSTOLIC INTERCESSORY PRAYERS: WISDOM REVELATION, KNOWLEDGE, TRANSFORMATION "Essential Prayers for The Times" Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Doorway of Prayer: A Practical Guide to Knowing God and His Will Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSpeaking With God: The Awesome Privilege of Prayer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Beginners Prayer Book: “Praying the Alphabet to God” Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTeach Us To Pray: An Ancient Model For A Modern Day Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMiss Thang! Destiny Fulfilled: A Testimonial Guide to Divine Purpose and Greatness! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Intimacy, Purpose and Power of Prayer: The Journey into His Presence Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHeart to Heart: Meeting With God in the Lord's Prayer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGive Me Wings to Soar Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsProphetic Heart Beat Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFatal Distractions: Uncover the roadblocks that keep you from fulfilling your destiny Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBelieve and Rejoice: Joy is the Serious Business of Heaven. -C.S. Lewis Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Book of Occasional Prayers: From the Heart of Christ’S Servant Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSingle And The Right Way To Mingle Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAdventure, Romance & Revival Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHealed from Idols: A Scripture-Backed Guide on How to Read the Bible for Spiritual Growth Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFasting God’S Way Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Apostles Methodology to Interpret Scripture Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsExtraordinary Prayer: Daily Prayers For All Occasions Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSummary of Stormie Omartian's The Power of a Praying® Parent Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGod Has A Sentence For Your Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Power to Build a Man: Empowering Women About Their Men or Future Mates Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsI Hear His Voice Calling: A 14-Day Devotional Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Sword of the Spirit: Scripture Key References for Everyday Prayer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGift of Faith Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Holy Spirit Prophetic Poetic Devotional Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGraced For It Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBits and Pieces Through the Journey in Christ Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Christianity For You
The Book of Enoch Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex: Creating a Marriage That's Both Holy and Hot Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better (updated with two new chapters) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Four Loves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Confessions Of Saint Augustine Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Lead When You're Not in Charge: Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries Workbook: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I'll Start Again Monday: Break the Cycle of Unhealthy Eating Habits with Lasting Spiritual Satisfaction Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet: Discovering New Ways of Living When the Old Ways Stop Working Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lost Books of the Bible and The Forgotten Books of Eden Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion with No Name Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truth for a Skeptical World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It's Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Doing Life with Your Adult Children: Keep Your Mouth Shut and the Welcome Mat Out Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth: Fourth Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dragon's Prophecy: Israel, the Dark Resurrection, and the End of Days Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Reflections on the Psalms Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools: An Invitation to the Wonder and Mystery of Prayer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Return of the Gods Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fervent: A Woman's Battle Plan to Serious, Specific, and Strategic Prayer Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Breath as Prayer: Calm Your Anxiety, Focus Your Mind, and Renew Your Soul Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Holy Bible: American Standard Version - New & Old Testaments: E-Reader Formatted ASV w/ Easy Navigation Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Holy Bible Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for This Divine Mystery
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
This Divine Mystery - Laura Taylor Cox
This Divine Mystery
Faith for Answered Prayer
Laura Taylor Cox
This Divine Mystery - Faith for Answered Prayer
Copyright © 2023 by Laura Taylor Cox
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the author.
Scripture references noted AMP are taken from the Amplified Bible (AMP), Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
Scripture references noted NIV are taken from the New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblical, Inc®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture references noted NKJV are taken from the New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version® Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked TPT are from The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018, 2020 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com.
Laura Taylor Cox loves to hear from readers! Reach out to her at [email protected]
Ebook ISBN: 979-8-9889289-0-4
Paperback ISBN: 979-8-9889289-2-8
Hardback ISBN: 979-8-9889289-1-1
Printed in USA by This Divine Mystery
Dedication
To all the women of valor. You are mighty warriors who fight on your knees. You heap coals of fire on others by doing good for them. You labor with your hands to lift others up. Many times your labor is unseen and unnoticed, but the God-Who-Sees does see you! He notices your works and kindnesses and labor for others. My prayer is that this book will help you be more effective on your knees and spur you on to a greater knowledge of and a deeper faith in our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One.
image-placeholderContents
Foreword
Preface
Introduction
1.Why Did God Create Us?
What is Prayer?
Do You Believe?
2.The Faith of God
Definition of Faith
God's Faith
Have the Faith of God
What does the faith of God look like?
This Eternal Present Moment
3.A Whole New Ballgame
Salvation
All Things are Possible
Faith of God
Delightful Prayer
4.Mustard Seed Faith
Mustard Seed Parables
Believe and do not Doubt
Persistent Prayer
5.Increase Your Faith
Acts of Faith
God's Word Stands
My Faith
Praying in the Holy Spirit
Keep yourselves in the love of God
The Astonishment of Jesus
6.Learn to Ask
ASK
Jesus Asked
The Disciples Asked
Blind Bartimaeus Asked
Be an Asker!
7.Is It God's Will?
Seated with Jesus
The Will of God
Rejoice Always
Pray Without Ceasing
In Everything Give Thanks
What about Healing?
What about Things?
8.Cultivate an Abundant Mindset
The One Who has will get More
Changing Your Mindset
Cultivating an Abundant Mindset
Money
Abundance
Abundance in the Bible
9.Living in His Presence
Life in Jesus
A Child of the Most High God
His Image Bearers
Kings and Priests
Bibliography
Resources
About the Author
Foreword
Laura has given us a true handbook in her book properly titled, This Divine Mystery — Faith for Answered Prayer. The book is encouraging, challenging, thought-provoking, faith-building. I have read many books, but I’ve never read one about faith for answered prayer!
And yet, as I was reading Laura’s book, I thought over and over again, Why has someone not challenged us in ways like this before?
I am encouraged to reconsider the way I pray.
Early on Laura reminds us that prayer is a two way conversation, but how many times have we prayed, but took no time to listen, to see if God has something to say about what we just prayed?
Do I sometimes pray things that I really doubt will happen? Yes. Why do I do that? James makes it very clear that we are to ask in faith with no doubting,
otherwise we are double-minded, unstable
in all our ways.
And Laura takes those clear words from the mouth of Jesus and does not relegate them to the bins of history but challenges us to pray accordingly: Whatever thing you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them
(Mark 11:24). Believe we receive them? How do we do that? We visualize the fulfillment and pray accordingly.
But how can we be completely sure that our prayers will be answered? When we pray according to the Word of God. When we pray His Word, His promises. Think of the words of Jesus in teachings to pray, Jesus said that we should pray that the kingdom of God will come. Can we be sure that it will happen? Yes. Why? Because this is a clear prayer command out of Jesus’ own mouth. But,
you might say, this has been prayed for centuries, often from people who are just repeating liturgy, and we still do not see the kingdom in its fulfillment.
No, not it its fulfillment, but the kingdom of God is advancing! Often in areas that have been in darkness for centuries. John’s revelation even lets us know that our prayers are mingle with angelic incense (Revelation 8:3), agreeing with those words from Hebrews 1:14, that the angels are all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation.
I would encourage you to get a copy of Laura’s book and use the nine chapters as a sort of daily devotional,
reading through a chapter a day, then pausing to pray according to what you just read. That’s what I am doing. Laura does not lead us astray. She is reminding us, has reminded us of the clear words of scripture. I intend to take a step forward in my own personal prayer life after reading Laura’s challenges.
Don Finto
www.donfinto.org
Preface
I’ve been a follower of Jesus all my life, a Spirit-filled believer for over five decades. I love mysteries. When I read Paul’s letter to the Colossian church, I was intrigued by his use of the word mystery! Then he tells his readers what the mystery of God is! Jesus dwelling inside of us!
The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Col 1: 26-27 (NKJV)
Writing this book has been a compilation of prayer facets I’ve learned over my life. I desired to write this to leave as a legacy for my GrandOnes. As I’ve written, and re-written, and written each chapter for the umpteenth time, I realize how far short I come to living what I’ve penned on these pages. I aspire for my prayer life to become His jewel of faith.
image-placeholderI want you to know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you are the dearly beloved child of Almighty God. In order to have faith for answered prayer, you must be assured of your position in Christ Jesus. You are an heir and co-heir with Him. You are seated with Him in heavenly places. You are filled with His joy which is inexpressible and full of glory. He wants you to partner with Him in prayer by talking with Him and letting all your requests be made known to Him. He wants to partner with you in your life with your acknowledgement of His presence with you throughout each and every day. As your relationship with Jesus grows, so grows your prayer life.
Approach each chapter as a different facet in the jewel of prayer. See the beauty of the scriptures and how they connect with one another. Polish each facet by taking the time to reflect on the Practicing His Presence
section at the end of each chapter. By the end of the book, you will have a gorgeous jewel of prayer to offer to our Lord Jesus.
Introduction
image-placeholderDon’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell Him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.
Philippians 4:6-7 (TPT)
I’ve been gazing at the Pacific Ocean off the shores of Waikiki thinking about the abundance and the infinity of Almighty God. We have access to this infinite abundance of Almighty God because we are in Christ Jesus and we have been created in God’s very own image. This morning as I’ve been looking at the ocean, I’ve thought about how the abundance of the ocean is under the surface. We see the surface, but we don’t see the depth of the abundance and the life that’s in the ocean. All we see is the surface. And this part of the ocean that we see is just a drop in the bucket of the oceans of the earth.
image-placeholderThe analogy of the infinite abundance of Almighty God with the oceans of the earth is shallow. It only goes as far as the depths of our oceans and they are finite. But with God’s infinite abundance there is no end. So if we take something that’s so enormous to us and then we add infinity to that, we get a little bit closer to the abundance of God. We would then need to add an infinitive exponential component of abundance to it and then we’re even closer to the abundance of Almighty God.
Encapsulating this thought, we see only the surface of the ocean, but the abundance of the ocean is underneath the surface. So let’s correlate that to our prayer life. In Mark 11: 24 Jesus said, Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
When we pray, we’re seeing and thinking surface things, like when we gaze at the ocean. Our longing is the abundance beneath the surface. Our belief has to be that the answers to our prayers are already in existence in the abundance of Almighty God. They are under the surface.
Now imagine that you are standing in the middle of this vast ocean with Jesus, Who can walk on water. This is in your imagination so you won’t sink, but if you do, you can breathe under this water because it is in your sanctified imagination! You and Jesus are standing on the infinite abundance of answered prayers!
Jesus tells you to look up. Whether it is daytime on the ocean, or the ocean is glowing underneath your feet (how awesome would that be?) as you tilt your head to look at the sky, you see an infinite abundance of stars in the night sky. The Milky Way is a bright band of stars above you. The moon is however you love it to be. Large crescent and low on the horizon, full and gorgeous, or maybe a new moon that cannot be seen at all. However you imagine the moon, it does not interfere with the twinkling of the stars.
image-placeholder