What happens when you pray and it seems like there is no response? You might wonder:
1. Maybe I'm not good enough in God's sight to get an answer.
2. Maybe I didn't say the right words.
3. Maybe I came to prayer too late in the game.
Consider now another way of thinking.
1. God heard me and has decided that what I asked for will not be good for me.
2. What I prayed for is not in accordance with God's will.
3. Maybe God has a different way of using me.
It is the last point #3 that I would have you think about.
The apostle Paul came to a point in his life where he had a "thorn in the flesh." He prayed three times for God to remove it and no luck. Then, he mentions that the Lord said to him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12:9
Yes, Paul's prayer was not answered because God was going to use the apostle's weakness to his glory. The next time you feel a prayer hasn't been answered, begin to ask yourself if God's power is seeking to come through you from your present condition!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Multimode Healing
Many prayers are offered up because of sickness. Oftentimes we use prayer as the means of getting instant healing. It's as if we expect God to work a miracle ASAP in our lives (which God can do).
However, I think it is important to reflect on the many ways of "healing" that God can use.
1. We make a change in our diet that allows our immune system to make the difference.
2. We see a physician who prescribes medication that works.
3. We get on the right track from the advice of a friend.
4. We are led to see a new physician who has the answer.
5. We are healed directly by God's intervention.
How open are you to the various ways that God can bring healing into your life? As you pray, it might make you more alert to all that goes on in your life to bring an answer to your prayer.
However, I think it is important to reflect on the many ways of "healing" that God can use.
1. We make a change in our diet that allows our immune system to make the difference.
2. We see a physician who prescribes medication that works.
3. We get on the right track from the advice of a friend.
4. We are led to see a new physician who has the answer.
5. We are healed directly by God's intervention.
How open are you to the various ways that God can bring healing into your life? As you pray, it might make you more alert to all that goes on in your life to bring an answer to your prayer.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Promise of Nearness
When you talk on the phone with someone, the other person could be the next house over or in another country. Either way, it is as if that person is right next to you. You can hear that person's voice and the other person can hear you.
In our prayers, it might feel like our words have to cross a great distance in order to get to God. We might not be sure if our prayers will even reach God's heavenly throne or just evaporate in space.
Fortunately, we have the words of the psalmist: "The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth." Ps. 145:18. When we have sincerely placed our trust in God and offer prayer, we can be assured that it is as if God is right alongside us hearing us. There won't be any "dead spots" that we have to worry about in the connection.
The words of the psalmist provide a beautiful promise and give us the assurance that our prayers will be heard.
In our prayers, it might feel like our words have to cross a great distance in order to get to God. We might not be sure if our prayers will even reach God's heavenly throne or just evaporate in space.
Fortunately, we have the words of the psalmist: "The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth." Ps. 145:18. When we have sincerely placed our trust in God and offer prayer, we can be assured that it is as if God is right alongside us hearing us. There won't be any "dead spots" that we have to worry about in the connection.
The words of the psalmist provide a beautiful promise and give us the assurance that our prayers will be heard.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Keeping a Prayer Journal
The other day I came across the suggestion of keeping a prayer journal. I have to admit that I haven't done so in the past. However, the thought of such an activity did pique my interest. Here is how I believe such an activity might be helpful.
1. You can put in writing what you are praying for in order to help articulate your thoughts (writing works toward clarity).
2. You can notice any kind of prayer patterns that are taking place in your life.
3. You can check off any of the prayers that you feel have been answered in some way.
4. You can pray through writing!
I believe, above all, that such an activity helps us to see not only that our prayers are important but also that we can notice where God is breaking into our lives.
1. You can put in writing what you are praying for in order to help articulate your thoughts (writing works toward clarity).
2. You can notice any kind of prayer patterns that are taking place in your life.
3. You can check off any of the prayers that you feel have been answered in some way.
4. You can pray through writing!
I believe, above all, that such an activity helps us to see not only that our prayers are important but also that we can notice where God is breaking into our lives.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Even before You Ask
How often do you feel you need to lay out all the details before God in prayer? Maybe it is that you need to cover every angle so that God really understands your particular request. Might it be that you fear God just "won't get it."
When Jesus was talking about prayer to his disciples, to told them that they did not need to heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do. (Matthew 6:7) Jesus said, "Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
Amazing, that God knows what we need even before we ask! We have an all-knowing God who deserves to be praised not only for this high knowledge, but also because of the heavenly concern for us as sinful beings to even want to listen to us.
Here's the point. We don't have to lay out every detail before God and worry about whether or not we have said it right. God knows the very depths of our being and for what it is that we are asking. Our few words of prayer can have great meaning.
When Jesus spoke to his disciples about their heavenly Father knowing even before they ask, Jesus immediately gave them a model prayer to use in what we know as the "Lord's Prayer." Surely, you can use this prayer if you do not know what to say.
However, we ought to feel encouraged that our requests with as little words as possible are known to God!
When Jesus was talking about prayer to his disciples, to told them that they did not need to heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do. (Matthew 6:7) Jesus said, "Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
Amazing, that God knows what we need even before we ask! We have an all-knowing God who deserves to be praised not only for this high knowledge, but also because of the heavenly concern for us as sinful beings to even want to listen to us.
Here's the point. We don't have to lay out every detail before God and worry about whether or not we have said it right. God knows the very depths of our being and for what it is that we are asking. Our few words of prayer can have great meaning.
When Jesus spoke to his disciples about their heavenly Father knowing even before they ask, Jesus immediately gave them a model prayer to use in what we know as the "Lord's Prayer." Surely, you can use this prayer if you do not know what to say.
However, we ought to feel encouraged that our requests with as little words as possible are known to God!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Praying the Psalms
You may have noticed that for many weeks, I have been using references from the Psalms. What is special about them is that they are Scripture where we learn about people speaking to God rather than God speaking to us.
As we scan through the psalter we find a rich treasure of how people have expressed themselves to God. We find the whole range of emotions - fear, anger, guilt, anxiety. We also find the many desires that people many centuries ago were willing to express to God.
We even find that Jesus prayed the psalms. While on the cross he quoted from Psalm 22. He may even have prayed the entire psalm.
When you are at a loss for words or want to deepen your prayer life, I would encourage you to turn to the psalms. You will find people who have faced the same feelings and emotions as you have.
As we scan through the psalter we find a rich treasure of how people have expressed themselves to God. We find the whole range of emotions - fear, anger, guilt, anxiety. We also find the many desires that people many centuries ago were willing to express to God.
We even find that Jesus prayed the psalms. While on the cross he quoted from Psalm 22. He may even have prayed the entire psalm.
When you are at a loss for words or want to deepen your prayer life, I would encourage you to turn to the psalms. You will find people who have faced the same feelings and emotions as you have.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Someone Else Is Praying - Part II
Last week I wrote about the person of Jesus praying for us. We know that in heaven our prayers are put before our very Creator by the Son of God.
There is yet more praying going on in heaven for us. The apostle Paul wrote these words: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes* with sighs too deep for words." Romans 8:26
Even when we feel that we are at the end of our rope in praying, even when we feel that we don't know how to put our request into words, the Holy Spirit steps in to intercede on our behalf. The Spirit communicates in a way that we would not understand, yet is known to God.
I find it marvelous how the Holy Trinity comes into play in terms of praying. Imagine thousands, even millions of people throughout our world praying for one particular thing. That is not all. We are even given a boost knowing that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are there helping us along.
The next time that you bring a request before God; know that it is not just your own words - it is not just a human endeavor; but in the heavenly court, your request is known and communicated to God!
There is yet more praying going on in heaven for us. The apostle Paul wrote these words: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes* with sighs too deep for words." Romans 8:26
Even when we feel that we are at the end of our rope in praying, even when we feel that we don't know how to put our request into words, the Holy Spirit steps in to intercede on our behalf. The Spirit communicates in a way that we would not understand, yet is known to God.
I find it marvelous how the Holy Trinity comes into play in terms of praying. Imagine thousands, even millions of people throughout our world praying for one particular thing. That is not all. We are even given a boost knowing that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are there helping us along.
The next time that you bring a request before God; know that it is not just your own words - it is not just a human endeavor; but in the heavenly court, your request is known and communicated to God!
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