Where to start with this mammoth undertaking. Try to explain the concepts and power of prayer is like trying to bucket out the ocean it seems.
Well, Maybe I will acquaint you with my journey so that you know where I am at, and where and why God is taking me where He is. I do not confess to have the answers in completion, but it would be a disservice to my Lord if I said He had not taught me anything.
I grew up in church, going to prayer meetings, hearing the pastor pray, my parents pray everybody was praying. So as you learn as a child, you mimic what you hear and see.
I grew up praying, although I never really got that heart to pray for others. It seemed that when I did pray, it was for myself and my own problems. Pretty familiar story i'll bet.
Of course, that was when I did pray, which in all honesty once again, was not very often. In fact it would be common to realise one day that I had not prayed for a week or more.
As I began to seek God more, as He drew me closer to himself, I got more involved in church, both physically and more importantly, with my heart.
The times of prayer we would have were filled with power, and the Holy Ghost was flowing through us. I took this with me, this experience of powerful Spiritual warfare prayer, passionate prayer and applied it to my life. But still it seemed that it was more focused on me and my own desires and problems that I needed God's hand in than anything else.
This was a great time however, as I was learning things about prayer that I believe will serve me the rest of my life. It certainly has helped me be where I am today.
I began also to see that prayer is not sterile, that it is not empty. It has power, and it does change things. I saw prayers answered, sometimes in very specific ways as I began to hear God more, and recognise His hand at work in my life.
From a healing of a man with a hurt shoulder, to God moving powerfully in ministry times, and many other circumstances just where God has protected me and blessed me, when I really didn't even need it. I realised something about God during this. Prayer for trivial things, and God answering it had a powerful meaning.
What is that meaning?
God cares.
He wants you to know that He is real, and that He cares for you. That He loves you. What does it matter whether my day goes as I will, or that I get placed in a year level that seemed like it would be the end of my life, and it turns out to be the best year I have ever had.
God does these things because He wants us to know that he is real, he is loving, that he is trustworthy and listens to our cry.
Without knowing this, we cannot have a prayer life of power. Simply put, if we do not believe that God is listening, or that he will ever change His mind to work with us, we cannot expect to receive anything from Him.
Let us try to take him at his word, not ours;
“Draw near to me and I will draw near to you.”
“What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?”
“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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Thanks, feel free to comment or question, and I will be continuing this over the next few weeks.
Peace,
Daniel