LET'S TALK PRAYER

Let's talk prayer shall we? Before you tune me out or exit out of this blog.. stay with me here. Prayer is an incredible concept isn't it? Humanities connection to deity. I love that the Bible tells us as we can come BOLDLY before God's throne of grace. (Heb. 4:16) Corrie Ten Boom is quoted as saying, "Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?" I don't think our prayer lives have to be boring or monotonous. All the contrary, I believe they can be vibrant and full of life. 

Growing up, Alesha Robertson was an absolute legend on all accounts in my eyes. She was my hero. My idol. I knew tons of random and creepy facts about A-Rob. Where she went to church, the name of her brothers, what car she drove. I was weird. She was so cool to me and I wanted to be just like her. But see, even though I knew all these things ABOUT Alesha... at the end of the day, I didn't actually know Alesha. There's that scary scripture in the Bible where the Lord says, "depart from me, I never knew you." It got me to thinking... what's the real differentiating factor in knowing ABOUT someone verses actually, truly knowing someone? I think the answer, whether it's Alesha Robertson or Jesus Himself, is quite simple. Have you spent time with them, in their presence, conversing with them? That's how you get to know somebody. And that's what prayer is. 

In Ephesians Chapter 1, the Apostle Paul provides a bit of a framework, an overview, a helpful guide for how we can approach prayer. Ephesians 1:15-17 NIV states, 

^"15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, ¹⁶ I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better." 

1.) GIVE THANKS

a simple thank you goes a long way. How good does it feel to be not just tolerated, but celebrated. When someone recognized something you did and they show a little appreciation and gratitude, it makes you want to help them again doesn’t it? Colossians 4:2 in the Amplified says, “Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving.” God appreciates an attitude of thanksgiving.

2.) REMEMBER PEOPLE

 It’s easy to get selfish in our prayers. Bless me Lord. Prosper me Lord. But when we begin to pray for other people, things begin to shift in our prayer life. If you’re really hoping and believing for something in your life – pray for someone else who’s in need of the same thing and watch doors open for you. Scripture tells us that Jesus makes intercession (stand in the gap) for us, let's aim to follow His model and do the same for others. 

3.) ASK GOD

1 John 5:14-15 in the Amp says, “This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us. And if we know [for a fact, as indeed we do] that He hears and listens to us in whatever we ask, we [also] know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted to us] the requests which we have asked from Him.” There’s a general in the faith a man named Kenneth Hagin who used to go all around the world preaching the Gospel and he would have alter calls where people would be up at the altar to receive prayer. He would gently tap them on the shoulder and say honey, what is it that you’re believing for and they’d say “oh nothing in particular.” And the Spirit of God spoke to him and said, well than that’s exactly what they’re going to get. Whatever you’re believing for this morning, I wonder – have you prayed about it as much as you’ve thought about it or just talked about it. Let's believe that God will raise up a generation of influencers who begin to grab a hold of the power of prayer and shift the atmosphere in their homes, workplace, churches, etc. Prayer isn't our last resort, it's our first response.