How long are you willing to keep praying for something you earnestly desire? A month? A year? Two years? As long as it takes?
Jesus told the story of a man who went to his friend's house to obtain some bread because a visitor was coming. (Luke 11:5-8) The friend hears the request; and because the door is locked and it is bedtime, is unwilling to help. However, the neighbor keeps knocking and seeking some food; and because of his persistence finally receives what he needs.
The key word here is "persistence." It's having that willingness to keep on praying even when the time is not right. It is to keep on praying even when weariness has set in on us.
The story follows the disciples request to Jesus that he teach them how to pray. What followed was what we call today "The Lord's Prayer" and then Jesus gives this story about persistence.
Why persistence? Maybe it is in God's nature that in due time our prayers will be answered. Maybe, too, it is that God wants to know if we are really serious for what we are praying.
What desires have been in your heart? Would you be willing to see prayer not so much as a sprint, but what might actually be a marathon?
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Supplication
The last part of the ACTS structure of prayer is supplication. After giving adoration, confession, and thanksgiving, one can finish one's praying with supplication.
We do need to remember that it is a privilege for us to approach God in prayer. We who are sinful beings are allowed to call up to a holy and righteous God.
We pray because we do have concerns for which we feel we need divine help. It might be in dealing with an illness or perhaps finding a job. We feel that our initiative alone will not carry the day. We feel that we need a stronger power at work in our lives in order to get results.
We might also come to God because we need guidance in life. We have reached a fork in the road and cannot properly discern which way to go. Here we are leaning on God's direction, which might come to us internally, through conversation with other people, or with a door that opens up for us.
We are approaching God only because we know that we have a gracious God. We have a God who will look favorably upon us despite our own shortcomings and sin. Supplication gives us the opportunity to place our faith in God above everything else.
We do need to remember that it is a privilege for us to approach God in prayer. We who are sinful beings are allowed to call up to a holy and righteous God.
We pray because we do have concerns for which we feel we need divine help. It might be in dealing with an illness or perhaps finding a job. We feel that our initiative alone will not carry the day. We feel that we need a stronger power at work in our lives in order to get results.
We might also come to God because we need guidance in life. We have reached a fork in the road and cannot properly discern which way to go. Here we are leaning on God's direction, which might come to us internally, through conversation with other people, or with a door that opens up for us.
We are approaching God only because we know that we have a gracious God. We have a God who will look favorably upon us despite our own shortcomings and sin. Supplication gives us the opportunity to place our faith in God above everything else.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Thanksgiving
We now consider the third part of prayer (ACTS) which is thanksgiving. After giving adoration, and making confession, one might wish to proceed to give thanks.
Having a sense of gratitude has always been an emphasis of Scripture. The apostle Paul wrote: "Give thanks in all circumstances." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Everything we have in life comes as a gift. We are dependent upon God for our survival from day to day - with the sunshine and the very air that we breathe. We might even say that our privilege to pray comes from the grace of God.
As we come before God in prayer, it is only proper that we do it with a feeling of gratitude within us. If we are going to "ask" for something from God, it is fitting that we do acknowledge thanks for all that we have received.
How much do you give thanks to God in your prayers? What proportion of thanksgiving is present compared to your asking?
Having a sense of gratitude has always been an emphasis of Scripture. The apostle Paul wrote: "Give thanks in all circumstances." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Everything we have in life comes as a gift. We are dependent upon God for our survival from day to day - with the sunshine and the very air that we breathe. We might even say that our privilege to pray comes from the grace of God.
As we come before God in prayer, it is only proper that we do it with a feeling of gratitude within us. If we are going to "ask" for something from God, it is fitting that we do acknowledge thanks for all that we have received.
How much do you give thanks to God in your prayers? What proportion of thanksgiving is present compared to your asking?
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