Proper Prayer

Matthew 6:7-13

Prayer is a POWERFUL tool used by believers all over the world, as they communicate with God for different reasons. Some come to the Father with personal petitions, whereas others pray on behalf of those who require additional support during a tough season (intercessary prayer). Whether one comes to God with personal needs or stand proxy for someone else they have concerns for, God adheres only to proper prayers.

How can prayer be proper? Is there a right or wrong way to pray? Yes indeedy! Many who have a misunderstanding of what prayer is, often misuse their words when petitioning to God. “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:3 KJV). Praying only to satisfy lustful desires is the wrong way to get God’s attention, because we serve an unselfish God who commands that men pray according to His will. God blesses His people in order to sustain them in the earth, and allow for them to be a blessing to others.

When Jesus quoted the “model prayer” in our text to the disciples, He wanted them to first understand, there’s a proper posture and approach one must maintain when coming before the Father. We must always acknowledge the omnipotence and sovereignty of God, before we attempt to make any request. This way, we’ll keep ourselves humble, realizing that without God, prayer wouldn’t even be a possibility. After acknowledging God in all His glory, we should then be certain what we desire is in accordance with His will. It’s easy to ask for things we think we need, but God knows what we have need of, even before we ask. Furthermore, as we begin to make our requests known to God, we must do so in all humility and appreciation.

As I aforementioned, God’s knows what we need, but gives us the opportunity to ask anything, in faith, and He’ll freely bless us according to His own will. The next time you pray, consider your approach to God, and be sure your heart, mind, and motives are pure before Him.

Plea for God’s steadfast love

2 Chronicles 6:40-42

“Choo Choo trains” (as I called them during my childhood) are wonderful means of transportation, that have provided services since the early 1800s. Trains come in a variety of types, and serve a number of beneficial purposes, but before trains can be of any use, tracks must first be laid, so that the various trains can reach their intended destinations, and serve their desired purposes. Without tracks set in place, a train could not properly travel anywhere, and would more than likely cause more damage and destruction, than good. On the contrary, when trains are set in motion, and following the right path, nothing can stop them from reaching their destination, especially once they have picked up momentum.

I mentioned the example of trains, to draw similarities with the importance of prayer, and how it can affect the life of believers. In the same way trains require tracks to serve any purpose, the believer cannot be effective, except their lives be aligned with the will of God. God’s will is the track all believers must follow, in order to be effective in their calling. Just as a train traveling off its tracks would be a definite disaster, a child of God living outside the realm of godliness, would no doubt set themselves up for a world of shame and misery.

While God’s will is the believer’s train track, His steadfast love sets the destination. All members of the body of Christ, are precious cargo, carrying the message of salvation around the world, and effective prayer is mandatory to ensure their witness will be effective. In prayer, requests are made known to God, in hopes that He’ll respond in our favor, but what we pray for must also be aligned with what He desires for us.

Solomon did a great thing in building God’s temple, but he recognized the importance of keeping His presence of love there as well. Are your prayers to God motivated by love? Do you make requests only to satisfy selfish desires? If you’ve veered off track in your walk with God, pray that His steadfast love directs you safely back to your proper place in Him, so that you can continue choo choo’n, and spreading the message of His saving Gospel.

Walk in love,

Ell

The Lord responds to complaints

Exodus 16:9-12

“…for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him (Matthew 6:8). If God knows what we need, then why doesn’t He just give them to us, without having to ask Him for them? God is all-knowing, and well aware of the needs of His people, but the purpose behind us making requests is to first ensure that what we desire is what He wants us to have, and to never get to the point where we feel we can live independently from His wisdom. We pray to God, and make requests because God is the source of our supply. Whether it be a natural need, or spiritual one, God provides for all of us, whether we choose to admit it, or not. Think for moment, if God moved His hand from the earth, and caused everything to cease, except for people, how would we live, without God keeping things in motion? Could we eat, if the plants and animals suddenly disappeared? How could we build and construct things if there were no more trees to cut down for wood? God made everything while considering the future. We can barely see beyond the tip of our nose (without the help of glasses or contacts), yet God knows the end, from the beginning, so it’s always wise to seek first His wisdom, when making requests. Even when we get frustrated, and begin to murmur and complain that God may have forgotten to assist us, these are the moments when He’s stretching our faith, to see whether we’ll trust Him when we seemingly don’t have enough.

In our text, the children of Israel murmured and complained that they would be better off dead in the wilderness, and had life better when they were captives in Egypt. It doesn’t take much to cause people to complain, no matter how much good you do for them. God had performed many miracles for Israel, including delivering them out of Egypt, yet they quickly forgot about the past miracles, and were yearning for new ones. In an effort to appease their requests, God planned to provide daily miracles, so that they would know, He is the Lord their God.

God doesn’t want anyone to suffer, instead to consider Him in all things. This world is getting worse by the second, and our dependence on God’s wisdom is vital to our physical, mental, and spiritual health. There will be moments when we’ll become frustrated, and complain, but as long as we keep our focus on fulfilling God’s will, He will always answer our prayers. Be thankful for what you have, and for all God has done for you thus far in your life. Never get to the point where you become ungrateful, because God daily loads us with benefits. We simply have to stop, and look at all the amazing things He’s already done in our lives.

Walk in love,

Ell

God answers Hannah’s prayer

1 Samuel 1:9-20

When a person truly understands the nature of God, only then will they be able to discern between the things they should pray for, as opposed to what they should avoid. I said that based on Hannah’s heartfelt prayer, after fulfilling her vow to the Lord. She desired something that should have come naturally to her, but was kept from producing children, because God had revelation, and a miracle planted in her suffering. In her delight, and great appreciation for God’s blessing, Hannah revealed the issues of her heart toward God. Not only did she pray, but in her speaking, God’s Spirit inspired her to also prophesy.

In her own words, she said, “My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed” (1 Samuel 2:1-10). From these words, it’s evident that Hannah knew God, and placed His will above all else. It’s because of her faith in His power, and patience during suffering, that God blessed her above measure, and prospered the seed of her womb even the more. It’s one thing when God blesses us in ways we can hardly imagine, but it’s even better when He does amazing things through our children as well.

Before you kneel down to pray, first understand “Who” it is you’re praying to. God created EVERYTHING, and has been sustaining His creation since the beginning of time, until now. Trust that He knows all things, and wishes only that His children seek to fulfill His will, over their own. Just as a good parent knows what’s best for their child, and sets them up to live a prosperous life, God wants us to do exceedingly, and abundantly in our lives, but we must willing, and obedient to His Word, His will, and His way.

Walk in love,

Ell

Asking and receiving fairly

Matthew 7:7-14

Does prayer really work? When we ask God for things, seek His wise counsel for answers, and knock on doors we need opened, how can we know for sure, God hears us, and will respond accordingly? Those are very legit questions, and I’m glad you asked. As the children of God, we have certain rights and privileges unbelievers can never obtain. It is the will of God that His people prosper, so all they are required to do in order to receive what they need to succeed is, simply ask for them, in faith, believing. The number one reason prayer isn’t answered for the Christian is, unbelief. Verse seven of our text tells us that we need only to ask, seek, and knock, then God will respond. The first letters of each of those words spell, ASK, so it’s obvious that God wants us to make a request, in order to get what we want. God is like a father to a child, who knows what his child needs, but desires that the child understand that what they need is necessary, and in accordance with their father’s will.

Praying according to the will of God, will always net you a positive gain, because your desires will be in line with what He already desires for you. On the other hand, praying amiss, or for selfish and unprofitable reasons, will get your request sent quickly to God’s heavenly shredder. Christians who’ve experienced seasons of trials and testing, are fully aware that there are times when our requests are delayed while God is testing our faith and patience, removing phony people who could potentially leech off our blessings, or because the devil is actually fighting against what we prayed for, as in the case with the prophet Daniel. Daniel prayed to God for a thing, and God heard and answered Him immediately after he had finished praying, but his answer was held up for three weeks, as the angel who was assigned to deliver Daniel’s blessing was hindered by the devil, who fought to keep the blessing from reaching him. We’re living in a world of natural, and spiritual warfare, so it’s imperative that we don’t faint, nor lose heart while waiting for God to answer our prayers, because He knows our suffering, and will NEVER allow our faith in Him to be in vain.

When your prayers to God are finally answered, how do you carry yourself after? Do you flaunt and walk with your nose to the sky in arrogance, or do you remain humble, and show God your appreciation by continuing to walk in love? When we have what we need from God, it is still our duty to treat our neighbors as we would want to be treated. There are countless individuals who seem to have things all together, and in order, but fail to show love and kindness to those still struggling. I remain baffled at those rich and famous preachers and “profits”, who live lavishly, while their members struggle to keep a roof over their heads. The “Golden Rule” teaches us to do unto others, as we would have them do unto us (vs. 12). How can a blessed man, who claims to love God with all his heart, see someone struggling, but refuse to lend a helping hand. Even in moments when we have not the means to provide for someone’s need, we can follow Peter’s example, and offer a word of prayer, that can do more for a person’s life than silver and gold ever could. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16b). Does prayer work? Of course it does, when done with the right heart, right intentions, and right faith.

Walk in love,

Ell