Thoughts on Prayer
I wrote the following journal excerpt in 2013, because it was something that had been niggling at me for quite some time as I listened to people pray, even some pastors who had obviously known the Lord for a very long time. I have been thinking on it ever since. So I wanted to share it again, and maybe update it a little.
~~~~~~~~~~
June 24, 2013, 5:55 am
Been seeing differences in the way people pray lately, and I am finding more and more that so many people try to “ENGINEER” things by prayer when they need to be just knowing the goodness and the sovereignty of God and trusting in Him for the outcome
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:19, 20 NKJV)
However, it must be ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, and as I go along in this life it seems I know less about what exactly that is because it’s certainly not MY idea of how things should be, so my prayers are changing because of that.
So when I look at prayers that are being said, I can’t pray that way any more. My prayers are simpler now, because I have to trust that God KNOWS, CAN DO and is actually DOING what needs to be done.
My job is to be thankful and give him praise….
There was a phrase we learned at summer missionary institute that I have never forgotten…. “Antennas up!”. It meant we were to be on the lookout for whatever God was doing while we were on missions trip. I think it’s an every day thing.
It’s being sensitive to God’s work everywhere in life.
~~~~~~~~~~
OK. I don’t think we are restricted in prayer. I think we can ask for whatever is on our hearts, even for miraculous intervention, but we MUST remember and recognize that God is sovereign, He is ultimately in control, and He has a plan for all of us as individuals that is usually BIGGER and WIDER and BETTER than we could ever begin to imagine. So, how exactly do we pray with that in mind?
I believe that God puts the desire to pray on our hearts and minds. I believe prayer changes things, but I believe that the very first thing prayer changes is US, our so often egotistical selves, and I believe that is very necessary because we are all pretty much selfish by nature.
We want what WE want. We think we know what is best. We think we know how that can be achieved. We think we know what another person needs. We think THEY know what they need. But, we DON’T, and they DON ‘T. Only God knows all of that, so we must trust Him to do exactly what is best in the long run, because He sees it all…..every bit of it….and our vision is limited. He is all knowing and immeasurably wise. We are not.
The answer God gives to our prayers may not be whatever it is that WE want to see happen. Sometime the answer can dismay us, or even frighten us!
Our job is to be thankful and give him praise for whatever He is doing and trust in Him for whatever He is about to do. Do we TRUST Him? Do we trust Him to do what is RIGHT and GOOD?
So…….I am writing this little list mainly as a reminder to myself. However, maybe you will find something that is useful or helpful to you…….I hope!
1. DO pray, as soon as the need comes to your attention (I HAVE to or I will forget!).
2. Don’t do a “shopping list” of prayer and leave it at that (I need this and that). Quick prayers in a time of need are fine, but also make the time to bare your heart and soul in deeper, more meaningful communion with Him.
3. Don’t DEMAND (order or direct) anything of God (Be here and there. Please do this and that. Give so and so this and that) Be sensitive to who He is and who you are before Him.
4. Be THANKFUL in your recognition of who God is and what He is already doing. We don’t know or see half of it…..
5. TRUST in Him completely for the outcome, whatever it might be, however it might look to you. God is AT WORK!
6. Give Him PRAISE, because he deserves it always and seek for Him to be further glorified in the situation. Sometimes we want that for ourselves, the praise and glory) and we even TAKE it, because we “did” something. (We prayed and look what happened). It’s all God and what He does in and through us.
I hope this helps someone somewhere to rethink how they pray. I believe it has helped me. I’m glad God is patient and forgiving.
I’m still LEARNING!!!! 😉
❤ ❤ ❤
Ann’s Corner Pics
Ann's Corner 
Recent Comments