I really enjoyed that video. The concentric way of prayer and how we should be 'scripture-praying' were very encouraging to me. It also inspired me to set aside a particular area to pray in. Since I have no woods currently available, I opted to buy a little stool and place it in the corner of my study. By setting aside a particular place for praying, you avoid many distractions and remained focused on why you are there. I would encourage everyone to do the same. =)
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Over the past six months God has really shown me the need, and given me the desire, to pray - and pray heavily, particularly in private prayer.
He has shown me my own inability to change myself and to rely on him for all my wisdom - 'To God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.' (Acts 16:27). Both Timothy, and Jude echo that same sentiment. But praise God, that God is not tightfisted with his wisdom, but will dispense it to us if we only humbly ask. As James tells us in his book, chapter one, verse five: 'If any of you lacks wisdom, let Him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.' I am so deficient in every aspect of all good things, Lord, please help me.
Our Lord also prayed heavily - so much so that his disciples specifically asked him to teach them how to pray. (Luke 11:1) He would often go out for hours at a time, to a solitary place (Mark 1:35), to be in communion with God and find out the "...will of He who sent me." (John 8:29) He commands us to do the same in Matthew 6:6. What convicted me so greatly about the way Jesus prayed, was the realization that he had no sin to repent of. How much more should we always be in fervent prayer, we that have so much to repent of!
Are we actively seeking the will of God? Are we in a constantly repenting for our sins and asking God for wisdom and power to sanctify us? Are we taking advantage of the great peace and love that we have in communion with a God who is also our Father? Are we lifting up in intercession our family, friends, and the world? Are we consistently praising God for his blessings and giving him glory in our thanksgiving? Are we following our Lord's injunction to pray for our enemies and those that curse us? Or is prayer only a reality to us when we have some trivial want or need - a safety net, there to use just in case we screw things up too much on our own.
Prayer really does change things. Do we believe that? Let us redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16) and be found spending much time in prayer!
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"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.' (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16)
"The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous." (Proverbs 15:29)
"Those who know God the best are the richest and most powerful in prayer. Little acquaintance with God, and strangeness and coldness to Him, make prayer a rare and feeble thing." --E. M. Bounds
"Let the fires go out in the boiler room of the church and the place will still look smart and clean, but it will be cold. The Prayer Room is the boiler room for its spiritual life." --Leonard Ravenhill
"Notice, we never pray for folks we gossip about, and we never gossip about the folk for whom we pray! For prayer is a great deterrent." --Leonard Ravenhill
"The true spirit of prayer is no other than God's own Spirit dwelling in the hearts of the saints. And as this spirit comes from God, so doth it naturally tend to God in holy breathings and pantings. It naturally leads to God, to converse with him by prayer." --Jonathan Edwards
"No leaving can make up for the failure to pray. No earnestness, no diligence, no study, no gifts will supply its lack." -- E.M. Bounds
“If any of you should ask me for an epitome of the Christian religion, I should say that it is in one word- Prayer. Live and die without prayer, and you will pray long enough when you get to hell.” --C.H. Spurgeon
1 comment:
Thank you for this, Graeme.
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