In that day you will ask in
My name… —John 16:26
“The Cross represents only
one thing for us— complete, entire, absolute identification with the Lord Jesus
Christ— and there is nothing in which this identification is more real to us
than in prayer. “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask
Him” (Matthew 6:8). Then why should
we ask? The point of prayer is not to get answers from God, but to have perfect
and complete oneness with Him. If we pray only because we want answers, we will
become irritated and angry with God. We receive an answer every time we pray,
but it does not always come in the way we expect, and our spiritual irritation
shows our refusal to identify ourselves truly with our Lord in prayer. We are
not here to prove that God answers prayer, but to be living trophies of God’s
grace. […] When prayer seems to be unanswered, beware of trying to place the
blame on someone else. That is always a trap of Satan. When you seem to have no
answer, there is always a reason— God uses these times to give you deep
personal instruction, and it is not for anyone else but you.” CHAMBERS
A chief complaint that wives
have about husbands is that the husbands don’t talk to them. Communicating is a significant part of a
relationship. Being in the same room
does not build intimacy and understanding.
Communication does. And that is what prayer is and does. Prayer is a spiritual act. Prayer is facilitated by the Spirit of God. (Romans 8:26-27) “In the same way the
Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should,
but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and
He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He
intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” The ability to pray, that is speaking to the God of the
universe, is made possible by Jesus the
Son. (Hebrews 10:19-21) “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter
the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a
new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His
flesh, and having a High Priest over the
house of God” Because of Jesus we can
enter into we very presence of God .. into the Holy of Holies. The veil was in the temple to keep everyone
but the high priest out of the presence of God because of their sin.
When Jesus was crucified the
veil was torn in two signifying that we have access to God the Father through
the Son. Our sins are forgiven. His sacrifice was once for all. (Luke
23:44-46) “It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the
whole land until the ninth hour, because the sun was obscured; and the veil of
the temple was torn in two. And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said,
“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His
last.” So why would we not want to pray .. to talk to the Father … to obey the
word … sorry if I sound extreme .. but to not pray is sin … The Bible is not a
book of suggestions … but of instructions on how to live new lives in Christ. (James
4:17) “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do
it, to him it is sin.” Don’t treat
prayer like it is an option .. it isn’t. It is a privilege only God’s children
have. Oh, others can speak words but if
God is not their Father, if they don’t have the Spirit, if Jesus is not their Lord,
the words are not heard. But for you
Saint …. (Philippians 4:6-7) “Be
anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” CHARLEY
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