The disciples made a very important request of Jesus in Luke 11. They asked Jesus to teach them to pray! Why did they want Him to teach them to pray? They had seen the power Jesus demonstrated in each and every miracle and they knew about His prayer life, so the request seems natural.
In our hustle, dog eat dog world, people often forget to pray or see it as a simple religious exercise, and the enemy has absolutely no desire to change that perspective. However, as we live in this world we need a connection to the power of God like never before. Any military force depends on communication with the Commanders to be successful, and victorious in the battle. 2 Corinthians 10 tells us that "We are human, but we don't wage war as humans do. We use God's might weapons, not worldly weapons." (NLT) We need instructions on their use, the plans of our leaders, and daily "briefings" from the Home Office. This is accomplished in prayer. Not just muttering the same words we use as a matter of habit, but really opening up our hearts, and allowing the Holy Spirit to help us pray as we need to.
Prayer is serious business, not convinced, in Daniel they passed a law against it, our society frowns on or wants it scrubbed of mention of Jesus. The least attended things in church after Sunday School or Bible Study, is prayer meetings. I heard a pastor jokingly say once that we have went from the "Sweet Hour of Prayer" to "Just a little Talk with Jesus" as a matter of prayer. When Jesus was teaching the disciples he gave three things he expected believers to do as a matter of lifestyle. One was fasting, the other was giving, and the third was praying. Many believers are living lives beneath the place God wants for them as they never pray, or even have regular conversations with their Father.
As I struggled with the loss of my earthly father a year ago, I made mention to my wife that I missed being able to call and just talk, and get his advice on things. Later that night the Spirit reminded me that I can still do that with my Heavenly Father on a daily basis, just like I did my dad! Suddenly I saw prayer in a new light, I'm not talking just to the most powerful person in the universe, I'm talking to my DAD! He wants to talk, listen to my problems, offer advice and solutions, and most importantly be a part of my life in a real and daily basis. My prayer time, is a conversation I keep everyday, and in the process, I can tell you that I have had spiritual healing in areas I struggled with my entire life, He has been opening the word to me in new ways, and I feel closer to Him that I ever have in my entire life.
These things happened when I learned to pray, and had a better understanding of who I was praying to. I feel as if I am now really apart of His Kingdom, and I'm praying to see His Glory in my life, so that others will come to know Him, and He will help me do this through His power that is at work in my life.
Today why don't you take a moment and focus on WHO God is to you. Have you been adopted into His family, and can you call Him "Dad"? Are you ashamed to come to Him because of your past, there is forgiveness, are you scared because you have failed in areas, there is strength to be given. Do you feel unworthy because of things in your life you wanted to clean up before going to God? Just ask Him for forgiveness, ask Him to help you walk in His power, and let Him do the cleaning. He can do things if you will let Him in your life that will simply amaze you, I'm a witness.
If you need help growing or in finding Christ, email me at pastorstansberry@gmail.com
Grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Eric
No comments:
Post a Comment