prayer

  I went to church this Sunday at First Wesleyan Church in High Point.  Here is the web site if you want to check it out at http://www.firstwesleyan.org/

  The sermon was about prayer this morning and particularly about God's provision in prayer.  The pastor's key verse was about Matthew 6:11 "Give us this day our daily bread".  He talked about how God is able to do so much more than we ask, but he wants us to pray about everything.  He wants us to come to him and ask for wisdom when we need it and for our daily needs.  Among some of the other verses he used are: Ephesians 3:20; James 1:5; Hebrews 11:6.

  I began to think of my own prayer life and how sometimes I simply go to God with my concerns and really don't expand that to cover all of the needs I know about.  For example, I know of someone who ran away from home this week.  I know people who have drug problems.  I drive around each week in areas of Burlington where there are strong problems with unemployment and drugs.  Many of the people who come into our office during the week have been sexually abused or physically abused in some way.  Yet, how many times does it bother me enough to really cry out to God about it.

  The scripture in Ephesisans 3:20 caught my attention during the sermon as well.  It says, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abudantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us."  In some sense, I think when we go to God and pray only about our needs, I think God says, "Is that it?"  "Is that all you want?"  We should realize that God can do so much more than we dare ask for.  We limit God sometimes by shallow and selfish praying.  Maybe that is a reflections of our faith.  Maybe that is a reflection of my faith.

   Another thought that crossed my mind was that prayer is so much more than asking.  Prayer also needs to contain thankfulness for what God has done.  If you can think of nothing else, then there should be mention of the cross and the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.  There should be a mention of how God does not treat us as we deserve.  Thankfulness for God's love and mercy towards us.

  Hebrews 11:6 says "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."  In the previous verses, the writer mentions Enoch.  Not much is known about him except that God "took him" early on in Genesis.  We do know because of what this passage says that Enoch was a man of faith because without it he could not please God at all.  But, notice also that it says that God rewards those who "seek Him".  As I mentioned in a previous post, we are to be seekers of God.  Not just for what He can do for us, but for Him.

You do not ask

"you want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives." James 4:2-3

   This week I had some prayers of mine answered.  It was a great encouragement for me to keep  praying for those things that I want to happen that have not yet.  In thinking about the situation, I realized that I went for a long time hoping, but not praying about my concerns.  James was telling his readers that there were two main reasons they were not getting what they wanted.  One they were asking with wrong motives.  But, also there were times when they were not asking at all.  They preferred to do things their own way rather than humble themselves and pray.

  Over and over again, the Bible encourages us to lift up our hearts concerns to God.  In Philippians 4:6 it says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your  requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."  You notice there that it says, "in everything", meaning that there is nothing that should be excluded.  It should be brought to the Lord.  It should be examined in the light of His presence. 

  There have been times in bringing things to God that God would change my heart and I would stop praying for whatever I had thought was important.  There was also times when I would realize as I was praying that what I was asking for was not appropriate or was being asked for for selfish reasons.  By bringing that to God, I am saying to God that He has the right to change, to answer or to reject my request.  Since I am a child of His, then He has the right to do this.  He is the one who I am ultimately answering to at the end of my life the same as everyone else.  So, he searches our minds and hearts in prayer and has a chance to show us His will.

  One of my friends in college, who is now a pastor use to quote these verses to me, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."  Sometimes there is a delay in answered prayer because God is examining our hearts "Do you really trust me?"  God asks.  Are you leaning on your own  understanding, your own timetable, your own dreams and goals or are you willing to give them to me?  Are you willing to surrender them knowing that I know what is best for you?  Or are you stil in the drivers seat?

Related Luke 11:9-10; John 14:14; John 15:7; John 16:24; James 1:5-7; Romans 8:26-27; Luke 18:1; Eph 6:18; Is 65:24; Psalm 91:15;

www.crosswalk.com/prayer/

www.upperroom.org/prayer_center/

www.prayer.org/