Prayer - an Isolated Event?

Worship is something that encompasses our entire life. The apostle Paul wrote: "present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Romans 12:1 Worship is not just the one hour on Sunday we gather with others in the faith; rather, it is also how we live out our faith.

Prayer, likewise, is not an isolated event. Prayer has to do with how we are living out our lives. The psalmist wrote: "O Lord of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?" Psalm 80:4 While we might not know the full context here, the people needed to be saved from some threatening danger. They were praying that God would deliver them. But why did not God answer right on the spot? It was as if God was angry with their prayers.

We might conjecture that they weren't using the right words. A more plausible explanation is that the people needed to get their house in order. They needed to turn to God.

For us our prayers are not an isolated event. Maybe we need to repent and change our way of living. How willing are you to see the big picture?

Power of Faith in Prayer

I'm sure there are times when you prayed when you wondered if you had enough faith in order for your prayer to be answered. I believe that many times we may not believe that God could possibly solve the complex problems that we have. If that's the case with you, maybe it's time to think of enlarging your faith.

In Matthew 17 we read of a man coming to Jesus whose son was epileptic. The father had brought his son to Jesus' disciples for healing and discovered that the disciples could not heal him. The father now pleads to Jesus for help. Jesus then heals the boy.

Next, we have the disciples going to Jesus privately and asking why they could not heal the boy. Jesus told them it was because of their little faith.

How much faith do you have when you pray? Are you expecting great things to happen? If you don't, maybe you need to look at what you believe about God. Do you really trust him for all things? Do you believe God go beyond what you can imagine? Or do you simply live by luck and chance in regard to God's working? I hope you will opt for being strong in faith when praying!

The Gethsemane Experience

One of the most trying times and certainly most personal times for Jesus came after the final Passover meal when he departed with his inner circle of disciples to Gethsemane.  Jesus knew what was ahead for him, yet he wanted to do the will of his heavenly Father.  He prayed:  "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."  Matthew 26:39

How often do we know a trying time is coming up for us - maybe something we know we must pass through - and yet we would rather side step it.  We realize that we must study hard in order to pass a course.  We must go through a certain medical therapy if we want to find healing.  We must risk trying something new if we want to move ahead in our lives.

Praying into the will of God means that we are willing to submit our lives for what God desires for us.  It might not be painless; it might be for our growth.

It's easy to tell God exactly how things should go in our lives.  How willing are you to submit to God's will  in order to live the life God wants for you?