All tagged prayer

What are we doing as we wait on God? Do we even know what we are waiting for? We have all been through times when we weren’t certain what we would like the Lord to actually do for us, or what His will was in our lives and faith, but we do know that being adrift on a sea of uncertainty is not good. So, when we find ourselves becalmed on a motionless sea, let’s not ask the Lord that we will reach our ultimate destination but simply pray for a breeze to fill our sails and how we should set our rudder, as we wait on Him. Then, as we wait for the breeze to pick up let’s go about the various tasks of living in the faith that Jesus, and God’s Word, have taught us.

Our prayers are not powerless. When we enter into them we are not alone, but are joined there by the Holy Spirt, and Jesus Christ. When we don’t know how to pray the Holy Spirit will pray for us, and as we pray in the name of Jesus Christ it gives Him joint authorship with us in that prayer. Suddenly, what might have been a knee shaking event as we stood alone before the throne of God, has become less frightening and we are more certain that our prayers are being heard. So, I ask you this, are you alone before God in your prayers or coming before Him with the help of the Spirit and in the name of Jesus? 

How strong are we bodily, and how strong is our faith? Does the strength of our physical bodies reflect the power of our faith? To answer this let’s consider the words of the apostle Paul. Perhaps we are battling an illness, or a deformity that cripples us, and our prayers for this to be healed or removed are seemingly falling on deaf ears. When our bodies suffer and become frail this can actually become the time of our greatest dependence on God, and as such an aid in reaching the height of our faith.

Are we alone with God when we pray or is it good to pray with others? Well, it is important to pray alone, and in secret, because that provides us with the degree of intimacy that our soul’s relationship with God longs for, but are there times when we need to pray together with others? The answer to this question regarding praying with others is a resounding “Yes!” There is power in joining together in certain times of prayer, whether we are physically together, or praying in unison from the far corners of the earth. A common cause prayed for by many carries much weight before the throne of God.

Do we wait patiently for God’s provision and direction? Have we become practiced in allowing Him to do all things in our lives, or does He teach us over and over again how to wait? Have we set our spiritual clocks, and our expectations to His divine time, the time of heaven? As the time of an earthly day is constantly changing, and our bodies acclimate to that change, we must also acclimate spiritually to the natural variation in the will of God... the days of heaven.

How do we begin our day? Do we wake up when the alarm clock sounds, or do we get up of our own volition? What are the things that we consider to be our morning routine? Mornings are a very special time. The world is fresh, and indeed so are we; so how do we begin each new day? Do we begin by washing our face, showering, dressing, getting a cup of coffee, or making breakfast? Where in our routine have we allotted time for prayer? Where is our time of devotion? When do we greet God? Is it first, last... at all?

Are you searching for a secret to successful prayer? Do you think that there must be some hidden formula that would allow you to pray powerfully? Well, I think Jesus removed the secrecy and hidden truths when He taught His disciples to pray the Lord’s Prayer, but if you want additional instruction then  look to Mark 11 and you will find two prayer “hacks” that will increase your understanding of praying.

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, if we wear our prayers into the world we will find that we carry the peace of Christ on our faces and in our actions, and that from our hearts the glorious glow of Christ will radiate for all to see.

Do you find yourself longing for God? Are you at a place in your life where you feel separated from him and sitting in darkness waiting on His light to shine on you once again? Maybe you have asked for His Holy Spirit to fill you, and are waiting expectantly for it, or you need an answer to some other prayer that is yet to come. However you find yourself waiting for God remember that He is already with you and that it is only your own realization of His presence that you are actually longing for. Remember also that you are never alone, even in this feeling.

Are you unsatisfied with your prayer life? Do you ask in prayer, and yet feel unfulfilled when you rise from your knees? Do you recite scripture in your prayers and cry out, yet leave your prayer closet feeling as though God might not have heard you? Well, perhaps you are missing a key lesson that was taught by Jesus... maybe you need to listen as he teaches us to pray in spirit and truth.

What is the state of your faith today? Is it strong, well trained, and ready to run a race; or does it become easily winded and lose stamina during the long marathon of life? Do you tell yourself that your faith is able to withstand anything, but lose hope at the least of life’s difficulties? If you find your faithfulness lacking, let’s talk about selecting a conditioning coach, and enrolling ourselves in his spiritual training program.

How is your faith? Are you strong in it, or is it lacking in some regard? Can you move a mountain, or do you think your faith is too small to move even a grain of sand? The disciples were chastised by Jesus on more than one occasion for their lack of faith, so do not lose heart, but ask Him why you can’t do a thing, or why you don’t receive the ability to perform a miracle. You may find that in some cases it has less to do with faith than you think.