Saturday, August 6, 2016

Stop Treating Prayer Like It Is An Optional Feature Of The Christian Life

My Utmost For His Highest
 
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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