God often gets us ready for lifeâs toughest struggles in the quiet, private places of our lives. Itâs during these moments alone with him â away from the noise and crowds â that we are strengthened. Spending time reading the Bible, praying, and listening for Godâs voice shapes our hearts and removes anything that does not belong in our lives.
In these silent times, God draws us close, building a deep, personal relationship with us. The real fight takes place on our knees in prayer, when no one else is watching. When we learn to face our challenges in these private moments with God, the public victories will follow.
True strength for lifeâs battles is found in these hidden times with God.
But as for you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
For nearly seven decades, The Kingsmen Quartet has been a staple in Southern gospel. As the group approaches its 70th anniversary, they find themselves in a season marked by both sorrow and celebration.
The past few weeks have brought significant moments. In a heartfelt message to fans, the group shared, âSome significant prayer needs and praise reports have been transpiring within our music ministry over the last few weeks, and the time has come to provide an update to our many fans and friends.â The Kingsmen delayed sharing their news out of respect for the recent passings of two beloved friends and alumni, Charles Abee and Squire Parsons.
Amid these losses, the group announced the departure of their tenor vocalist, Thomas Nalley. âIt is bittersweet that the Kingsmen announce the departure of our friend and tenor vocalist, Thomas Nalley,â the post reads. Nalley, who joined the quartet nearly three years ago, quickly became a fan favorite and the voice behind such impactful songs as âUnstoppable Godâ and âPraying for the Prodigal.â His final concert with The Kingsmen took place on April 27.
The group expressed deep gratitude for Nalleyâs contributions: âWe sincerely thank him for his work, dedication, music, and genuine heart for ministry.â Nalley now turns his focus to his thriving business, Highnote Customs, which offers shirts, hats, 3D printing, and woodwork. âWe pray with great expectation for the continued success of this multi-talented gentleman and friend,â the group added.
Even as they grieve and transition, The Kingsmen have reasons to rejoice. The group shared uplifting news about their office secretary, Wendi Gregg: âWe are overjoyed to report that the recent major cancer surgery of our office secretary Wendi Gregg was a success. Praise God!â This praise report is a bright spot, reminding fans of the power of prayer and the resilience of the Kingsmen community.
Change is nothing new for The Kingsmen, whose lineup has evolved many times since their founding in 1956. As they search for their next tenor vocalist, the group remains anchored in faith: âAs we approach our 70th anniversary and this time of transition with both prayer and anticipation, we are once again reminded of how God has never failed us. He has always been faithful.â
The Kingsmen are grateful for the friends and familiar faces who have stepped in to help during this period. âWe greatly appreciate several friends and familiar faces who have been and will be filling in for us while we prayerfully seek our next tenor vocalist,â they wrote, assuring fans that âGod already has the right man to help us continue our concert ministry forward to the next generation.â
Prayer is an important part of faith, but it can be challenging to know how to pray effectively. Even though the Bible teaches a lot about prayer, the apostle Paul tells us in Romans 8:26 that “we do not know how to pray as we should.” This is because we often don’t know what’s best in a given situation.
When faced with difficult circumstances, like praying for someone with cancer, it’s hard to know exactly what to ask for. Should we pray for healing or for God’s will to be done, even if that means the person passes away? We may not understand how God plans to use illness or hardship for a greater purpose, such as bringing people to faith.
The key is to pray sincerely while trusting God with the outcome. We can express our desires to God, but ultimately we need to defer to His wisdom and plan. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
So while we may not always know the right words to say, we can pray passionately and honestly, leaving the final results in God’s capable hands. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us, expressing the deep longings of our hearts that we can’t put into words ourselves.
The Craguns, a dynamic family gospel group, is made up of Jordan and Elena Cragun, along with Jordanâs father Ray and sister Savannah, the group has built a reputation for heartfelt harmonies and a deep, spiritual connection with their audience. The Cragunsâ music is a reflection of their faith and dedication to spreading the message of Godâs love and grace.
Their latest song, “Wasted Words,” is a reminder. It shows that no prayer is ever wasted. No sincere cry for help is wasted, nor are any honest words offered to God. Jordan Cragun passionately believes that as Christians, we should never hesitate to reach out to God in times of need or joy. He said, âI am so thankful for a God who cares about everything we face and that we can go boldly to Him with our petitions and our concerns and even our praises, and there are no wasted words with God.â
This sentiment lies at the heart of “Wasted Words,” a song that centers on the idea that every conversation with God is meaningful, whether spoken in moments of joy or despair. The lyrics echo Matthew 6:5â8 as the song song encourages listeners to pray sincerely, without worrying about rehearsing or performing their prayers. It is not the public display of piety that matters, but the authenticity of our hearts. God listens to the words we speak in private, knowing our true intentions.
Listen for “Wasted Words” playing now on Texas Gospel Canada!
Why donât Christian prayers empty hospital wards?
The ninth chapter of Matthew begins with verses that tell of Jesus healing a paralyzed man. Matthew says people brought the man to Jesus. Other Gospels record him being lowered through roof to Jesus. Matthew also tells of other healings. I believe the context of Matthew tells us why we read of healings. I also believe there are many biblical reasons why prayer doesnât lead to empty hospital wards.
Letâs lay out the context of Matthew. The Book of Matthew was written by a Jewish tax collector for a Jewish audience to convince them that Jesus is the King of the Jews. Matthew writes down things that Jesus did to fulfill prophecy. The âfulfill prophecyâ part is very important. We know Matthewâs purpose because of the number of times he wrote that Jesus did something to fulfil that which was spoken by the prophet. The Old Testament prophets said that the Messiah will heal. Matthewâs premise is that Jesus did things to fulfill what was written by the prophet. Do you know any prophecies that are not fulfilled unless a hospital ward is emptied?
One could debate if Jesus healed people solely to fulfill prophecy; that is, solely to show that he had the power to forgive sin and heal. Iâm not sold on the idea that it is an either/or situation. It seems more likely that itâs a little of both and one of the reasons we donât see hospital wards emptied today. At this point itâs important for me to stipulate I am extrapolating from scripture. I might be wrong in my extrapolation and am open to anyone who has scriptural reasons to argue differently. With this as my preface I suggest that we should consider that James tells us that our prayers will go unanswered if we ask for things simply because we want them. And even Jesus prayed in the garden before his execution, âFather, if You are willing, remove this cup from MeâŚâ but stipulated, ââŚyet not My will, but Yours be done.â Jesus didnât assume he needed to be delivered because otherwise he would die. He acknowledged that Godâs will is more important.
Letâs reflect back on Matthewâs account of the manâs healing mentioned above. It says, âAnd seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man who was paralyzed, âTake courage, son; your sins are forgiven.ââ When those around him had thoughts that Jesus had blasphemed in saying this, Matthew says Jesus healed the man, ââŚso that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.â The man who was healed had faith as did the people who brought him to Jesus. His healing is part of a book that records Jesusâ actions that fulfill prophecy. His healing was part of Godâs purpose. Iâm not implying that suffering fulfills Godâs purpose. Suffering is the result of a world made corrupt through rejection of God.
There are things in this world I find unboreable. For me it involves watching my kids when they suffer knowing sometimes there is no way for me to help them. Jesus asked that he not have to go through the suffering on the cross, but he was executed anyway to fulfill Godâs plan. Just as his suffering was the result of sin and the corruption it causes, so too is the suffering we all experience while in this temporary life on earth. I think our prayers are often more about changing us than they are about changing the world around us.
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