Have you noticed your prayers changing over time?
This is an interesting question.
Have you taken the time to analyse what you talk to God about and specifically what you ask God for?
Time some time now.
Over the years the majority of my prayers have been about safety and comfort for myself and my loved ones. Here’s the list of safety and comfort prayers:
- provision
- job home
- life partner to marry
- safe travels
- good government for my country
- for a good boss
- for good neighbours
- good parking place
- no pain
- no money issues
- no rain
- no drought
- etc. etc.
Now, these are all good things and God cares deeply for us and is a good provider. But maybe, in some instances, God wants us to forgo comfort and the easy life and toughen us up to grow our faith.
Ouch. Yes I know that hurts.
Take prayers for neighbours and your community. Our next door neighbours are moving out. They are renters. They have been great neighbours. Peaceful and law-abiding. So I started to pray along the lines that I have always prayed – Father please bring good people to live next door, people who will look after the property and not bring our property values down. People who are quiet and good.
BUT I felt in my spirit a different request this time and it kinda scared me but also excited me at the same time.
What if… I prayed for someone who is ready to believe in Christ.
What if… I prayed for someone who God has been working on and I could have the opportunity to speak into their life and be part of the process of leading them towards true life.
What if…
Now that might open the door to having a neighbour who is not quiet, who doesn’t mow the lawns, who might even have bad stuff going on. But is searching for someone to tell them about life with Christ and that someone could be me.
Most of my prayer time is spent talking to God about my sons. I ask for God to keep them safe, for them to make good decisions, for them to have good, safe friends etc. The kind of prayers that bring an easy and comfortable life.
BUT what if… the comfortable and easy life does not bring maturity and wisdom.
What if… I pray for God’s will to be done instead.
What if.. instead of praying for the affliction to go…pray that they will be patient in affliction (Paul did this in Romans 12:12).
What if… instead of praying for everything to be right and go well for them, that I pray instead, whatever they face and wherever they are, they will be rooted and established in love. That God will give them power to grasp Christ’s love – how wide, how long, how high and how deep it is. (Ephesians 3:14-21)
What if… I pray for courage and integrity and wisdom. These things only come from hardship and experience.
The same can be said for our prayers for ourselves. Do we take the easy route and ask for everything to go well or do we pray like Paul…
“May God himself , the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Okay, so here’s this week’s challenge and I am challenging myself too.
What if we all prayed this prayer from Psalm 26:2-3…
Prove me, O Lord, and try me
Test my heart and my mind
For your steadfast love is before my eyes
and I walk in your faithfulness. (ESV)
Here it is in The Message
Examine me God from head to foot
Order your battery of tests
Make sure I’m fit inside and out
So I never lose sight of your love
But keep in step with you , never missing a beat.
I DARE YOU.
| Friend, Let’s pray together this week for courage, strength and hope so that we can overcome and become strong in faith and love. I would love to pray with you, just reply to this email. |
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