Prayer, important aspect in our life

"No aspect of our life in Christ is more important than is prayer; a prayerless life is a Godless life. Without prayer Bible study becomes mere academic exercise, fellowship mere social intercourse, preaching a kind of religious politics and life like a dusty imitation flower - lacking colour and fragrance. On the other hand, the man of prayer is seen to be a man of action! For him there is access to perfect wisdom and all power - nothing is impossible! The age of open miracles may be past, but God's arm is not shortened nor His power diminished. In its fulfilment, prayer is the sum total of faith and fellowship with God."
-------
Brother Cyril Tennant
Prayer - Studies in Practice

Dutch transtlation /Nederlandse vertaling > Gebed belangrijk aspect in ons leven

Prayer has comforted us in sorrow

"Prayer has comforted us in sorrow
and will help strengthen us for the journey ahead."
- GWB

"The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;
the LORD accepts my prayer."
Psalm 6:9

Hear my cry for mercy, oh God.
Understand me and hear me.
Let my prayers come  to you
and let them make my wishes clear.
Hear and accept my prayers
and allow them to strengthen me.
God, I am grateful that the prayer could comfort me in my grief
and that it can give me hope,
because I know that you want to listen to me
and that you want to accept my prayers.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Gebed heeft ons getroost in ons verdriet

Hasekura in prayer, following his conversion to Christianity in Madrid in 1615. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

2013 update:

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• Prayer and Desire
• The Tension of Faithful Prayer by Mark D. Roberts
• Prayer Is Important...
• Our Prayer for Comfort and Healing
• No words ...
• Watchman with Jesus

A Living Faith #7 Prayer

A LIVING FAITH IN ACTION

Preceding

A Living Faith #1 Substance of things hoped for
A living faith #2 State of your faith
A Living Faith #3 Faith put into action
A Living Faith #4 Effort
A Living Faith #5 Perseverance
A Living Faith #6 Sacrifice

Prayer

Reconciliation with the Lord our God is the immense privilege that has been extended to all those who know His Word. Over the millennia He has called many to be His sons and daughters, yet being adopted into the divine family brings responsibilities. For those who do respond to that gracious calling, a way has been opened through the Lord Jesus that faith can find expression through prayer. Just think for one moment of how incredible that invitation to commune with our Creator is!  Indeed it could be said that prayer is the life blood of a living faith. Yet approaching Yahweh in prayer is not something to be taken lightly, but rather something that commands our utmost respect and reverence. The wise man wrote:

“Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.” Eccles 5:1-2

How often maybe in our daily conversations is it a case of open mouth and engage brain afterwards! Words often flow forth without much thought given as to the value of the message spoken.

This should never be the case in our prayers. Yahweh dwells in heaven and we are creatures of the dust upon the earth, therefore let words be few and to the point. To quote a well known phrase, ‘say whet you mean and mean what you say!’ Recognition of the immense greatness of Yahweh and a humble, thoughtful attitude of mind is an essential prerequisite of prayer.

Yet this should not lead us into thinking that prayer is something that must be confined to those rare occasions when we have a dire need or when somehow we ‘think’ our frame of mind is right. If that were the case prayer would be a rare event indeed. On the contrary, faith will desire to commune with Yahweh in prayer, drawing strength and comfort from knowing that prayer is heard.  A living faith will listen to the exhortation of Paul who tells us to “Pray without ceasing” (1Thess 5:17) and who wrote:

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” Eph 6:18

Yet how often prayer comes forth from faltering and stammering lips that so often do not somehow find the right words to say. How often when desiring to engage in prayer, do we find that the mind wanders or thoughts get jumbled up and our words feel clumsy and inadequate before the Lord our God. If this is the case, then be assured you are not on your own!

The disciples once asked the Lord Jesus ‘teach us how to pray’. His answer came as that wonderful model of prayer that has become known as ‘the Lord’s prayer’ (Luke 11:2-4). It is not the intent now to go into the detail of this prayer, but just think of its simplicity yet also of the profound nature of the scope of this prayer. The wise man wrote ‘God is in heaven, and you on earth’, thus the Lord’s Prayer commences with ‘Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.”  Reverence for Yahweh and His great Name should be the first thought and unpinning motive behind prayer. It is a deep and intense realisation that puts human nature firmly in its place. Human nature and personal will is then subjected to His divine will by acknowledging:

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.

A faith put into action will eagerly seek out His will and strive to obey His commands. Faith will desire to know His ways and His Word, then will strive to live a life according to those precepts. So very often the perspective will falter, vision will fade, and personal desires will surface, striving to take precedence over His will. But faithful prayer will restore the right perspective once again.

A living faith will realise the utter truth of Jesus next words: “Give us day by day our daily bread” and recall the teaching that “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

Our dependence upon Yahweh is total, for we have nothing that has not been given to us and day by day our merciful Creator provides for His children’s spiritual and material needs. More than this, “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust”. (Matthew 5:45), how much more then will He not provide for those who love Him. Thus Paul writes:

“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 understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

The next words in the Lord’s Prayer remind and emphasise our overriding need for forgiveness. Despite our best efforts we all, every single one of us, fail to avoid sin. Thus Jesus taught His disciples to pray:

“forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

This is no mere academic acknowledgment of the need for forgiveness, nor mechanistic recital of the words, but forgiveness must be sought from a repentant heart that desires to put right what is wrong. Forgiveness will not be granted if sin is not truly repented of, because we persist in deliberately doing what we have done wrong.  Nor will we find forgiveness if we cannot forgive from the heart, those who in reality owe, but a paltry debt to us. Yet as in all things we are so frail and weak, never able to attain to the ideal. So many times we find ourselves, despite best intentions, doing those things we know to be wrong – sin so easily entangles. How often we forgive, but find it hard to forget!  Surely we can relate to those words that Paul wrote:

“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God––through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Rom 7:24-25

Thus we have a great need to be kept away from temptation and sin and to be delivered from evil. Overcoming our failings is not something that we can do alone. We must make the effort, but the strength to overcome will be derived from a living faith that arises from the daily reading and practice of the Word. A willing mind that attempts to put the commandments into daily practice, to the best of our ability.

However, prayer must not be viewed as being only for our own needs. It is equally as much a time and opportunity to remember the needs of others. Indeed, James writes:

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:14-16

The fervent prayer of a righteous man! Surely we think, not us. If only I might be righteous and the possessor of such fervent lips! In many ways this thought may be correct, for we are in so many aspects of our lives ‘unrighteous’. Yet we have the comfort that through the Lord Jesus Christ sincere prayer rises up as sweet incense before the Lord our God, sanctified in Jesus and acceptable through his mediation. The one perfect and truly righteous man. Indeed David prayed:

“Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” Psalm 141:2

Yahweh is indeed willing to hear prayer and as already remarked, prayer is both a privilege and the life blood of faith. What child does not seek out their father to talk to them, to seek advice, to talk about problems, to share experiences and events? How much more then, should we as children of the living God, not seek Him out through prayer. Yet we need the right attitude of mind that fully believes and trusts that our prayers will be heard. If we do not have this belief and confidence, then our prayer will be still born, echoing up into eternal silence. Now David’s confidence that Yahweh would hear prayer shines through the Psalms:

“O You who hear prayer, To You all flesh will come. Iniquities prevail against me; As for our transgressions, You will provide atonement for them” Psalm 65:2-3

and

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear. But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me!”  Psalm 66:18-20

Though our sense of iniquity may feel like a burden that we carry. Though we may feel that personal sin will count against us, a living faith will find solace in the knowledge that Yahweh has provided atonement. Though our prayers come from stammering lips, He will not turn His mercy away from us. His only requirement is that we do not regard iniquity, but rather strive to develop a living and active faith, having our minds attuned to His will and purpose.

Yahweh will listen to sincere prayers that stem from an open and honest heart. There is no need to shout, no need to even to speak out loud, our very thoughts are known to Him who knows all things. No motive is hidden and every thought is laid bare before our Creator. The silently expressed thoughts stemming from the heart are heard and noted. No matter what our problems, cares or worries, strength and help are only a prayer away!

To be continued...
A Living Faith #8 Change
A Living Faith #9 Our Manner of Life
A Living Faith #10: Our manner of Life #2
A Living Faith #11 My place in the body of Christ and my ecclesia
A Living Faith #12 The Love for Jesus

Andy Peel

+ 

Of interest: > Faith Requires a Basis

+++
2016 January update for related articles

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Try driving forward instead of backwards

Dutch translation / Nederlandse vertaling > Probeer vooruit te rijden in plaats van achteruit

"Serve the LORD with gladness:
come before His presence with singing.
Know ye that the LORD He is God:
it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
and into His courts with praise:
be thankful unto Him, and bless His name."
Psalm 100:2-4

"How many times to we begin our prayers with thankfulness?

Someone once said, "There [are] so many times that we load up all of our
burdens and worries onto a big dump truck and we put that truck in reverse
and then we back that truck right up to the throne of God and flip the switch
and dump all of that trash at God's feet, all without ever seeing Him."

This is completely backwards from God's teachings.
We should enter God's presence with praises and thankfulness.
Then, after we have spent time thanking God for His mercies
and praising Him for his greatness,
we can turn the truck around and unload our worries and burdens.

Which direction are you driving your dump truck today?

Try driving forward instead of backwards into the presence of God."
(From The Daily Psalm)
 

English: Dump Truck 1b (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

He who kneels before God can stand before anyone!

Dutch version / Nederlands > Hij die knielt voor God kan voor iedereen staan!

"He who kneels before God
can stand before anyone!"
- Unknown

"A lot of kneeling will keep you
in good standing with God."
- Unknown

"Devote yourselves to prayer,
keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;"
Colossians 4:2

"God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
So we say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?""
Hebrews 13:5-6
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more
in knowledge and depth of insight,
so that you may be able to discern what is best
and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,
filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ
- to the glory and praise of God."Philippians 1:9-11
God,  learn me to be humbly so that I learn to kneel down for you.
Give that I can find the right words to you to speak to you dignified.And let not my prayers remain unanswered,
but fulfil me with your deepest wishes and desires.
Give me wisdom and spiritual understanding so that I fully understand your wishes.
And let me abundantly increase in love for each other and for all,
as my love goes out to you.

+++

Jesus in Pray (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2013 update;

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Aim High: Examples of Godly Characters to follow

Aim High: Examples of Godly Characters to follow

Dutch version / Nederlands > Mik Hoog: Voorbeelden van te volgen Goddelijke karakters

Be Abraham in faith.

Be Isaac in fear (Gen 31:42).

Be Jacobs in wrestling.

Be Abels or Noahs in righteousness.

Be Enochs in holiness.

Be Jobs in patience.

Be Moses' in sacrificing the pleasures of sin.

Be Jethro's in rejoicing (Exod 18:9).

Be Samuels in upholding obedience.

Be Josephs in forgiveness.

Be Davids in prayer and praise.

Be Nehemiahs in fearlessness.

Be Calebs or Joshua in whole heartedness.

Be Johns and Jonathans in love.

Be Josiahs in tenderness.

Be Aarons in consecration.

Be Jeremiahs in lamentation.

Be Pauls in enthusiasm and zeal.

Be Habakkuks in holy trembling.

Be Esthers in noble resolve (Esther 4:16).

Be Persis in labour.

Be Cornelius' or Dorcas' in benevolent work and arms deeds.

Be Isaiahs in sublimity.

Be Phebes in service and succour.

Be Stephens in irresistible argument.

Be Antipas' in faithfulness.

Be Nathaniels in guilelessness.

Be Arimathean Josephs in looking after the body of Christ.

Be Daniels in courageous devotion.

Be Marys in sitting at the feet of Jesus, and in expensive expressions of love.

Be John the Baptists in burning and shining testimony.

Be Mordecais in seeking the good of Israel.

Be Timothys in reading the Scriptures.

Be Gideons in valour.

Be Samsons in strength.

Be Solomons in wisdom.

Be Elijahs in fervent prayer.

Be Lydias in worship.

Be Sarahs in quietness and subjection.

Be Titus' in "earnest care".

Be Mark's in profitableness (2 Tim. 4:11).

Be Appolos' in eloquence, and might of the Scriptures.

Be Annas in testifying of Christ (Luke 2:38).

Be James' in faithful admonition.

Be Peters in boldness (Acts 4:13).

Be Philemons in refreshing the saints (Phil 7).

Be Lois' or Eunices in unfeigned conviction.

Be Hezekiahs in tearful recognition of the chastening hand of God.

Be Abigails in bountiful recognition of service rendered.

Be Nathans in straightforward accusation (2 Sam 7:7).

Be Elishas in discernment, as to time and circumstances when gifts may be

received and when refused (2 Kings 6:26).

Be Ezras in uncompromising counsel.

Be Ezekials in the faithful exhibition of wickedness and its consequences.

Be Lukes in writing to the excellent of the earth (Luke 1:3).

Be Malachis in bearing faithful testimony against evil.

Be Jepthahs in keeping your word (Judges 11:35).

Be Ruths in resolution and purpose.

Be Zadocks in not going astray.

Be Andronicus, and Junias in noteworthiness.

Be Priscillas and Aquillas in helpership.

Be Samaritans in neighbourly kindness.

Be Ephesians in refusing complicity with evil.

Be Pergamians in holding fast to the faith.

Be Thyratirains in works of faith, patience and charity.

Be Philadelphians in keeping the word, and confessing the name of Christ.

In a word, be Christ's in Spirit and in truth (Romans 8:9).

(1883)
+++
2013 update

Several characters from the game; left to right, Eliwood, Sain, Dorcas, Lyn, Rebecca, Hector and Serra (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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If we, in our prosperity, neglect religious instruction and authority

Daniel Webster was one of the great orators of the mid-1800s. As a Member of Congress; debater before the Supreme Court; and twice Secretary of State, he loved America. He once said: “If we, in our prosperity, neglect religious instruction and authority, violate the rules of eternal justice, trifle with the injunctions of morality, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us that shall bury all of our glory in profound obscurity.”

  We have become a nation of idol worshippers. No, I don’t mean that we carve out little forms, put them on an altar and kneel before them. Though that would be no more offensive to God than the things we do. When we think only of our man-made security; when the things we treasure are material (for “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”); when we believe that we ourselves are responsible for our successes; when we drag God down and turn Him into mortal man and worship that man as God - then we have turned away from God and are worshipping idols. We have been warned that, as the result of such abandonment, “there shall be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world nor ever shall be.” We are asking for that “great tribulation.” Our conduct as a nation, is begging to be destroyed. Our hearts should be repentant and our prayer should be for forgiveness before we have the nerve to ask God for His blessing.

  Abraham Lincoln wrote: “We have forgotten the gracious Hand which has preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and have vainly imagined in the deceitfulness of our hearts that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.”

  - A Christian in California

Change

CHANGE

Do you remember when you were a child, school holidays seemed to go on forever, chewing gum never lost its flavour and when on a long journey the destination never seemed to come! Parents always got exasperated with comments like ‘I’m bored! How much further? Are we there yet? Parents also got fed up with putting their hands on age old chewing gum stuck to chairs and bed heads! Childhood just went on and on, but imperceptibly we grew and matured until the day came when the first tentative steps were taken to live alone. It may have been when going to college or university or just wanting independence, but sooner or later we left home and the first major change occurred in our lives. Sadly, there are children who through tragedy experience life changes and insecurity at earlier ages, but by and large our awareness of change comes as we reach young adulthood. But even as the moves towards independence come and changes occur, somehow they are made with the knowledge [even if not admitted] that not so far away the stability of home is still there.

Our seventy years of life is very brief and as we grow older, changes come with increasing rapidity. The passage of time is marked by changes in life both good and bad; marriage, birth of our own children, kindnesses and loving care from others bring joy. Yet that joy is tainted by sorrow as we lose through death the company of those whom we love, the unexpected always happens and we sometimes hit a physical or spiritual brick wall, in the sense that illness, disease, disability or the unkind and ill thought actions of others take their toll. We come know our own weakening and ageing. Old age comes to all and we realise all too quickly our own mortality.

In a well know hymn we sing that ”change is our portion now.” How true this statement is. Some changes come so quickly others imperceptibly. Just like the second and minute hands on a clock, the rising and setting of the sun and the changing of the seasons are marks on the clock of life signalling the passage of time and change. But at the same time, we can stare at the hour hand of a clock and not see it move, yet it does in time, but that movement is slow and imperceptible to our eye. So also, many life changes occur imperceptibly. The changes we need to watch are the spiritual changes and such changes can be both good and bad. Life has many paths and crossroads always come. The path we choose is not always of necessity right or wrong, but the choices will lead to different outcomes and those outcomes will have an effect for good or ill upon our spiritual well being.

We are constantly changing even if we cannot see it. We react to stressors in life and the changes that occur can gradually debilitate or strengthen faith. Those changes are happening and constantly will happen. What we need to do is to make sure that we are changing in the right direction.

So how do we measure spiritual change? Well, just ask yourself do I know more about the scriptures now than say last year? Do I read the Bible more or read less frequently than a year ago? What have I learned over the past few months? Do I attend the meetings and meet with my brethren and sisters as often as last year? How often do I pray?
These things are a sort of spiritual barometer of change. If the mercury falls then we read less often, learn less, become less motivated and apathy sets in. If we read more and take in what we read, then we will learn. The more knowledge increases the more our zeal and enthusiasm will grow and the barometer goes up. Change occurs in the right direction and faith is stronger.

Similarly, we need to review the circumstances that trigger prayer. Ask yourself, does prayer come only when I am in need, or do I actively seek contact with Yahweh through prayer in times of joy, to express thanksgiving, but also to commune and meditate upon the wonderful, glorious characteristics and purpose of Yahweh?
Life is in a constant flux of change and much of that change is beyond our control, but we do have control over how we respond to change. We also have a measure of control over what changes we initiate ourselves. Response to change will be governed by faith and by our mental characteristics. That hymn rightly states ‘change is our portion now’ but equally as correctly says: ‘Faithful is Yahweh’s word, I will be with thee saith the Lord’.  The words of scripture are truth indeed and are unchanging. If God be for us who can be against us!

We maybe recall King Asa was told, "Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.” Equally, Paul’s words of exhortation and encouragement come ringing through the years:

“The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.” Rom 13:11-12

So let us resolve today, NOW, to seek God while He may be found, to make changes that are likely to enhance and strengthen faith, to respond to changes in a way that will please Yahweh and to follow the principles of scripture day by day.
Andy P.

Preventing us from going window-shopping in prayer

"In order to make sure that we are not retreating from the tension of faith,
it is helpful to ask ourselves as we pray, 'Do I really expect anything to
happen?' This will prevent us from going window-shopping in prayer."
- Catherine Marshall

" ... 'For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.'"
Matthew 6:7-14

Lord's Prayer in greek in the Pater Noster Chapel in Jerusalem (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

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If you do pray you shall not be disappointed

"If you do not pray, everything can disappoint you by going wrong. If you do pray, everything can still go wrong, but not in a way that will disappoint you."
Hubert van Zeller, Pan Dictionary of Religious Quotations, pg. 332.

Dutch version > Indien je bid zal je niet ontchoocheld worden

2013 update:

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