When we pray, do we listen?
Where do we really find His answers to our prayers?
OMG, wouldn't it be awesome if God would text us? Or email, or phone, or write it in the sky?
Well, that's not going to happen.
So, how does prayer work? Do we pray and then wait to hear something? How about if we set up artificial situations like, if the light turns green in the next five seconds, I'll know that God says it's a go in this part of my life that has me concerned..... I know that Gideon kind of pushed the edge of the envelope with his fleece, but I don't get the sense that the Spirit wants us to do this.
The truth is, we listen for His voice, His will, and His answers in His Word. This is the only place we can be certain to hear the clear, no-nonsense, know-for-sure voice of our Lord.
Our prayers have no power in and of themselves. (The most eloquent prayer is just as powerful as the timid, faltering prayer of a new believer.) That's because in faith, we access God's power through prayer.
The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)
Powerful because of the person?
Nope.
Powerful because of the words used?
Nope.
Powerful because when we pray, we are tapping into God's power, and His strength. Effective because we pray according to His Word, and His will.
And because the Spirit is working alongside us in our prayers, uttering things that we cannot find words for.
And what should we pray for?
Well, of course we should bring our concerns and life situations to Him. We should also pray for others. Other real people with real challenges, just like ours. With real struggles. And with real blessings. This kind of prayer will draw us closer to Him and closer to others.
Let's always take seriously the privilege of prayer. Let's make sure that there is no doubt in our minds that He will answer!
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that
we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of
need. (Hebrews 4:16)
I was going to write you an email on this very thing. What you have written is what I wanted to share with you; that*I* had gained for myself and I had wanted to share it. It makes me glad to read this here today about how we children of the Lord try unknowingly to mold prayer into a form it isn't. This way all of us can become increasingly aware of it if we do it unthinkingly. And what great examples you gave.
ReplyDeleteIt’s wonderful to know that God gives us grace. and power to live through His spirit, even when we don’t know the answers to our prayers. I can pray, “please keep our children safe as they travel this weekend” and I know with my whole being that He hears that prayer. I know that he surrounds them with HIs angel armies. What I don’t know is, maybe this is the time He decides to call them home to Him. But, if He does, I have to trust that He will give the grace to accept it. All the same, please Lord, keep them safe and bring them home to us safe and sound.
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