Prayer is one if not the most mysterious working of God in our lives. I will be honest I do not know how prayer works, but I am glad it does. God had to take me to India and weaken me of my physical strength to teach me, “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6) Make no mistake my friend all we do that will matter for God and all we receive from God will be by His Spirit, prayer is no different. It is interesting to know I pray not because I want something from God, but I pray so that others may receive (some how) and because Jesus told us to. But one thing for sure it is easy to see where someone is in God, by how they pray. Sadly most prayer is spent on our self, I do not believe that was God’s purpose and Jesus’ intention when He instructed the disciples how to pray. In Matthew six we find the beginning of what many call the model prayer. “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13) Now Jesus was not saying to pray these words, Jesus said, “After this manner therefore pray ye” not to pray these words. Is it wrong to pray these words? I cannot begin to tell you the number of times at half time or after a game the coach said, “take a knee boys” then yelled and screamed at us for awhile, but most times at the end of the chewing out we recited Matthew 6:9-13. Maybe we did it to ease the coach’s heart condition anyway it is never a bad thing reciting verses from the Bible especially if you believe what you are saying. But Jesus was doing something greater than teaching us some words to recite He was showing us the direction “Our Father,” our attitude “Hallowed be thy name,” His purpose “Your Kingdom Come,” and so much more. Jesus was showing us the pathway to the heart of the Father through prayer. Remember the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, apparently they always saw Him praying and then saw His prayers get answered so they too wanted to know the secret of His power. Well, the secret of Jesus’ power in prayer was praying; not only in words as the heathens do, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” (Matthew 6:7-8), but praying by the Spirit of God with an utter dependency on His Father. For us to have our prayers answered we must spend time in prayer with the Father there is no short cut or other way around, this is a real revelation for some Christians Prayer is of the Spirit of God and at the heart of prayer is submission that reflects total dependency to the will of the Father. It is more than asking or beseeching the Father, but us aligning our desires and will with the Father’s. Prayer is a thing of the Spirit of God that should be coming out of us 24 hours a day. Not living our lives stopping to pray, but where our lives become a prayer 24 hours before God and the world. Do you see the difference? Now I am not there yet, but this is what the people saw in Jesus as He walked from town to town. This is what the people felt that drew them to hear His words and to follow Him. If we truly want to reach the world, our city, town, village, our family for Christ this is the place we will have to allow God to take us too. But few find it. This is the “strait gate” that few be that find it. Talking of this spiritual place in God, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:12-14) and prayer is the pathway to the “strait gate.” “Enter ye in” to what? Certainly not heaven, Jesus was not talking about going to heaven, He was talking about entering into this place in God, “which leadeth unto life” the life of God. But please notice, few not many find it. The many are not willing to endure the dealings and judgments of God in their lives so that God could bring them to such as place, but it is the place never the less we must come to if we desire to have the life of God in us. Prayer is the pathway that leads us to the life of God, not words and communication with God, but communion with God.
There are five points I would like to share that will help us to come into this place of prayer. Never forget in prayer there is no order, format, or routine, just heart to heart communion with God.
1. The first is confess our sin. Even as we know God is aware of all of our faults, failures, and sins it is important to let God know WE are aware of them as well. Too often we can hide and even deny areas in our heart that keep us from Godly relationships with God and man. Too often the world rushes us on and we allow situations to fester. Confession leads us to some painful realization as to our need for seeking forgiveness, reconciliation, and guidance.
2. The second points is give God praise. When we come into the presence of God, it is a time for reflection and introspection, a pause from our activities to focus on God and God alone. Spend time praising God for who He is and for some of the specific blessing He has given us and our families reflecting our gratitude and utter dependency, two qualities we must possess for God to be able to trust us.
3. The third point is give God thanks. After we have worshipped Him and come clean then we are ready to give God thanks. God knows our heart and does not like it when we stand with dirty lips. We count our blessings as we recognize all that God has done for us. From the smallest gift to the awesome love of God in the grace and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we give Him thanks.
4. The fourth is pray for specific requests for others first then your self. Remember first things first and what the word JOY stands for: Jesus first, Other next, and Yourself last. Spend some time praying for specific needs, but please do not get bogged down on praying for your self. God knows what you need and He will take good care of you if you take good care of Him and others.
5. Lastly praise God for answered prayer. Conclude by expressing faith and confidence that God will answer our prayers and give Him praise for what He will do, but this in no way is a formula to get God to do things for us. If we want God to be God to us then He gets to do what He wants to do and when He wants to do it. Our part is to count it all joy and endure until God thinks we are ready to handle Him answering our request. God is listening for the song in our heart. Are we singing “No One Knows The Troubles I Have Seen” or are we singing “Blessed Assurance” in tough and difficult times. God is listening to what song are we singing.
There are five points I would like to share that will help us to come into this place of prayer. Never forget in prayer there is no order, format, or routine, just heart to heart communion with God.
1. The first is confess our sin. Even as we know God is aware of all of our faults, failures, and sins it is important to let God know WE are aware of them as well. Too often we can hide and even deny areas in our heart that keep us from Godly relationships with God and man. Too often the world rushes us on and we allow situations to fester. Confession leads us to some painful realization as to our need for seeking forgiveness, reconciliation, and guidance.
2. The second points is give God praise. When we come into the presence of God, it is a time for reflection and introspection, a pause from our activities to focus on God and God alone. Spend time praising God for who He is and for some of the specific blessing He has given us and our families reflecting our gratitude and utter dependency, two qualities we must possess for God to be able to trust us.
3. The third point is give God thanks. After we have worshipped Him and come clean then we are ready to give God thanks. God knows our heart and does not like it when we stand with dirty lips. We count our blessings as we recognize all that God has done for us. From the smallest gift to the awesome love of God in the grace and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we give Him thanks.
4. The fourth is pray for specific requests for others first then your self. Remember first things first and what the word JOY stands for: Jesus first, Other next, and Yourself last. Spend some time praying for specific needs, but please do not get bogged down on praying for your self. God knows what you need and He will take good care of you if you take good care of Him and others.
5. Lastly praise God for answered prayer. Conclude by expressing faith and confidence that God will answer our prayers and give Him praise for what He will do, but this in no way is a formula to get God to do things for us. If we want God to be God to us then He gets to do what He wants to do and when He wants to do it. Our part is to count it all joy and endure until God thinks we are ready to handle Him answering our request. God is listening for the song in our heart. Are we singing “No One Knows The Troubles I Have Seen” or are we singing “Blessed Assurance” in tough and difficult times. God is listening to what song are we singing.
The first time I went to Israel back in 1984, I went for walk and by chance came across a potter. I stood there and watched the potter work some clay of the wedging board then wet his hands and spin some clay already formed. At times he would get up and check the fire under the kiln and when the fire was just right he would take a piece of pottery already formed and put it into the kiln and close the door. Well I stood there for about 15 minutes then it struck me, how does the potter know the pot in the fire is done so I asked. With a big open faced smile he relied, “when the pot is done it begins to sing a sound, a whistling sound that tells me to get it out of the fire or it will be destroyed.” I thought our Heavenly Father is just like that, He too is listening to what sound we are making to see if we too are finished and He will keep us in the fire until just the right time no matter how much we kick and scream, because like the potter our heavenly Father wants to make a quality pot, a pot that can stand the pressures of life, a pot that can hold life-giving rivers of the Gospel that flows out of our bellies. Prayer is the pathway to the heart of the Father. Let us allow God to work so in our lives that He will be able to mold and shape us into the vessel he desires us to be. Like the potter, our heavenly Father has the right to, “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory” (Romans 9:18-23) Who would have thought this word prayer even extends to our obedience and submission? My friend it all extends to our obedience and submission and prayer is no different. But the one who “might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory” is the one who has learned the secret of prayer, it is a thing of the Spirit of God. Written by David Stahl
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