Real prayer takes hard work. We all know what it is like to get down on our knees with the best of intentions, but either fall asleep, run out of things to say, or find our minds wandering after just a few minutes. Prayer changes things, as the old saying goes, but it has to change us first by reorienting our perception of the world we live in. Prayer helps to turn us from a self-focus to a God-focus so we can do His will.
The devil doesn’t want you to understand how potent prayer is because once you do he loses his ability to throw you off track. Satan can’t keep you from praying, but what he does is try to make you feel awkward, frustrated, and powerless in prayer so that you will give up more easily.
Read Hebrews 4:14-16. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Reflect: What happens when we communicate with our Father on a regular basis?
Read Matthew 6:5-7. When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners also that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
Reflect: In Matthew 6:5-7, Jesus warns us about some wrong ways to approach prayer. Describe these wrong approaches. Have you ever been guilty of praying this way?
Prayer is not a ritual, in fact a basic definition of prayer that will guide our study is this— prayer is relational communication with God. Prayer is a dialogue between two people who are intimately related, not a monologue in which one person does all the talking and the other does all the listening. Prayer is a key ingredient that causes all the parts of the Christian life to relate properly to one another, because prayer is the primary means by which we relate to God.
Reflect: In your own words explain the relationship between your prayer life and spiritual growth.
Reflect: Evaluate your prayer life. What, if any, changes would you like to make?
For His Kingdom,
Tony Evans
Prayer: Forgive me for the times I have taken prayer for granted. Help me make prayer a part of each day so that I will take full advantage of my access to heaven through Your Son. In Christ's name, Amen.
