Asking others if they have been a disciple for prayer, most would look at you with that “deer in the headlight look” and think you might be joking! And then they might make that move away from you just in case you are expecting them to pray at that moment with them. Not sure why people frown on praying to God and why they get alarmed to pray in front of other people. You certainly do not mind many people standing over you talking when a surgeon operates on you to remove something or make something right that fails to work accurately.
One thing though I have noted when having conversation about prayer, is that as they
move slowly away from where you stand or sit, they ultimately speak of those
“things” that must be done and done in that day and hour, so that praying would take all their
time or afternoon away! My husband and I always have a scheduled time together to
pray: for the president, this nation and the believers who walk with Jesus! It
is easy to schedule that time when you know that you are reading scripture
together and taking communion to remember the Lord’s sacrifice. But for all
those ingredients in discipleship, the area many of us struggle with most is ( the ) prayer itself.
In regard
to published article written in 2018, the
estimated time for a typical Christian layman to pray was some three to four minutes each day. Certainly that full-time Christian worker averages to about
seven minutes per day. But this is sad to hear, when we know our Lord Jesus
prayed early in the morning, at night and during the night as well.
Even from the Cross at Calvary He prayed: “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit. “ Luke 23:46
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do!” Luke 23:34
If you have ever led a prayer group or was a part of a prayer team you could all think back of some of the remarks people would speak for not praying: like too busy or too tired, long time at work today, do not know what to pray about, do not feel like praying, feel guilty while praying and firmly speaking, or like this one, they did not believe they made a difference in their time of praying.
If we
aren’t captivated by God, prayer is a tedious task indeed. I like what Dutch Sheets
wrote in his 'Give Him 15 today July 19, 2021, where he wrote that spiritual
warfare often entails warfare against mindsets. He regarded the mindsets of the individual but also wrote of those mindsets of an entire culture. (and wow, do we have some strange mindsets of a strange culture indeed) He was
writing of the word of God that is spoken into the spiritual realm that absolutely addressed
the situation, and works to divide between truth and deception. Praying the
Word over people can bring deliverance to those trapped by wrong mindsets.
One of my favorite pastors many years ago had given us this passage in Isaiah 54:17. And in prayer he used it many times.
As that given in Isaiah 54:17…no weapon forged against you will prevail and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. ( Isaiah 54:17) If this is our heritage, then most certainly we should be using it. From this, God proclaims that His people will withstand all attacks because of His protection.
For if God is our Lord, then communion should not be about wrestling with God for an answer, but understand that He has sent forth His word. His Word is manifested in the New Testament. And how do we take His manifested Word? Do we receive His speaking or do we want to slice and dice the Gospel to fit our whims. Some just like to have Jesus Ala Carte'! But God is about relationship with much communion about His desire. He has set the table and it is a feast indeed.
Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the LORD will wait,
that he may be gracious to you; and therefore He will be exalted, that he may
have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are those who wait
for Him.
Isaiah
65:1-2 I was sought by those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who
did not seek Me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am.’ To a nation that was not
called by My name. 2 I have stretched
out My hands all day long to a rebellious people. Who walk in a way that is not good, according to their
own thoughts; ( from this God pitifully reaches out to a rebellious people. We
see the apostle Paul mention it in Romans 10:20-21. The two different people:
Gentiles in verse 20 and verse 21 is Israel.)
Jeremiah 33:3 is my favorite. Again from a pastor who was
of the healing ministry in Jesus, always gave this verse in his teaching and
prayers. Jeremiah 33:3 Call to Me and I
will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.
God answers us in ways that astounds
us. Pray it and you will see it happen to you.
Romans 5:8-10 NKJV 8 But demonstrates His own
love toward us, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much
more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath
through His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we
were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more,
having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
1 John 4:9-10 NKJV 9 In this the love of God
was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the
world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us
and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Prayer is much like marriage or that of study in a school for education. Unless you apply your whole heart and mind to it, then you will find it only a work or drudgery. And if we only study or pray about the things we like, we might miss the greater picture, that of how God is wanting that communion to reach our own thoughts, touch our emotion, initiate that intimate sharing of fellowship where His joy is marked in you, His smile spreads from His face to yours and communication has begun where nothing else matters. From the verses above we can see God’s heart on the matter of communication! Walking or that fellowship with God is active, not laying down but aware and awake to God!
We should allow
the Lord to show us that which needs His purpose to prevail in our lives. Understand
that to pray is equal to finding the peace of God.
In coming to His plan: His conduct and actions show clearly
that we are to be one heart with Him. We allow time available to Him so that we
hear clearly and know truthfully that which we must know whether pertaining to
work, to the body of believers or for our own family.
All is important to God for He desires us to know the mind
and the disposition of Christ Jesus…3 John 3 I have not greater joy than to
hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 2 says: Beloved I pray that you may
prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
Joy should be seen in us when prayer is asked for. Joy should be effervescence, that enthusiasm to resound in God in prayer. We are to be the sound, that is hygienic…by taking of the word of God daily in and praying to prosper in sound faith. Balance is required in our bodies, in our lives and within the body of Christ.
The Privilege of Prayer is a balance within the Holy Spirit who will light those areas needing help as to spiritual, physical ( that regarding your health), to your emotions ( like not wearing them on your sleeve), financially ( where our tithes benefit the body of believers for God’s purpose in them and through them) and socially.
Prayer is that rest in the Lord. And those motivated by the spirit man rest in that truth. Their faith is in God by the shed blood of His Son Jesus so that they would walk in truth and give other’s the God kind of love always! Prayer is an adventure. It has no limits, for in God we explore the depths of His love!
Romans 8:37-39 NKJV 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall
be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We are more victorious not by our own ability but because it is God Who loved us!
Jesus is the great Intercessor who still prays or intercedes
for us. He is our intercessor in heaven ( Hebrews 7:25) and the Spirit is our
intercessor on earth within our own hearts.
Proverbs 15:11 Hell and Destruction are before the LORD; so
how much more the hearts of the sons of men.
If Hell and Destruction is seen, it is horror that appears,
and God certainly sees them and that which man hides in his own heart is
very similar to that indeed.
Jeremiah 17:10 “I the LORD search the heart, I test the mind,
and even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his
doings.”
Our hearts are deceitful, that is why we must fill it with God’s word. To speak God’s words over our silly thoughts which might mean destruction. God’s word reveals where there is darkness in our thinking or in our opinions. We must have balance for within this we walk by faith, have joy in our hearts, and bring encouragement and much love to others!
The privilege of prayer is knowing Him. It is knowing the rhythm of His heart beat. Lord search me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24) You and I should delight the Lord. We should be willing to prioritize when the Holy Spirit speaks to prioritize some things and make room for prayer, to following the Lord's heart. As we begin operating in that faith mode we see the unseen. We exercise our inheritance on earth as it is in heaven. As we do, faith let us see the unseen, the greatness of the "little things": as mass destruction in the jawbone of an ass in Judges 15: 15-16. Then Sampson said, "With this jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon hears, with the jawbone of a donkey I have slain a thousand men"; a small child's lunch feeding 5, 000 men seen in John 6:5-14; or a coming king in the ruddy-face of a young teenager who shepherds sheep found in 1 Samuel 16!
Elijah prayed and the servant saw in 1 Kings 18:41-46. And he saw the cloud the size of a man’s hand………….but Elijah remembered the sound……….it was a gully washer coming, it was going to be the rainstorm of rainstorms to end drought and to fill rivers to overflowing capacity. The promises of God come in concentrated form and one little word from God will set you free, and will destroy that ugly thing out of your life forever. Pray, believe and receive the paramount victories in Christ Jesus who stands with you and loose the Holy Spirit in your prayer time and see the magnitude of a great God in your midst. You will surely see the glory of the coming of the Lord. Amen and Amen.
New teaching at: Voice of Prayer
Functioning Under Divine Authority
