Worship – we are created for God’s glory and purpose
Key 2 = We seek the Lord’s presence, guidance, and power through fervent, effective prayer. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Why DO we pray? If most of us are really honest we pray b/c we are seeking God’s intervention in a situation or relationship so that life will be better for us or someone else. Right? … Indeed, we are taught in Scripture - through example and directly - that we ARE to ask of the Lord. We innately know, though, that asking is not the end of prayer – nor it’s primary purpose.
There is much excellent reading and teaching on prayer as a spiritual discipline for the purpose of bringing me into more intimacy with God. Amen to that! I wonder though, doesn’t Scripture also show us that prayer releases the power of God to accomplish His purposes? Could it be that one of the primary purposes of prayer is to discover God’s will, not obligate Him to do mine; to reflect God’s mind not change it? Without prayer as part of my essential elements to living, I cannot live a Christ-focused, God-worshipping life.
Challenge Questions:
1. Am I willing to seek God’s glory and purpose when praying, rather than seeking my own satisfaction and happiness?
2. Am I willing to seek God to such a degree that my heart knows and holds His will, so that when I pray from the deepest desires of my heart, I am praying the desires of God?
Thanks so much for posting this and, especially, for the challenging questions. I was definitely "checked" like a hockey player against the glass.
ReplyDeleteEver since reading _Prayer_ by Ole Hallesby (a classic), I feel more freedom and clarity to pray for difficult situations. I don't need to know what to pray except that God would be glorified in the difficult situations and in the lives of those for whom I pray. It is Biblical and it takes a lot of the self-focus out of my prayers. Renovare has been good this week too for re-focusing on prayer.
ReplyDeletePeace....
Thank you for reminding me of the balance between intercession on behalf of others and personal intimacy and time alone with my Creator God. I need both.
ReplyDeleteEarl Habecker
In this present season of my life I'm experiencing movement
ReplyDeletemore toward listening first and then allowing my prayers to
be guided by what I hear. Why do I pray? I pray mostly because
I miss Him and whether I'm petitioning, waiting, listening, etc...
for me it's all about being in His Presence!
Love,
Robin