Share
Everything about us is finite and everything about the Lord God is infinite. Our limitations are the source of our frustrations. We are a spirit housed in decaying flesh, God is Spirit only. We are limited in knowledge and wisdom, God is all-knowing and all-wise, and the list continues for every human desire and aspiration.
The “gift of prayer” from an all-loving and all-wise God bridges the gap by providing instant, unfettered access to the infinite wisdom, power and resources of God. Prayer coupled with Worship brings us (freely) to the presence of God where the provision of our inadequacies is met. Hebrews 4:16 reads: “Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” I submit to you that we are always ‘in time of need’, however, the gift of prayer allows us to fully mitigate our needs whatever they are and whenever they arise.
The Bible is replete with creative, restorative, natural laws defying miracles. From the creation to resurrections, healings, axe head (iron) swimming, the sun standing still, the sun moving backwards, rain stopping/restarting, demonic deliverances, salvation, and the list is as inexhaustible as the needs of mankind, but God can provide (past, present, future) through the gift of prayer.
Now, prayer is available to all who believe in Christ Jesus by faith, and we pray in Jesus’ Name because we have appropriate access to the presence of God (throne of grace) through the delegated authority of Jesus’ Name. This authority was achieved when Christ was crucified on Calvary (rent the veil to the Holy of Holies) and rose on the third day.
Firstly, prayer is approached by Faith and in Confidence the existence of God and His ability to do anything in (His Will) for us. It is a spiritual activity.
Hebrews 11:6 reads “But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Secondly, since we are body, soul and spirit, we must attune our entire being to approaching God. Our body which is the interface with the environment must avoid distractions (humans, noises and otherwise) which break our focus. This often necessitates a quiet space. The Bible speaks of entering into our closet, Jesus going out to quiet places etc. The whole idea is to escape the pressures and boisterousness of daily life for precious moments with the Eternal God.
Thirdly, we then turn to our inner being. Our soul consists of our mind, will and emotions. 2 Corinthians 10:5 reads “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” Quieting the raging thoughts, ignoring the sudden itches, the just remembered tasks and a seemingly endless list of important things which are nothing but inner distractions after removal of the outer distractions is the first step. Our will is to pray, but then our minds and emotions must submit to our will. This is achieved as instructed in the text just referenced. Have no doubt, the struggle for effective, fervent prayer is real. Just as invaluable as it is, we have to fight (mostly our inner selves) to achieve it.
Fourthly, we attune our spirits to being in the presence of the Almighty Eternal God. Be comforted that God wants to be in fellowship and sweet communion with us, just as He did when coming in the ‘cool of the day’ to commune with Adam. The Tabernacle of Moses had the Altar of Incense as the last piece of furniture before entering the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant with the Mercy Seat atop it was housed. This was where the very presence of God met with the High Priest once a year (before Christ rent the veil). The Altar of Incense provided a continual fragrance into the presence of God, and it is said in Ezra 6:10 that sweet savours and prayer can be offered to God. Our sweet saviour now is Worship. Just as the Altar of Incense represented the calming of emotions so that the High Priest could (discern/hear) the voice of God from the Mercy Seat, so we too, must worship and calm our emotions as we ‘spiritually’ come to the Mercy Seat and communicate in two way conversation with God. Take note of the following text.
1 Kings 19:12 “And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” God speaks to us in innumerable ways, however in this example of an approach to God, we are looking at the quiet speaking to our hearts and spirit, most often found in our quiet space as we seek His face and Wisdom.
In closing, the lines of two hymns come to mind as follows:
‘Oh what peace we often forfeit, Oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer
“Come ye disconsolate, where ere ye languish, come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel…Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal”
Pray with the full assurance that God provided the Gift of Prayer to provide us with His infinite love, power, resources, wisdom, peace and whatever we lack.
Take a timeout and pray…
————————————————————
email: afcdistrict@gmail.com
