I Woke this morning after some difficult physical days of illness….. and pressures awaited me as I awoke, “But God…” I “preached” to myself on prayer…and Luke 18;1 came to mind “Pray lest you lose heart…” and encouraged as I ended up with Hebrews 4:15-16
PRAY not because you have to, but because you must!
Prayer is not about an activity to do- as an end in itself , but a relationship to be developed, a life of dependency, that declares self is not the answer but God alone is!
He can be trusted. He can comfort. He can strengthen, He can change hearts and circumstances if it pleases Him.He can be known in the hard place, in the celebratory place. He is accessible through the blood of Jesus continuously. He sees, He cares,He is able. His is a throne of Grace, favor towards you that rests upon you eternally and He bids you COME..TO …RECEIVE…”This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”-{Heb 4:15-16 NLT}…
COME …TO A PERSON… NOT AN ACTIVITY... NOT A PROGRAM BUT TO THE LIVING GOD… COME TO…. RECEIVE…IN “TIME OF NEED” ..HELP…MERCY…GRACE!… What incentive is there to Pray? The Person who bids us to come to Him, the GOD OF GRACE, who tells us we come to His THRONE of GRACE towards US TO RECEIVE UNLIMITED MERCY, AND GRACE TO HELP in Time of need. I love the way it is written “the NEEDY ONE” may come to RECEIVE…If you are needy- and which of us are not, we always are, it’s often just been reminded, and often difficulties and trials can do so, and are but a springboard to remind us we can come to a PERSON who bids us come not to hurt us but Help us in our time of need….PRAY ON!! PRAY TO A PERSON- THE GOD OF ALL GRACE….at the THRONE OF GRACE… and RECEIVE from Him, mercy and GRACE to help you….
We pray not because we “have to” but because we have been afforded the high and costly privilege to!
PRAYER IS NOT A cold Ritual, but a Divine Gift to us where GOD is ALWAYS LISTENING with a heart of love, wisdom, care and UNLIMITED ABILITY -‘Ah Sovereign LORD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You”{READ Psalm 34:6 NLT; Matt 6:6. 1 Pet 2:12; Jer 32:17}.GOD IS ABLE TO DO the exceeding abundant beyond all we can think or ask.
PRAYER – IS NOT- A matter of “feeling” His Presence but the FACT He is ALWAYS PRESENT WITH YOU! -{ Read, Psalm 139:7-11;Heb 13:5}. For to pursue a “feeling” is to fail to pursue HIM! We walk by faith not by feeling. Faith in a Person. Faith in His Word. Whether you “feel” anything or not does not change the Glorious FACT- He is Present. And the PROMISE of His Presence and encouragement He gives to pray on…”But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”-{Matthew 6:6}
PRAYER’S PURPOSE – “…Now ALL GLORY TO GOD, who iS ABLE, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. GLORY TO HIM in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”-{Eph 3:20-21}. WHAT is WONDERFUL about theses verses are, they are written to those who are tempted to lose heart, ON Account of Paul’s trials….. {READ Eph 3:13}…Note the word “glory,” mentioned twice, and to Whom it is to be for. The AIM of his praying is, THE GLORY to GOD…HIS NAME, CHARACTER been Honored, exalted, His FAME been Known and Spread…
And as we PRAY ON, This verse {Eph 3:20-21}gives the assurance is He is ABLE.Unlimited holy power! He has the ability to act and bring into being what He desires! He is Sovereign LORD, King of Kings, who has redeemed us and has placed us here for His purposes.
* Prayer is a Privilege!
* Prayer is to a PERSON…
* Prayer has an ultimate Purpose- the GLORY, Fame of GOD!
* PROBLEMS can be PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK AND TRUST GOD!
PRAY ON with Confidence…. Don’t Lose heart…you never pray alone. God Himself is listening intently, lovingly {Read 1 Peter 3:12}
PRAY on with Courage– persevere-{Luke 18:1. Col 4:2}
PRAY ON with Focus – His Glory, the aim! “Not my will but Your will be done… Honor Your Name and Fame…
It’s easy lose heart – when we take our eyes of the Person
It’s easy lose heart when we take the focus of the ultimate purpose to pray- His Glory.
Focus on the PERSON… His character, Promises, Word. FIX your eyes on the purpose of your praying, ask Him to remind you. – His Glory the aim… and
PRAY ON…