Friday, June 10, 2016

And Pray About Everything

6/10/2016

Ephesians 6.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. – St. Paul

Prayer: the communication and connection with God. Praying to God about everything, on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers: the spoken, the silent, in tongues, in angst; with joy, with passion. With peace, in happiness, in mourning; corporate, personal. God loves the prayers of His people. And God answers their prayer.

So what’s the big deal? Well, imagine being married or having a significant other (who comes up with this stuff??) and never speaking with them? I once did a marriage ceremony where the couple silently read their vows, sort of nodded in agreement, and that was that. We, who were there to cheer and bless them on, sort of shook our heads in disbelief, wondering: what in the world just took place?

Why link up with God and never talk with Him? God knows our thoughts before we think them. God knows our needs before we think them. But God loves our voices and our praise, and the fact that we include Him in our everyday living in the large things, but especially in the small. Is there any detail of our lives that is too small for God? Is there any problem or situation too large for Him? Paul says: pray all the time about everything.

Here’s the first thing: If God hears and answers prayer, then we can rest assured that He is taking care of everything we need. Second, if we’ve spoken to God about it, then we can rest assured, that above all else: we’ve spoken to God about it. Third: God is teaching us to invite Him into every arena of our living; so let’s talk with Him about all of it. Who else are we going to talk to about it that cares on the level that God does?

Prayer builds our trust in Him. Prayer builds our confidence in Him. Prayer humbles us and keeps us dependent. Prayer honors God by our allowing Him to be a part of all we do; His presence in everything spells success. Staying in communication with the Almighty guarantees His response and His brilliance in all we do, and wherever we go.

I’m not rethinking prayer, I’m praying. I’m not going to pray – I’m praying. I’m learning to slow down, stay down, and bear down in prayer. God has invited me to invite Him into all I do, say, and think. With an invitation like that, I’d be a fool to not take Him up on His offer…Amen?

Father in Heaven, fill my life today in such a way that I remember to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. And with this in mind, to be alert and to always keep on praying for all the Your people. Prayer changes everything and I pray to live like that today. Amen.

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