Prayer

Church was awesome tonight, as always. Received a great message on the life of Daniel, and also got a first hand lesson from JB on how to tame a lion with a stool… ha, don’t ask, you just had to be there. But, aside from that, I got to have a great conversation about life, and my future with an amazing friend of mine whom i havent seen or spoke to in way to long. In my last post a couple days ago, I was kinda “griping” about how people reacted when I let them know of my current work situation, and reasoning. Well, her reaction was completely the opposite. Instead she asked,

-“So, what are your future plans with Jesus and the Church?”
-“I don’t know, actually.”
-“Well, why not?”
-“Well, I don’t know what it is yet, and im trusting God will show it to me when the time is right.”
-“Have you prayed about it and asked Him to show it to you clearly without question? That its what your heart really wants?”

She made a great point to me, and I realized that this whole time ive been praying for his guidance, and to confirm that what I was doing was His will for me. I haven’t been ASKING Him to show me clearly what He wants the next step to be in my life in the church/ministry. She pointed out Matthew 7:7-8 – “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

It then hit me so clearly. Its obvious that God wants us to pray to Him, and its because we struggle to know His will in our lives. She told me that we don’t have to struggle with knowing His will for each of us, all we have to do is ask Him to show it clearly to us. She makes total sense. To pray, means to ask God for what you want spiritually. Not necessarily objects, but whatever my heart generally desires. What my heart should desire most is God. To know Him, to love Him. Now, don’t get me wrong, im not implying that your prayers should only be asking God for your desires. We should also go to God confessing sins, and giving thanks, praise and worship. Prayer should include all of that. But, think about it: Prayer is “asking”, or “requesting”. God’s will is that we ask Him for things. As a matter of fact, He delights in it! Proverbs 15:8 says: “The prayer of the upright is His Delight.” He really wants you to ask Him for what your heart desires, and He takes steps to see that it happens.

When I prayed tonight, I asked Him:

-“Why do you Delight yourself with my requests and prayers, when I sin so much and don’t deserve anything from you at all?”
-“It is who I am. I am love. I love you so much that I am willing to give you what you need to have joy in me.”
-“I would never question your love, but why prayer? I mean, you know the desires of my heart anyways, so why is prayer even needed?
-“Prayer is not a small, little insignificant thing. It is at the very heart of why I created the universe! You have this skewed view that the universe is about giant events, black holes and supernovas. But really, the center of the universe is man created in my image, and the meaning of man is to display my glory. I display my glory by being depended on through your prayers. Your need for prayer should be like your need for air. Inhale my word, and exhale prayer.”

Wow. That’s all really, wow. It was so overwhelming, I became lightheaded just thinking about it. God loves to show His grace in meeting our needs and prayers, it magnifies His glory and makes our joy. We need to pray often. It isn’t inconsistent. We must be devoted to prayer, and not forgetful. Make sure that it is part of your life, the same way that sleeping and eating are. This should be your prayer life, and mine. Ask Him for your heart’s desires, and see what he will do for you.