BE YOURSELF: LEARN HOW TO PRAY THE PRAYER THAT CHANGES YOU
“Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1)
Let’s admit it prayer, for most, is a labor of love and a discipline of struggle that can easily be neglected or forgotten. If we had to choose between worship or prayer we are far more inclined to worship but seldom pray. Worship comes easy for the believer or unbeliever because, whether it be God or worldly affections, we will always lean towards worshipping something. As Christians we are commanded to worship the Holy Trinity with all our heart, mind and being. Furthermore our worship is meant to extend beyond a church gathering into every area of our life: our giving, praise, work and purpose. But what about prayer? Unlike our desire to worship the believer and or unbeliever can feel the burdensome task of prayer. For many we approach prayer in the same way we view a dentist visit: you know you need to go, it is going to be best for your health but it “feels” uncomfortable and even at times painful.
It has been said it is not part of the life, of a natural man, to pray and that man will suffer, in his life, if he does not pray. If we are to learn how to pray then we must also understand why we pray. Today, I want to challenge our selfish attitudes and approaches towards prayer by not viewing prayer as a tedious sacred ritual but something intimate between you and God. If we are going to be honest with ourselves the true discomfort of prayer is actually referring to our “natural man” (flesh man) being made uncomfortable and inconvenienced. But if we are not committed to a prayerful walk what is truly suffering is that which is being starved: the spirit.
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Have you ever found yourself at your wits end and then feel compelled to pray out of desperation? Well, if so, you are in the majority. Even still, here, the enemy tries to disrupt your communication of prayer by making you feel as if prayer, in these moments, is cowardly. Reject this lie from Satan and press into prayer all the more so. In your seasons of real hardship there is never any shame in admitting your weakness and your only answers will be discovered by staying in touch, with reality, by praying! Be yourself before God and present your problems, the things you know you have come to your wits’ end over. As long as you are self-sufficient, you do not need to ask God for anything but when you are broke, and at then end of your road, then you realize you always needed Him whether you had much or now have little.
“It is not so true that “prayer changes things” as that prayer changes me and I change things. Prayer is not a question of altering things externally, but of working wonders in a man’s disposition.” (Chambers)
Blessings – JOSHUA