It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2

Posts tagged ‘Prayer’

What is Prayer? Prayer Is a Conversation between Us and God!

Genuine prayer is a conversation between us and The True and Living God, The Creator of all, He is God, and Father of all living things. Prayer is a process where we are both are speaking and listening to God as He is speaking and listening to us.  Prayer is how we make our earnest petitions to our loving Father, believing and trusting in God’s love, faithfulness, mercy and compassion for us as His children.  

Prayer is a conduit, pipeline or channel between the natural, the spiritual and supernatural. Prayer is a means of conveying things from one location to another from one person to another, us and God, it is how we operate and conduct business in both the natural and spiritual realm. 

Genesis 28: 12-13 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. 

Genesis 35:1 Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”

Prayer is an intimate, personal, and often times a private conversation between us and God. But like any conversation that we have with someone we do not know very well, the conversation in the beginning may be guarded, uneasy and unfamiliar. But as we grow in our knowledge of God, and our relationship with Him, we began to know Him.  The more we converse with a person the more we get to know them, and it is the same with our relationship with God. God made us to be in a close relationship with Himself as our Father and we as His children. 

Proverbs 22:17- 22 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge; For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips, So that your trust may be in the Lord; I have instructed you today, even you. Have I not written to you excellent things of counsels and knowledge, That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, that you may answer words of truth to those who send to you?

It is when we are in close communion with God that we will begin to know not only His acts, actions and the things He does, but we will also, begin to know Him, His ways, and understand His character. The more we look upon Him, to engage and to have fellowship with Him, the more He reveals Himself to us as being a faithful God.  The better we know Him the more we desire to be like Him and He will exchange our weakness for His strength and we will then begin to please Him.

Isaiah 40: 29-31 He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LordShall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 

When we begin to understand the character of God, we become more intimate with Him, and we will know what is pleasing and acceptable to God. Just as the more we get to know a person or the longer we live with our spouse, children, parents and siblings the more we began to know and understand them, and their ways, likes and dislikes. So it is with our relationship with God the more we know Him, engage in His word and fellowship with Him, the more we become intimate with Him and begin to better understand His ways.

Genesis 18:17-19 And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.”

Daniel 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

God did not hide His plans to destroy the city of Sodom from Abraham, but revealed to him His plan. God also listened to Abraham’s plea to save the city, if there were ten righteous people found there. Abraham knew his nephew Lott was there, and thought that in his family alone there would be at least ten people to save the city.  

Moses spoke with God face to face and was shown God’s form. David was called a man after God’s own heart. All these men had personal, intimate relationships with God. They had taken time to know, worship, trust and have faith in the Lord their God.  

Psalms 103:7-8 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

Acts 13:22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’

God does not arbitrarily, randomly, and without reason, do things with no purpose. God has no respect “of person”, that is He does not give respect due to someone’s social status, their pedigree/ancestral line, or their financial standing. But God does have respect “for persons,” those who seek Him, who commune with Him and who want to know Him.  Abraham, Moses and David were all humble men, with great trust, belief and faith in God. They all worshiped Him through the life they lived.  There is a great distinction between those who “know of God” and those who “know their God!”

Romans 2:10-11 but glory and honor and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek: for there is no respect of persons with God.

1Kings 11:34 However, I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, because I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of My servant David, whom I chose because he kept My commandments and My statutes.

Isaiah 37:35 ‘For I will defend this city, to save it For My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.’ ”

God knew Abraham would teach his children and household to keep the ways of the Lord, to do justice and the right things. Abraham believed God, and trusted God with the life of his son Isaac, and was willing to put him to death, because God had promised that through Isaac his seed would be called. Though Abraham had other children, it was to Isaac that God had given the promise and Isaac had not yet given birth to any children. Therefore, Abraham believed God would bring Isaac back to life in order to keep His promise.  Abraham believed and trusted God’s promise, and it was accounted to him for being righteous and he became known as the “Father of Faith.” 

Genesis 18:19 For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” 

Genesis 21:12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called.

Galatians 3:6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

Like any relationship the level of intimacy will depend on the closeness of the relationship and true humility is one thing that honors and pleases God. It is when we are humble we are more like God. Moses was called the humblest man on earth. Because Moses was a humble man God could trust him to speak with him face to face, plainly, and for Moses to see the form of the Lord, and not get lifted up with pride.   

Numbers 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)

Numbers 12:6-8 Then He said “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; I speak with him face to face even plainly, and not I dark sayings; And he sees the form of the Lord. 

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

The more we read God’s word, and the more we abide in fellowship with Him, the more we begin to recognize and appreciate His ways and not just see His actions, without understanding His integrity, qualities and character.  God called David a man after His own heart and yet we saw David, take another’s man wife and had him killed. What would the world call such a man today? But God saw David’s heart, he was quick to acknowledge his wrong, repent and turn from his wickedness,  and was quick to seek God’s forgiveness and mercy. God saw the sincerity of David’s heart.  

When David’s sins were brought before him, David was quick to acknowledge his wrong and ask for God’s forgiveness. Unlike Adam who blamed his wife and God for his wrong doings. David was a man of humility, even though he was anointed king of Israel, he honored Saul and refused to kill him because he was God’s anointed and he would not take the kingdom on his own and waited for God’s timing.

2 Samuel 24:10 But David’s heart (conscience) troubled him after he had counted the people. David said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O LORD, please take away the sin of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”

David was a worshiper and one who trusted God with his life, to protect and provide for him even when Saul was trying to kill him. Through prayer and worship, David was one who gave continued praise and thanksgiving to God with enthusiasm and vigor, so much so that he was criticized as acting inappropriately for a king. David knew all God had done for him, taking him from his meager existence caring for sheep, to being King over all God’s people.  David did not care about looking bad in their sight or small in his own eyes, but he would praise and exalt God with all his essence, and all his being. 

Psalm 108:1 A Song. A Psalm of David. O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.

Psalm 131: 1 A Song of Ascents. Of David. LORD, my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me.

2 Samuel 6: 14-15 Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod.  So, David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

2 Samuel 6:21-22 But David said to Michal, “I was before the LORD, who preferred me to your father and to all his house, to appoint me as ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel. So I will celebrate before the LORD! And I might demean myself even more than this and be lowly in my own sight, but with the femaleslaves of whom you have spoken, with them I am to be held in honor!” 

A woman washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair and kissed and anointed His feet as acts of prayer and worship.  Jesus said she was one who loved much, because she had been forgiven much.  Those who refuse to acknowledge their sins and try to justify them, or believe they have sinned only a little and they think it is of no consequence. They are blind to their sins and do not understand or appreciate all God has done for them.  

Luke 7:44-45 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.  You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 

Luke 7:47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

The purpose of prayer is to have communion with God and to be transformed from our fallen sinful nature, into the image of Christ, so that we may operate in our created purpose as image bearers of God. It is when we get to know the true and living God and enter into an intimate and personal relationship with God our Creator as His children, that we will begin to look like and act like and talk like our Father in heaven.  Thereby, we will begin to reveal and reflect His glory here on earth. 

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.Prayer should be a continues daily conversation between us and God where we give all of our praise as we put before Him our petitions, problems, fears and hopes for our future, while seeking His guidance

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Gethsemane  – Jesus’ Prayer of Submission of His Will

Many people want Jesus as just their Savior, save me Jesus! But Jesus must not only be our Savior but our Lord, Master and the One who controls and instructs our lives.  It all begins with us submitting our will to God, acknowledging our need for a Savior and then by faith choosing to receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  Then Holy Spirit comes into our lives and transforms us by renewing our minds, by changing the way we think and act. 

Many people want to be free but refuse to accept the truth of God’s word. They fail to acknowledge and operate with conviction in the truth they have been shown. Jesus told Pilate that He came into the world that He should bear witness to the truth! Pilate asked the same question so many people ask today, “What is truth?” Because this fallen world system has distorted truth and the enemy has deceived many to believe the lies of this world. 

John 18:37b …Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

With every new truth we receive, we must go through the battle of submitting our will to obey that truth, which God has revealed. This is a continuous cycle of growth for every believer, as God reveals to us His word and His way. With every new revelation of God’s truth there is a moment of acceptance or rejection based on our mindset and thoughts at the time. Jesus said that we will know the truth and the truth will set us free, but it is the truth that we know, believe and operate on as a guiding principle, that is what frees us. It should not be just a head knowledge of some statement that has no impact on our thoughts or actions. 

John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Many people may have knowledge of God’s word but they do not commit to it as a controlling, leading value of truth, one that dictates their life decisions.  We shall know the truth and it is the truth that we know, and use as a life steering principle, that is what sets us free. 

People will either receive the truth of God’s word and conscientiously and deliberately submitting their will to His word and accepting it as a life principle for their lives. Or they will dismiss it as something they heard, but will not act on it, or may say they need time to accept it. This leaves them open to the lies, winds and ways of this fallen world’s doctrine and thereby being tossed in every different direction.

In order to submit our will to God, the battle is fought in the very essence of our being, which is our will, intellect and state of mind. We must choose to pray a prayer to submit and surrender our will to God’s will and way. It is the same process of prayers that Jesus prayed during His battle of the will in the garden of Gethsemane. Many people fail to see the intensity and greatness of the agony of Jesus, as He wrestled with the truth of the cross that was before Him.  His agony, pain and suffering were not just because of the physical torment that He was about to go through, but it was the fact He would be forsaken by the Father, and the first time in His existence the Son would be separated from God His Father. The emotional and psychological anguish of being in total darkness and separated from His loving Father. 

Matthew 26:38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

Many people want to point to Jesus and say He was God, and that’s why He could live this life. But Jesus, while living on earth, limited Himself to His humanity, and operated just as all mankind, through the power of the Holy Spirit. It was in His humanity that He cried to His Abba, Daddy and asked if it is possible, take this cup away, that was His plea. Jesus prayed and made His appeal as to what He wanted, in the context of His relationship with His Abba Father. Jesus recognized God’s Sovereignty that all things are possible for God and He could, take this cup away. Nevertheless, Jesus did not superimpose His will but submitted to the Father’s will. 

Luke 22:41-44 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.  And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 

Mark 14:35-36 He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

Jesus’ experience in the garden of Gethsemane was one of extreme pain, stress and misery, to the point that He was sweating greatly with such intensity that He sweated drops of blood. When the body is under severe stress, so that the blood capillaries, (tiny blood vessels located around the sweat glands) ruptures, it causes blood to exit the body through the sweat glands. Not only was His body about to be nailed to a cross, but He would be deserted, rejected and isolated in total separation and forsaken by His Father for the first time in His entire being. It was not just the physical pain that had Jesus overwhelmed in sorrow to the point of death, but also the stress of being totally estranged from His Father. The angels from heaven came and strengthened Him during His trial. In this Jesus took our debt of total separation from God, so that we may spend eternity in fellowship with the Father.

Jesus’ humanity did not want to suffer but He trusted and acknowledge God as a loving Father, and He would do what was best for all humanity.   Jesus believed that whatever the Father decided, for Him would be a decision that was just, kind, loving and for the greater good for all mankind. Then Jesus prayed a prayer of acceptance of God’s will, if it is Your will, take this cup from me, nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.

Luke 22:41-44 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

The submission of our will, is us trusting God with our lives and our future. Our ability to choose is our God given attribute, God Himself will not take this away from us. He is continuously asking us to choose whom we will serve, and to choose life and not death, but the choice is always left up to the individual. We too may need to pray as Jesus prayed, a prayer of submission, Father if this cup (the situation I’m in) cannot pass unless I drink it (experience/go through it) Your will be done. 

Matthew 26: 42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink from it, Your will be done.

Jesus being the Son of God, went through the same test that all humanity will go through, the test of the will, to trust, obey and believe in God that He is a loving and faithful Father. This is why Jesus is a faithful High Priest not after the order of Aaron, who was of fallen mankind, but of the order of Melchizedek, the Priest who had no recorded beginning or end. Jesus has experienced the trials of obedience and is the example for us on how to persevere, and how to trust in a loving Father during our trials. Now Jesus Himself, is at the right hand of God and intercedes on our behalf. 

Hebrews 5:7-10 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.  And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” 

Jesus endured the shame of the cross, but because of the joy that was set before Him, (bringing God’s people back into the family of God with eternal salvation), in this joy He found pleasure, delight and motivation to endure the suffering.  The joy of knowing we would be spared a sentence of eternal separation from God our Father, Creator and King! We must learn, that we too can take a hit, a blow or be persecuted, for the sake of someone’s soul being saved for all eternity. These too can be viewed as light afflictions and not to be compared with the glory that God will reveal in us.  

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us

Our will is our ability to choose and only we as an individual person can make the choice to trust, believe and obey God. Or, whether to go in our own strength and ability, while leaning into our own understanding.

The three prayers of Jesus, 

  1. Jesus prayed what He wanted done. He made the appeal in regard to His close relationship with His Abba Daddy. Knowing all things are possible with God and He could take this cup away. Mark 14:35-36
  2. Jesus’ prayer of submission was trusting in the Sovereignty of God. Trusting in His knowing what is best in all things. Father, if it is Your will, take this cup from me, Luke 22:41-42
  3. Jesus then prayed a prayer of acceptance and faith in the love of a loving and faithful Father. Father, if it cannot pass unless I drink it Your will be done, Matthew 26: 42

To submit our will to God through prayer, we can pray as Jesus did. We can Submit our request to God. We also Trust in the Sovereignty of the Almighty, All-knowing God to do what is good and perfect for us now and for all eternity. Then Accept God’s way, His chosen path, believing and having faith in the love God has for us.

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