“Be
anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” – Philippians 4:6
Prayer is one of those things that everyone knows to do and most have a problem doing. Some think it is a big deal if they pray in a restaurant before they eat. (I have always found it curious that we typically don’t pray over the appetizer just when the main course comes. It’s like appetizers don’t count.) Some only pray when they are in a church service. Some pray only when they are in some sort of trouble. Some when they want something, like a house or car or some other worldly possession. Imagine if the only time you heard from your children was when they wanted you to give them something. (For some, that is not too hard to imagine.) How would you feel about your relationship with them?
“… You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” – James 4:2-4
So often we live our lives the way we want, patronizing God on Sunday morning, demanding that He prove Himself to us by bailing us out of jams and satisfying our lust for the things of this world. Sound harsh? It is the cold truth. How dare we think that we can barge into the presence of God and demand that He do what we want. We don’t get to make the rules of our relationship nor do we get to decide what is best for us.
We need to wake up! When we come into the presence of the Creator God we must remember that it is only because of Jesus that we can. It is only because of God’s grace and mercy that we are His children and can ask even for a crumb of bread. How dare we approach a holy God with unclean hearts and dirty hands. But we do.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.” – Psalm 24:1-4
Prayer is a holy conversation with the Creator God. To be able to talk to God and know that He hears you is a gift. Make prayer a habit and not a ritual, but make certain your heart is right first. Approach God understanding your depravity and His holiness. It is an expression of our love and devotion. A reflection of our hearts and the quality of our relationship with the Father.
Prayer is one of those things that everyone knows to do and most have a problem doing. Some think it is a big deal if they pray in a restaurant before they eat. (I have always found it curious that we typically don’t pray over the appetizer just when the main course comes. It’s like appetizers don’t count.) Some only pray when they are in a church service. Some pray only when they are in some sort of trouble. Some when they want something, like a house or car or some other worldly possession. Imagine if the only time you heard from your children was when they wanted you to give them something. (For some, that is not too hard to imagine.) How would you feel about your relationship with them?
“… You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” – James 4:2-4
So often we live our lives the way we want, patronizing God on Sunday morning, demanding that He prove Himself to us by bailing us out of jams and satisfying our lust for the things of this world. Sound harsh? It is the cold truth. How dare we think that we can barge into the presence of God and demand that He do what we want. We don’t get to make the rules of our relationship nor do we get to decide what is best for us.
We need to wake up! When we come into the presence of the Creator God we must remember that it is only because of Jesus that we can. It is only because of God’s grace and mercy that we are His children and can ask even for a crumb of bread. How dare we approach a holy God with unclean hearts and dirty hands. But we do.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.” – Psalm 24:1-4
Prayer is a holy conversation with the Creator God. To be able to talk to God and know that He hears you is a gift. Make prayer a habit and not a ritual, but make certain your heart is right first. Approach God understanding your depravity and His holiness. It is an expression of our love and devotion. A reflection of our hearts and the quality of our relationship with the Father.
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