Thursday, August 21, 2014
Psalm 141:2 May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
PRAYER: WHAT A PRIVILEGE!
"Prayer pulls the rope below and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray half-heartedly. Others give an occasional pluck. Those who win the victory are the Christians who grab hold of the rope boldly and pull continuously with all their might." So wrote the renowned preacher, Charles Spurgeon. What he said agrees with Scripture. Think of the many verses where your Father encourages you to pray, and pray boldly:
– "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" (Matthew 11:9).
– "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me" (Psalm 50:15).
– "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6).
The list of such sweet prayer verses could be made much longer!
When was the last time you stopped to think what a privilege prayer is? Why a privilege? Because we don't deserve to be able to do it. As Isaiah wrote, our iniquities should rightly serve as a barrier to hide God's face from us and as a jamming device to keep Him from hearing us (Isaiah 59:2). But this is no longer the case. Christ by His atoning death on the cross obliterated that awful sin-wall. With our eyes of faith fixed on Christ our Father not only lets us draw near Him in prayer. He encourages, even commands us, to come to Him with our every desire and need. Our prayers are like a sweet fragrance wafting up into His presence that He hears and answers, for Jesus' sake, and always in a way that meets our need. In the words of the poet:
I know not by what methods rare, But this I know: God answers prayer.
I know that He has given His word, Which tells me prayer is always heard,
And will be answered, soon or late, And so I pray and calmly wait.
I know not if the blessing sought Will come in just the way I thought,
But leave my prayer with Him alone, Whose will is wiser than my own,
Assured that He will grant my quest Or send some answer far more blest.
(Selected)
Thank You, Lord, for the prayer privilege You have given me! Lead me to pray boldly!
