Thursday September 22, 2016
James 1:5-8 (NKJV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
A PRAYER PRIMER (4)
Don't lose focus when praying!
I don't know about you, but the more familiar the prayer the more difficult I find it to focus. The common table prayer at times seems like a stone rolling down a hill, it gets going faster and faster and all the while I'm thinking about what’s on the plate before me, not the fact that it's a gift of my gracious God.
Do you find it annoying when someone speaks at you rather than to you? In the checkout line at the store, the cashier says (not so convincingly): "Have a good day." We say (just as unconvincingly), "You too." Do we sometimes pray the same way? Speaking the words but not really directing them to God? What do you think the LORD thinks about that?
It is important that we not lose our focus. We aren't praying to ourselves, but directing our prayers to our Father in Heaven.
Moreover, let's not think of prayer like children, as a way to get stuff for ourselves. A prayer is a request! Let us make our requests known to God, boldly, and trust that our Heavenly Father will fill our need in the way that He decides is best for us. Rather than pray, "I want this and that too," may we learn humbly to pray, "Your will be done."
Finally, let's also pray that God be glorified in the answering of our prayers. Glorify God. both privately and publicly, when He answers your prayer. Glorify God for having given life and for sustaining your life. Glorify God for having granted you faith that trusts in Christ and promising you eternal life to come!
Praise God for all of His mercies!
