Learning to Pray... Day 3... Praying Appropriately

It seems for most Christians that I know, they consider prayer almost a sub-standard way of showing their love and affection for their Heavenly Father. What do I mean by such a statement?

Well, for one thing, prayer seems to be the most elusive discipline that we embrace in our walk with Christ. We always seem to find other things to do rather than pray. In fact, our mentality seems to be, "it is better to be doing for Christ rather than being for Christ." That is why so many believers often use prayer as the last resort rather than the first thing they do when dealing with hardships ...like just starting a new day. We have all assumed at one time or the other that "getting things done" by being productive is what God wants us to do...but often nothing could be further from the truth.

The truth is God wants to get to know you intimately and there is nothing that brings you closer to the Almighty than prayer...it is where we can become one with His Spirit. Prayer is more than closing our eyes to "meditate" on God; it is our unique opportunity for personal examination; to see ourselves as God sees us and yet showers His love on us regardless of who we are or what we've done. True, intimate time spent in prayer shows not a weakness; rather it empowers us to enter the very Throne Room of our Creator and there make our petitions known. Doing so teaches us patience; gives us insight into the heart and mind of God; empowers us with endurance and allows us to deal with any matter and know that God will be there to help us cope with ANYTHING!!!!

But we need to prayer appropriately...and that can be very tricky sometimes. What do I mean by "praying appropriately"? Christ shared with us how we can pray appropriately in the gospel of Luke in the 18 chapter, which reads; "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’  “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’  “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (verses 9-14)

These two men went to the temple to pray...the Pharisee praying so that all would see..the tax collector praying hoping no one would see. The tax collector knew where he stood in his relationship to a high and holy God and would not even let himself look toward Heaven as he begged for God's mercy; however, the Pharisee raised his hands (my conjecture) toward Heaven and in a loud and pompous voice thanked God that he was better than those all around him. What is wrong with that picture?

When we come to God in prayer it is NOT to sing our praises and tell Him how good and righteous we think we might be...NO! It is just the opposite.... for we are there to tell God how holy and righteous we understand Him to be and to ask Him to make us more like our Savior, Jesus Christ. WE ARE TO SING HIS PRAISES EVEN BEFORE WE MAKE OUR REQUESTS KNOWN!

So when you come to your time of prayer each morning, in your secluded spot, void of the distractions of your world, do as the tax collector and HUMBLE YOURSELF before the Maker of Heaven and earth. There, in the stillness of that moment, confess your unworthiness to even utter the name of Jesus or call upon the name of the Most High...pray with the appropriate spirit that says you are nothing in the eyes of God and HE IS EVERYTHING in your sight. It is only when we humble ourselves that God can use us in His work; it is only then that He can give us the desires of our heart and it is only then that we become TRULY connected to our Heavenly Father as we pray in the holy name of JESUS...THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES!!!!

Humbly praying for His Mercy & Grace,

WPQ

Poem for the day...

Many times we struggle

With the start of another day;

As we seek to know the Father's will;

As we bow to Him and pray.

We come with  hearts heavy laden

Cumbered with our load of cares;

Seeking  to know His compassion

And to leave those burdens there.

There to lay at the foot of His throne

The pains of a broken life.

To know our God is bigger than

Our woes and life's constant strife.

So when we call on that precious name;

The name of the most Holy one;

We will find our strength in Jesus....

As we pray in the name of God's Son...

IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY....AMEN!

WPQ © February 2019