What
is your view on prayer? I mean really
meditate on what you believe. Is prayer
something that you do because you are suppose to? Is it somewhere you turn when all else
fails? Is it ongoing conversation with a
friend? Do you pray with the conviction
that something is being released in Heaven to change things on Earth?
Sometimes
I think I pray because it’s all I know to do. That’s not wrong, but I think it is evidence that I forget God is actually
listening and cares what I have to say. At
times I’m even surprised when God answers a prayer. It sounds a bit ridiculous.
Unfortunately,
I think we tend to pray without expectation. Maybe because we don’t
always see instant answers. Perhaps we
have not encountered the reality that, as God’s children, He chooses to partner with us. Maybe our earthly father has left us with a
distorted view of our Heavenly Father. Unfortunately, whatever our belief is, it usually dictates our
experience. The truth is God is on our
side and He loves to give good gifts.
I
like to ask God how to pray in particular situations, so I can align myself
with what He is doing. I also find it necessary to connect with the truth that I am seated in Heavenly places
(Eph 2:6). Often I need to distance
myself from the problem that seems to be swirling around me, and move into the
place where I’m seated in Christ. This
allows me to pray the solution and strategies of Heaven.
If
you feel like prayer is a boring list of things you go through in the morning
with little expectation, try looking at prayer in a new light. Ask the Holy Spirit to breathe on these
promises and make them a reality in your life:
- The prayer of
righteous man is powerful and effective. – James 5:16 - Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find;
knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he
who seeks finds; and him who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among
you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or
if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil,
know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly
Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! – Luke 11:9-13 - If you abide in me, and my words
abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. – John 15:7 - Whatever you ask in my name, this I
will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in
my name, I will do it. – John 14:13-14
Lastly, there
is incredible power in perseverance and thanksgiving. Often we have to persevere when it seems our
prayers are fruitless. Additionally, I like to thank God for the answer I’m praying. When I’m praying from His heart, I know it has already been accomplished in His Kingdom and I thank Him
until I see the answer come to Earth.
As
believers, we have the incredible opportunity to change our environment. The Holy Spirit lives within us. Not only is the Holy Spirit power, but a lot of
power. He is living in us so that we can
be releasers of that power. He has put us here so that this world can have a
power encounter with a heavenly God. I
dare you to tap into that today.
