This post is a variation on a theme I have written about many times before, touching on the strength of our personal lives with God.
It is something which is ever on my heart; a message which is vital for every Christian.
It is about the centrality of faith in our lives.
IN 1 CORINTHIANS 1,21 WE READ:
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
PETER WRITES TO CHRISTIANS ENDURING PERSECUTION:
“..so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1,7
IN HEBREWS CHAPTER 11,6:
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently seek him (seek/εκζητεω – literally “to seek out” – is intensified in the Greek).
So, faith is the only way by which we may approach God!
HOW FAITH COMES IN PRAYER
First, the fact that you come to God to pray, shows that you have faith!
Now prayer is a two-way communication with God.
We want to spend time with him. We want to fellowship with him.
Just being in his presence does our lives good!
There is joy in his presence (Ps. 16,11). There is peace in his presence.
We can receive knowledge and wisdom for our lives in his presence: You show me the path of life, says the psalmist (Ps. 16,11).
Oh, that we would come to the Rock who begat us (Deut. 32,18), and who, as the psalmist says is “higher than I” (Ps. 61,1).
He can teach us from his word when we are in his presence.
So, we need this!
We also in his presence receive faith to meet the challenges that life brings us!
So, if the question be asked: “How might I receive faith when I pray?” The answer is that 3 ingredients are required: God’s Word (promise), the Holy Spirit to quicken it, and your will, to receive it.
As such, faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit, which requires your active participation.
What follows is how this can work for you!
Note! This is not meant to be taken in a mechanical way. It all springs out of a living personal relationship that you have with your Creator!
MAKING OUR REQUESTS KNOWN TO HIM
When you have a need in your life, come to the Father and open your whole being to him in prayer!
This includes your body language, because the posture of your body before God is part of your prayer, when it expresses the attitude of your heart!
For biblical examples, note what Paul wrote:
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named (Eph. 3,14-15).
And:
“I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;” (1 Tim. 2,8)
In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus, according to Mark fell on the ground and prayed (Mk. 14,35).
YOUR SECRET PLACE
So, take your Bible, and go into your secret place to be alone with God (Mt. 6,6 and Ps. 91,1/KJV)!
Pray to the Father in Jesus’ name, which is how Jesus taught us to pray (Jn. 16,23).
Start by worshipping and thanking him.
Immediately, the Holy Spirit will make the Lord’s presence real to you.
Then start to engage with him over your need.
Let him speak to you about it. Let him remind you of his promises concerning prayer.
Or, you remind him of his promises concerning prayer.
Spend time in his presence just worshipping him and praising him!
He will speak to your heart about that which so deeply concerns you!
And if you need to make any adjustments in your thinking, or in your life in general, he will let you know!
He is your Father!
Remember 1 Peter 5,7:
“Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you” KJV.
In Greek this is:
Casting all your care (anxiety, worry) upon him, for IT IS A CONCERN TO HIM, concerning you!
And we can add: Cast all your need upon him! He cares for you!
Let him bring faith to your heart, as you remain in his presence.
Then with the boldness (remember παρρησια) of faith, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus (see 1 John 5,14-15 and Phil. 4,6-7)
WHEN WE HAVE PRAYED
We have fellowshipped with our Father, and we have laid our need(s) before him. We have put the whole business before him!
Scripture now encourages us to believe that we have received what we have asked for (see Mk. 11,24 and 1 Jn. 5,14-15).
That means letting go of the matter, and letting God handle it. If we continue worrying about this thing after we have prayed, it is proof that we haven’t really let go!
This, I know can be difficult!
But the Lord always wants us to pray, to come to him, bringing ourselves to him.
He wants us to continue to ask when we need to! He wants us to continue to seek when we need to! He wants us to continue to knock when we need to (Mt. 7,7-11)! And in the process you will be taught. But he wants to show you the road to victory! He wants your needs met!
And anything can happen in his presence!
We can’t lose when we come to him!
We can only profit! We can only grow! We can only be taught! We can only be blessed! We can only be helped!
So, let’s have prayer – and more of it!
And let’s never pray because we have a bad conscience! If we do, that is the FIRST thing we need to tell God about! And when I say a bad conscience, I don’t mean because we have sinned*, I mean a bad conscience because we think we haven’t been praying enough beforehand.
NO, LET´S PRAY because we are not WHOLE human beings without him. We need his presence, his love, his wisdom, his peace, his help in our lives!
You might like to read my post: Jesus on Prayer: Don’t Give Up!
*NB! We should of course pray when we have sinned as well!! See my post “Walking in the Light”
List of Scriptural References:
1 Cor. 1,21; 1 Peter 1,7; Heb. 11,6; Ps. 16,11; Deut. 32,18; Ps. 61,1; Eph. 3,14-15; 1 Tim. 2,8; Mk. 14,35; Mt. 6,6; Ps. 91,1/KJV; Jn. 16,23; 1 Peter 5,7/KJV; 1 Jn. 5,14-15; Phil. 4,6-7; Mk. 11,24; Mt. 7,7-11.