02/09/2018
Do you carry your prayers into the day with you? Does the encounter you have with Jesus during your time of morning devotion and prayer follow you into the worldly environment that awaits you outside your prayer closet? The hardest thing for a Christian to do each morning is to get up from his knees and walk into the chaos of the world outside his door. Yet, he carries with him on his face, in his actions, and within his heart the glow of Christ.
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”Acts 4:13 ESV
We might be of advanced education, or exceptional intelligence, but none of that really matters when it comes to faith. Scripture tells us that the faith of a child will inhabit heaven, so why do so many of us leave that child behind after we pray, and step into the world? Why do we think that our intellect will compensate for the act of leaving God in our prayer closet? If we actually think that then we are deceiving ourselves. Only one thing can save us, and that is to bring Jesus with us as we go about our day... to hold onto a His hand and walk wherever the Father leads us... to live our everyday life just as faithfully as we pray.
“pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.”1 Thessalonians 5:17-19 ESV
This morning, I read a wonderful thought written by Andrew Murray. He spoke of our secret place of prayer as if it were the Holy of Holies within the temple; he called it the inner chamber. Then he spoke of coming out of that place, but not emerging alone; he said that we reflect the presence of God... a presence that is unshakable.
“It is a great privilege to enter the inner chamber, to shut the door, and to meet the Father in secret. It is a further privilege to open the door and continue to enjoy that presence that nothing can disturb.” - Andrew Murray
Do you feel the comfort and joy of being in the presence of God when you pray? Most of faith do, but the real test is in what happens when the door of the closet swings open and you reenter the temptation of the world. In that moment do you step out alone, or do you continue in the communion which summited in secret? Do you walk together as you enter the world of fallen men?
When we read Paul’s letter to the Romans, we read a description of what a Christian is, and one of those attributes speaks of our prayer. He doesn’t adhere to the morning, noon, and evening schedule of coming into the presence of God... he tells us to never leave it. Listen to this simple exhortation:
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”Romans 12:12 ESV
The word used here is constant, not consistent. How do you pray? Do you keep prayer on your tongue all day long, or do you log your requests so that they can be delivered at your next time of prayer? Is the first Word you speak in the morning a prayer, and likewise of the last one at night? Do you carry on a conversation all day long with Jesus and God? Are they with you always, or do you spend most of your time alone? If you are alone, then how will people know when to say “they had been with Jesus”? What does your life look like without constant prayer and the presence of God? I would say to most of us that we should take a look at ourselves because that is how we appear today... not as if we have been with Jesus, but as if we have been alone.
Examine your life of prayer.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being with me always, and hearing each prayer I speak during my day. Thank you for allowing me to remain in your presence constantly because as long as I am there I will be within your will for me. Hear my simple prayers father, hear the words of a child who seeks your goodness. If I pray in a verbose or flowery manner remind me that I am not putting on a show, and that it is just the two of us here. Let my words be simple, and direct. Let my love for you come from my heart, and my desire for you be constant... in this way Lord I will find you in my secret prayers, and reap my reward in heaven. In this way you will be with me in every aspect of my life, and I with you. I praise your Holy Name, for you are great, and in you I find my peace, and my joy... Father, live in my prayers, and on my face; let only you hear me pray, but everyone see you in me.
Rich Forbes