12/28/2024
Today I read a devotional message titled "The Convincing Truth". In this message Pastor E. M. Bounds spoke of the real glory of our prayers, and our right relationship with God that leads us to glorify Him through our prayers. As I thought on this subject, my mind wandered back. I recalled a night years ago when I went to my intercessory prayer meeting and something incredible happened...
As Jack, John, and I sat waiting for someone to arrive for prayer that night, we fellowshipped for a while and then were led by John into a time of joint prayer. We each called out to the Lord in the way which was our custom; John kneeled and prayed, Jack spoke to the Lord in educated words of reason and wisdom, and I reached out to Him with my spirit and soul... each of us longing for His presence. As we prayed, we each slipped in and out of the Spirit and tongues, with our speech rising and falling in volume. We prayed for many things that night; our nation, our church, our families, our being called to intercessory prayer, for the presence of God, for answered prayer, and for each other, then we thanked God in all things. It was a wonderful time with the Lord, and He joined us there… even before the first person arrived to receive prayer.
I look back at the devotional message I wrote yesterday and realize that it spoke to times of praying like this. As I think back on how each of us prayed that night in our own special way, I see that it really isn't a certain attitude or manner of praying but His answer to them that is all important. Pastor Bounds wrote these words:
"It is not the act or the attitude of praying that gives effectiveness to prayer. It is not the kneeling of the body before God or the exquisite beauty and poetry of our prayers that do the deed. Not one or all of these things are the things that glorify God. It is the answer that brings glory to His name." - E. M. Bounds
I retreat once again into thinking of praying that night and contemplate the manner in which Jack, John, and I were accustomed to praying. I am reminded of the many answered prayers that were prayed by this group... and understand that God was joining us in our diversity. We would reach out to Him in our different ways so that He might answer our prayers for many types of people, but always for His glory. Our individual mannerisms in prayer drew certain people to each of us out of a comfort they might feel in one or the other of us ... and we would anoint them with oil, put our hands on them, and pray. But the answers always came from God and the glory wasn’t in the oil, our hands, or the way we spoke… it was always in God alone as He answered.
I think about the scripture that Bounds used in his devotional message that I read today. It came from the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead...
“Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.”
John 11:41-42 KJV
As I reread these words of Jesus, I realized anew that God uses answered prayers to not only glorify Himself, but to affirm those He has sent to pray them. From the least of us to Jesus Christ Himself, God uses His answered prayers to reveal His glory, and to a lesser degree to acknowledge those who are doing His biding... His will.
As I continue to look back on those Monday nights of prayer with Jack and John I see how God had joined us together in our different prayer styles to reach many people. He did this to reveal His glory by answering those prayers, and He did this to bring people to this Monday night prayer group so that they could see Him acting through this specific and focused group of elder men. But in every prayer that was answered the focus was on His glory; each night His glory was revealed through His presence and the answers bursting forth from the prayers of those he had called to pray for others.
He chose the men of this group; Jim (who has since gone to be with Him), Jack, John, and me, for many reasons and some of them will remain mysteries, and never be known to us. But, in as much as He chose us, He also affirmed us. We were, and remain, instruments which are being used to reveal His glory.
So I ask that each of us looks at how we pray, and answer this question… do I ask God to answer MY prayer for ME, or do I ask that He answer it so that He will be glorified. Do I simply ask of Him to satisfy my needs, or for Him to show me how wonderful He is as He provides for me, heals me, lifts up my spirit, leads me to intercede for others, and reveals Himself to us? So often we think that the Lord has answered our prayer because we asked it, when in fact, He is answering the prayer He has led us to pray to glorify Himself, and to reaffirm His presence to us and others for whom we are led to pray. We praise Him because He is glorious, and the Glory is indeed His.
“Help us, O God of our salvation,
for the glory of your name;
deliver us, and atone for our sins,
for your name's sake!”
Psalm 79:9 ESV
“Let the groans of the prisoners come before you;
according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die!”
Psalm 79:11 ESV
“But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
Psalm 79:13 ESV
Prayer:
Thank you, Father, for the prayers you have brought me to pray, and for your answer to them. Father, I humble myself before you and ask that you continue to answer intercessory prayer, so that all can witness your glory. Use us Lord to pray for each other so that you can interject yourself into our lives and allow us to witness your presence in this world. Thank you for giving us the understanding that it isn't the grandeur nor the duration with which we pray, for it can be as simple as the prayer of Jesus when He said… "Lazarus, come forth", because the glory isn't in our words, but in what you do. Holy Father, I understand that your answered prayer gives us relief from struggle and suffering, but most of all it gives us a glimpse into your power and glory... in this we offer thanks and fall at your feet. Make us right in our relationship with you and then affirm our calling by our obedient prayers as they are coupled with your answer, and by sharing with us a glimmer of your glory as we answer your call by entering into prayer… praying in your will, and the name of Jesus always. This is how we glorify you Father, and we praise you in every answer that all of creation will witness your mercy, grace, love, and power. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who asks us to love you, to pray to you, and to glorify you in all we do as we serve you. Holy are you the God who answers every question, and every prayer we pray. Great are you and greatly to be praised.
Let all who pray and receive prayer say Hallelujah! Let all who obey God’s will, and step forth in the name of Jesus, whisper, speak, shout, and sing, Amen. Amen!
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV
“Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.”
Matthew 6:9-13 ESV
Rich Forbes