12/30/2022
Prayer is viewed similar to our works when it comes to faithfully pursuing them. We read Revelation 3:16 regarding those who are lukewarm in their works and how we will be spit out of Christ’s mouth if we live in this way, but brothers and sisters many of us are leading lukewarm lives of prayer right now and not thinking a thing about it. Are we convicted by the thought of this?
““‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
Revelation 3:15-16 ESV
When we experience difficulty in our lives is approaching God in prayer the first course of action we pursue? No? Well is it something we do to strengthen ourselves as we wrestle with our problem? Or, perhaps we simply pray as a last ditch effort in the hope that it will somehow be answered? Friends, and fellow believers, our conversation with God, our prayer, should be the fist conscious words that come from our mouths each morning when we rise, the last words we speak before falling to sleep at night, but leaning on prayer should most certainly be first and foremost on our minds in our times of trouble and hardship. Are we praying in the name of Jesus, in the will of God, without ceasing, and trusting in Him to answer us as He has promised when we are doing so? As we prepare to enter a new year let’s use this opportunity to revisit our faithfulness and dedication to prayer.
“So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.”
Acts 12:5 ESV
So many of us claim to be believers, and to be disciples of Jesus Christ, yet we treat prayer as if it were an afterthought. We face our days seemingly alone and only call upon God when we are in trouble, when we are experiencing a problem we can’t solve for ourselves, or at those times of routine prayer like little children at mealtime, or priests at the time of prayer. We claim to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, yet we talk to our earthly friends more than Him; is this manner of prayer consistent with the faith we profess? Is God out of sight and out of mind to us? Do the instructions on our prescription for prayer read “take as needed”, or “use only as directed”? What about our prayer closet? Do we treat them like a bomb or tornado shelter and only run to them when we are under attack, or the skies are turning dark as night?
“Rejoice always, 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 5:16-19 ESV
I used to pray like this, I would open the door to prayer and greet the Holy Spirit by saying “Well hello old friend… long time no see!” And then begin to describe the problem that had led me there as I asked for his assistance in praying. Does this sound familiar? Then, with my request lifted up and the tears of contrition drying on my cheeks, I would say goodbye to the Spirit and close the door behind me as I stepped back into the world. Does this sound familiar too? How did Jesus end His prayers… or did He?
“So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “7 Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.””
John 11:41-44 ESV
In the story regarding the raising of Lazarus from the dead Jesus spoke to Mary and Martha, and others, but did His conversation end with God, or did He just include them in it? Don’t we do that all the time? When we are talking with a friend and someone walks up do we end our previous conversation or simply talk to both people at the same time? In the previous passage of scripture we read that Jesus told them to roll the stone away, and then He continued to talk with God in a way that included those who were there in that same conversation. His prayer with God His Father had never ended, but others had now been allowed to join in it… let’s read what He said again with this fresh understanding.
“So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.””
John 11:41-42 ESV
Do we start and stop our conversations with God, or simply begin speaking again, and adding people to them when appropriate? Do we go into and out of the presence of God? No! So where is He when we think we are having a private conversation with someone? Right there! So now, with this new perspective, let’s ask ourselves a simple question… do our prayers ever truly cease? Perhaps when we read the verse that says pray without ceasing it is more of an observation, than an instruction.
“pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 ESV
Does this change how we will talk today? Will those off colored jokes, or off hand comments seem as funny when we realize that they are folded into our unceasing prayer?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being a never ending part of my life, and with me always. Thank you for the never ending prayer that we have entered into with you. Help me Father to speak every word with the full knowledge that you are in that conversation with me. Guide my thoughts so that my words will be pleasing to you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who tells us time and time again that you are with us always. Praised be your name for every time we think twice before allowing unrighteous words to leave our mouths. Merciful are you who makes us aware of your presence, and answers our prayers that are prayed in conformance with your will, and in the name of Jesus Christ your Son. Wash us clean with the blood of your Son Jesus, and transform us in both faith and prayer to be as He is. Your grace is sufficient for us, and we pray always that it leads us to eternity as we praise and worship you forevermore.
Rich Forbes