Prayer

But When You Pray

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But when you pray, go into your room, and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6 ESV

Regular personal prayer is not an option, a nice idea, or a path for the spiritually mature. In today’s verse, prayer is a vital part of daily life for all God’s children. And this time of prayer is not to simply bless our food or to ask for God to watch over us as we sleep. This prayer is such a part of any normal busy day that Jesus says, “Stop! Get alone with God and talk to Him about everything.” Though there is a place for corporate prayer, the prayer Jesus teaches about here is not something we do in church, or in front of our family. God’s plan and desire is for us to have a personal intimate time spent talking to Him about our doubts, questions, and even complaints about our problems, and a time to give Him praise. As we are working our way through this first week of Lent, there is no better discipline to begin with than with prayer. Without prayer we are like a bow without arrows to shoot at the target or a compass without a needle to point the way. God calls us to personal private prayer, and though it may feel awkward, or maybe even boring at first, the longer we linger and listen, the more we will sense that we aren’t alone. Jesus has gone ahead of us into our prayer room and there He is waiting for us. Will you come and pray to Him in secret? God has also promised that when we pray, that He will listen and then go with us and reward us with the answers as we go out to serve Him today!

God’s Heavenly Hotline

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God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. Psalm 46:1-2 KJV

When the people of Israel left Egypt, they were terrified as they faced the Red Sea in front of them with Pharaoh’s army in hot pursuit behind. So, they ran to Moses demanding answers and blaming Him for the situation. On his part, Moses knew that they were partly right: he didn’t know what to do either, so he dialed God’s heavenly hot line. When Moses called, God answered in spectacular fashion and parted the water of the sea. Now, you might think that when the Israelites saw God’s power that allowed them to escape, Pharoah’s army while drowning their enemies, that they would trust God from then on.

But just like us, every time another emergency arose, they repeated the same complain and blame game over and over again. No matter how many times God delivered them they didn’t trust Him the next time, and things aren’t that much different today. Instead of chariots, and a dead end at the seashore, we face political divisions, environmental disasters, and economic crises. Just like the people of Israel we feel as if our world is about to end, but the good news is that God still answers His heavenly hotline. Just as it was back then, God is the only one with the answers. So, before turning on the news today, remind yourself that He who protected the Israelites so long ago will guard our homes and hearts if we trust in Him. Even when mountains fall into the sea, He promises to walk with us and be our refuge and strength. So, when problems, fears, or catastrophes strike, why not do what Moses did? Fall on your knees and call God’s Heavenly Hotline today!

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God is Listening!

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So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, 
“Father, I thank you that you have heard me. John 11:41 NIV

Notice how Jesus teaches us to pray, by praying, and His prayer begins by publicly thanking the Father that He was listening. “Listening to what?” we might ask. The answer must be, that Jesus had already taken time privately to pray and learn exactly what was the Father’s will about Lazarus.

Jesus reminds us that no book, no class, or sermon can replace our own private hour of prayer. That is the only place that we can find the peace and confidence to act or speak for Jesus. Then Jesus shows us that even knowing that his prayers were heard was not enough. Before doing anything else, He first gave thanks to His Father. Jesus models for us His own gratitude that His Father had taken the time to listen to His prayer. Only after that does Jesus confidently call Lazarus back from the grave. The public power Jesus had to say, Lazarus come forth!” came from His unseen hours of prayer. So today, before complaining to God about our situation or trying to command for things to be different, let’s be like Jesus and learn the timing and details of our Father’s will, and then thank Him in advance for listening. What could be more amazing than that the Creator of the universe would take time to listen to us, even weep with us and then in His perfect timing send His answer to our prayers?

Thank you Jesus for taking time to do more than miracles. 
Thank you for teaching us to pray. Amen!