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Chapter One
SECTION 1
Introduction
Why We Pray
* * *
What brings you to your knees?
Do you pray out of desperation to a God that you don't really feel you know? Do you pray mainly for things you want, hoping that God will grant your wish? Do you pray looking for advice? Maybe you pray wanting a closer relationship with your Heavenly Father.
God hears us when we pray, no matter why we pray. But true prayer is more than just asking, even for good things. True prayer is change--not necessarily of our circumstances, but of ourselves. As Richard J. Foster says, "In prayer, real prayer, we begin to think God's thoughts after Him: to desire the things He desires, to love the things He loves. Progressively we are taught to see things from His point of view."
We can lay anything at the foot of the cross ... but the real point of laying it there is to align ourselves with the perspective of God, in the matter of the moment and in all things.
Why do we pray? For many reasons. But why can we pray, and what are some things we can pray about? Let's open the Scriptures and see.
The Resting Place
Jesus is the resting place I look into His loving face He shelters me from harm this day And shows His mighty way In the storm He whispers, "Peace be still" And I yearn to know the Father's will Soon the troubled waters disappear ... He takes away my fear
Jesus is the resting place A solace from life's hectic pace He holds me in His mighty hand And tells me whose I am In the storm He whispers, "Peace be still" And I keep my eyes on Him until I'm safely through the troubled sea And from my burden freed.
Chorus
"Come unto me, you weary ones and lay your burden on the Son Take my yoke and learn my gentle heart The peace I give will not depart And I will give you rest."
We Pray Because He Hears
* * *
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God:
that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."
(1 John 5:14)
He hears us. Aren't those beautiful words?
We spend our lives with people who want us to hear them . Children, husbands, parents, coworkers ... they all need things from us. And for the most part, we're happy to give--but isn't it nice, for a change, to know that there is a place where we can be heard? Where Someone actually wants to hear what we say?
We've all had those conversations with people who appear to be listening, but aren't really hearing a word we're saying. They nod, maybe say, "Mmmm," occasionally--but their minds are elsewhere. And let's admit it. We've spent a few conversations doing it ourselves. All too often we are more interested in the thing we're planning to say next than in hearing the other person. Or even more insulting, our mind may be wandering to what we're going to fix for supper or what errands we need to run.
God isn't that way. And He'd like us not to be that way when in conversation with Him! Did you catch the stipulation in the verse? "If we ask anything according to His will." How can we know His will? By listening to Him--to His Word as we read; to His voice as we pray. The closer the relationship we develop with Him, the clearer His voice will become.
* * *
Thank You, Father, for truly listening, not only to what I say, but also to what You see in my heart. Help me to seek Your will as I pray and trust You for the answers ....
My Thoughts
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We Pray Because He Forgives
* * *
"If he has sinned, he will be forgiven."
(James 5:15)
Mark 2 records the touching story of a paralyzed man whose friends wanted Jesus to heal him. They carried him on a pallet to the house where Jesus was teaching, but the place was too crowded for them to even get near the door.
Undaunted, the friends found another way. Maneuvering the pallet onto the roof, they dug a hole and lowered the man in front of Jesus as He was speaking. Undoubtedly, the crowd was shocked at this interruption, but not Jesus. Instead, He was impressed with their tenacity and creativity. And He was touched by their faith.
Obviously, Jesus knew the reason for their persistence; they wanted their friend physically healed. Yet the first thing that Jesus said to the man was not, "Stand up and walk," but, "Son, your sins are forgiven" (v. 5).
What?! The man had come to Jesus so he could walk. What did sin have to do with it?
Sin had--and has--everything to do with it. Even if we are healed of our physical ailments, it's still only a matter of time before we get sick again and, eventually, die. But if we receive a spiritual healing--if our sins are forgiven--we've received an eternal healing that guarantees us everlasting life.
There's a lesson for us in this story When we come before God, we need to set aside our physical, temporal concerns and focus first on our spiritual condition. Are there sins we need to confess? Have we taken time for praise and fellowship with the Savior, or are we rushing on to our list of wants and needs?
* * *
Lord, help me to be aware of the spiritual realm that stretches so far beyond this temporal one we live in. Let me prioritize my life and my prayers accordingly ....
My Thoughts
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We Pray Because We' re
Dependent on Him
* * *
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matt. 19:14)
I can still remember impatiently awaiting the birth of our daughter. Even more clearly, I remember holding her for the first time, aware of the awesome responsibility of caring for this totally helpless little being.
Little children are completely dependent upon their parents. They need us to provide food, clothing, shelter, love--everything they need for survival. We spiritual children aren't much different, except that we fool ourselves into thinking we're able to attain anything at all on our own. As James says, "Do not be deceived ... every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights" (1:16-17, NASB).
When we pray, it reflects our dependence upon God. It reminds us and it assures Him that we understand that everything we eat, all of our clothes, our place of lodging, and each breath we take is dependent upon His mercy and provision.
After all, when Jesus said, "for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these," He was telling us that heaven belongs to the meek and needy ... those who humbly admit their need for a Savior.
* * *
Lord, help me remember that all that I am, all that I have comes from You. Keep me from pride and help me to humbly acknowledge Your gracious gifts ....
My Thoughts
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We Pray Because God Is Our
Help in Times of Trouble
* * *
"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray."
(James 5:13)
If there is one experience common to everyone in the world, it is trouble. It may be of our own making; it may be from situations beyond our control. But whatever the source, the answer is the same: pray .
In fact, prayer is one of the benefits of being in trouble.
Benefits? That's right. James tells us to be thankful for our trials, and a revved-up prayer life may be one of the reasons. After all, troubles definitely tend to make our prayer life more abundant, and more time spent with God leads to a greater understanding of His character. Knowing God's character gives us the faith that He is with us in all our troubles, and that gives us peace. Not only that, but having a need keeps us dependent upon God for meeting all of our needs. And bringing our needs urgently before God makes us all the more aware of how He answers our pleas, giving greater confidence in the future when we bring our requests before Him.
No wonder James began his book with the words, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds" (1:2).
* * *
Lord, remind me that if I never had a need, I'd never see You meet it ....
My Thoughts
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We Pray Because It Is the
Only Thing That Works
* * *
"This kind can come out only by prayer."
(Mark 9:29)
Mark 9:14-29 recounts the poignant story of a boy possessed by an evil spirit. In desperation, his father brings the boy to the disciples in hopes of seeing him delivered from this torment ... but, try as they might, the disciples have no success. This must have confused them greatly; they had been healing and performing miracles on a regular basis up to this time!
When Jesus approaches, the crowd rushes to meet Him, babbling anxiously about what is happening. Jesus addresses the father and gets the story, imparting a different lesson altogether to this doubting dad. Then He commands the spirit to come out of the boy, and it does.
Later, the disciples ask why they had not been able to cast out the demon. And Jesus replies, "This kind will come out only by prayer." Apparently, the one thing the disciples had not tried!
Even when we are gifted in certain areas, even when we serve the Savior every day, we still need to be aware of our need to pray. Sometimes, it's the only thing that works.
* * *
Lord, help me never to forget, in the busyness of my day, in the tasks I do for You and others, that the most important thing on my list is prayer ....
My Thoughts
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