Our prayers should not be an attempt to move God’s hand in accordance with our will. They should instead be aimed at keeping our hearts aligned in accordance with His will.
Posts Tagged ‘prayer’
Thought for the Day – The Aim of Our Prayers
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged aligned, Gods hand, His will, prayer on November 18, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Thought for the Day – Standard Reply
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged answer, prayer, trust on August 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »
The answer that I’ve most often received during times of prayer is “Trust Me”
Thought for the Day – A Way of Thinking
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged prayer, submit, way of thinking on February 7, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Prayer should not be our attempt to get God to come around to our way of thinking, it should be our effort to submit ourselves to His way of thinking.
Thought for the Day – Caller ID
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged 2 Chron. 7:14, prayer, repentance on October 25, 2022| 1 Comment »
We tend to view 2Chronicles 7:14 (If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear…) as a call to prayer, when it’s actually a call to repentance.
Watch and Pray
Posted in Commentaries, tagged asleep, fear, fortified, Judas, prayer, religious pride, temptation, tempted, watch and pray on October 3, 2022| Leave a Comment »
During times of prayer I’ve often been reminded of the scripture, “watch and pray, lest you fall into temptation”. As I re-read that passage, I got a renewed sense of what Jesus was saying. It seems that He was trying to warn the Apostles that something was about to come against them, but they couldn’t seem to grasp the magnitude of it. Despite all that Jesus had told them about what must happen to Him, they remained remarkably unaware.
He didn’t just ask them to pray with Him, He asked them to watch as well. What was it that He was encouraging them to see? One might guess that it was to look for those who Jesus understood would be coming for Him, but in judging Jesus’ reaction to Peter’s response, it seems unlikely that He was asking them to stand guard.
This wasn’t the first time Jesus had spoken of watching and praying. In the parable of the fig tree He had told them of a snare that had been set for all who dwell on the earth, and exhorted them to always watch and pray, so that they may be counted worthy to escape the things to come. He later singled out Peter and let him know that Satan had asked for him, that he might be sifted as wheat.
I sense that Jesus picked those Apostles who were closest to Him, and the leaders amongst the twelve, because they were the ones most likely to understand. He had previously expressed His exasperation at the lack of understanding amongst His disciples, but in preparation for this time He had painstakingly explained that He must be given over to death. He wanted them to pray, so that their eyes would be opened to the significance of the events that were about to unfold. But as the scripture says, they fell asleep.
I believe that this is not only their story, but a representation of the church as a whole. The Lord has been trying to warn us of things to come, but we’ve largely been asleep. Like the Apostles on that night, our stomachs are full, it seems pretty quiet, and we’re largely unaware of the spiritual implications of what is going on around us. Just as Jesus told them, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
So what is the temptation that Jesus was speaking of? Was it a specific issue, or was it just temptation in general? As we look at the scripture, we can get some sense of what was behind the spectrum of actions, and reactions that were occurring around Jesus in this time.
It seems that Judas had fallen into the temptation to manipulate the circumstances for gain, while by drawing the sword, Peter took it upon himself to try to power his way through the situation in his own strength. The other disciples fell to their fear, as they scattered, and abandoned this man that they had claimed to love. Ultimately, Judas succumbed to despair and shame.
The Temple Guard fell to the temptation to use the enemies’ tactics, as they came in the dark of night, and without just cause. The High Priest, and the Sanhedrin were taken by their religious pride, their confidence in their own understanding, and their lust for power.
Pilate succumbed to his fear of men, while the Israelites who gathered outside were caught up in the arrogance of the mob, as they shouted, “let His blood be on us and on our children”. Finally, the Roman guards gave themselves over to the brutality that comes with unchecked power.
As this scene unfolded, there was all variety of temptation to fall to, and we see just about everyone, other than Jesus, succumbing to it. It is the same today as it was then. We are falling into the same kinds of temptations. Our tendencies to react, and respond are the same as theirs, and Jesus’ words still echo loudly.
Of course Jesus didn’t give in to temptation, as He walked through the horrible reality of the cross. The scripture says that Jesus despised the shame of the cross, that He agonized to the point that His sweat became like droplets of blood, and that He was sorrowful unto the point of death. Yet while praying in the garden, He resolved not my will, but thine be done.
We rationalize that He was the Son of God, and that this means it was somehow different for Him, but the scripture says that He was a man, who was tempted in all the same ways we are. I would submit that through His times of prayer, He was fortified for the things to come.
Throughout His ministry, we repeatedly see Jesus separating Himself from the crowd, and finding that quiet place to be with His Father. He said He didn’t do anything that He didn’t see the Father do first, and I believe that it was in these times of prayer that He received the insight, and direction necessary for Him to fulfill His purpose.
It was these private moments that allowed Jesus to maintain an eternal perspective on what was happening around Him, and so it is with us. If we are to be fortified for the things to come, and not fall to the buffet of temptations that await us; if we hope to maintain an eternal perspective, and fulfill our purpose, we too must find the quiet place, where we can receive direction from God.
It seems that the Western church has fallen into the cultural trend of having a very short attention span, and that the concept of prayer has largely given way to engaging speakers, drama teams, dancers, and power point presentations. While none of those things is wrong necessarily, it seems like we’ve tried to make ourselves relevant to the world by imitating them. We can pack the house for conferences, or plays, or concerts, but struggle to get anyone to get excited about a prayer meeting. If there is too much of a lull in the action, we’re afraid that we will lose the crowd.
As I consider the state of prayer within the church, I am reminded of the story of Jesus coming into the temple area, and overturning the tables of the money changers, and merchants. I’ve heard it said that it was the corrupt practices of the merchants in the temple that angered Jesus, but Mark’s gospel account seems to indicate that it was the mere presence of commerce within the temple. He not only confronted the money-changers, and vendors, but began to drive out those who were buying and selling, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.
I sense that Jesus saw this as a defilement of a sacred place, and that he abhorred that the focus had been taken off the Father. This makes me wonder how Jesus views the blatant merchandizing, and enterprise that takes place within the church today. His objection to those extra-curricular activities was that His Father’s house was to be a “house of prayer”.
The question that looms is whether we are any closer to this today. How many local churches can accurately claim to be a house of prayer? If a church isn’t a house of prayer, what is it a house of? If we are not a praying church, then what are we placing our hope in? Unless the Lord builds the house, we labor in vain.
Watch and pray, lest you fall to the temptation to focus on the seen realm (2 Cor. 4:18)
Watch and pray, lest you fall to hollow and deceptive philosophies which depend on human tradition (Col. 2:8)
Watch and pray, lest you fall to the temptation to do what is right in our own eyes (Matt 16:22-23)
Watch and pray, lest you give in to the impulse to take matters into your own hands (Luke 22:50-51)
Morning Prayer
Posted in Prayers, tagged prayer on August 3, 2017| Leave a Comment »
On the first day, You hovered above the chaos, bringing about the beautiful order we see throughout creation; and to this day all things are held together by your Spirit.
Lord I pray, hover above the turmoil within my soul; and gather my scattered thoughts with your loving hands.
On the day You awoke in the midst of a raging tempest, You rebuked the wind, and calmed the seas.
Lord I pray, speak to the storms that swirl around me, and quiet the churning waters of my heart.
On the day You last broke bread with Your followers, You prayed that they would be one, as You and the Father are one.
Lord I pray, unite us by Your Spirit, that we might become a Bride worthy of Your return.
On the day You prayed in the garden, You chose the will of your Father above your own.
Lord I pray, help me today that I might do the same.
Bjcorbin's Blog 
Listen Up
Posted in Commentaries, tagged declaration, listen, listener, perspective, petitions, prayer, praying the promises, quiet, quietness, still small voice, stillness, talking, words on November 4, 2024| 1 Comment »
Some years ago, as I combed the internet looking for contact information for my best friend from high school, I came across the obituary of his mother. Apparently, she had passed months earlier, which shouldn’t have been surprising, as she was in her eighties. Yet, I was somehow caught off guard, and a profound sense of loss swept over me as I looked at her picture.
My association with this remarkable woman dated back over 35 years, when her son became my closest friend. It was a season in my life when I was floundering to find my identity, and this wonderful family turned out to be a God-send. Though Mike and I didn’t necessarily make great decisions together, our friendship was as substantial and genuine as any I’ve ever experienced. At a time when I desperately needed someone (other than my own family) to believe in me, he did; and so, did his mom.
When I joined the military, it took our lives in different directions, but whenever I was trying to get in touch with Mike, I always knew to start with Mrs. M. She and I had many wonderful conversations over the years, and I sensed an incredible depth to her being (i.e. intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually).
As a black woman, born in the south, during the 1930’s, I can only imagine the tales she could have shared. But this extremely intelligent, highly educated woman never let our conversations be about her. Instead, she was a fountain of warmth and wisdom to and for me. I suppose that shouldn’t have been surprising either, as her life’s work had been that of a teacher.
But, as I sat at my computer, I found myself wishing that I had asked her more questions about her life, and had thanked her more profusely for her generosity toward me. And I couldn’t help but lament that the opportunity to do so was lost.
Along those same lines, I think of my relationship with my father, who I lost over twenty years ago. I would say that we always had a good relationship, but because of my own inner struggles, almost all of our interactions were centered around me and what I was going through at the moment. As such, I never took the time to really know him, or how he came to be the man he was, or even just to learn his personal history. My one regret in our relationship was that I never took the time to understand him like he seemed to understand me.
Truthfully, as I look back on my relationship with all the loved ones I’ve lost, I lament the fact that I spent so much time talking, and not nearly enough time listening. I now recognize that what they had to teach me was so much more valuable than what I had to share with them. Unfortunately, I gave in to the tendency to fill our time up with words, and missed the chance to hear from them. As the old cliché goes, “Dear Younger Me – There is a reason God gave you one mouth, and two ears.”
Indeed, the scripture tells us that we should be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19), and I have found this guidance to be most critical in my relationship with the Lord Himself. As a kid who grew up in the Catholic church, reciting prayers that someone else had penned, I struggled for a long time with how to speak to Him. But as the years have gone on, I realize that what I have to say to Him isn’t nearly as important as what He has to say to me.
Only He knows the end from the beginning (Isa.46:10), only He sees things how they truly are (1Cor.13:9-12), and only He has the words of life (John 6:68). If I want my heart to come into alignment with His, I need to surrender what I think and how it makes me feel, so that I might come to understand what He thinks, and how it makes Him feel.
As I have been a part of many prayer gatherings over the years, I have witnessed our tendency to fill up the atmosphere with words, but the most powerful times have come when I have quieted myself before the Lord, and let Him speak.
To be sure, petitions are an element of prayer, but He already knows the desires of our hearts and what we need. There is also a place for declaration, but unless those words line up with His will in that moment, they are simply wishes. We can even “pray the promises of God,” but I’ve never found that He needed to be reminded of what He said or what He promised.
I frequently hear Christians tout the idea of keeping up with “the news” so that they know how to pray, but the scripture does not support this notion. Not knowing how to pray isn’t an occasion to tune into current events (i.e. what is seen – 2Cor.4:18), it is a time to get in tune with the Spirit of God (Rom.8:26); who stands at the ready to teach us everything we need for godly living (2Pet.1:3). But in order to gain such insight, we must be willing to lay down our own preconceived notions, and open ourselves to hear what He is saying.
In sharp contrast to the torrid rhetoric of our culture, the Bible speaks of the “still small voice (1Kings 19:12)” of God, and tells us of His desire to lead us “by the still waters (Psalm 23).” Solomon extols, that it is better to have a handful of quietness, than both hands filled with travail and vexation of spirit (Eccl.4:6), while Peter speaks of the value that God places on a “gentle and quiet” spirit (1Pet.3:4).
Throughout Jesus’ ministry, we see Him walking away from the crowds and even His disciples, to be in a quiet place with His Father. While the scripture certainly portrays God moving and working in many different ways, there seems to be a special reverence for the place of quiet stillness before the Lord.
In my own journey of faith, I have found that my most profound encounters with the Lord have often been characterized by both of these attributes (i.e. stillness and quiet). Despite the fact that there are many who would likely echo this aspect of my testimony, there seems to be a high degree of discomfort with quietness or stillness within corporate settings; as though we lack confidence in the inner working of the Holy Spirit, unless it is accompanied by some outward (i.e. physical) manifestation. Indeed, we Pentecostal types seem to be more enamored of the shout, but unless these things are initiated by the Holy Spirit, they are nothing more than motion and noise.
Life has most certainly taught me to be a better listener, and that change has been most profoundly experienced within my prayer life. Jesus said that He never acted apart from the reference point of what His Father was doing (John 5:19), and unless we spend time receiving from the Father, we have little hope of ever gaining that perspective. At the end of my life, I don’t want to have the same regret with my heavenly Father that I had with my earthly father.
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