Monday, March 28, 2016

Pray As God Leads

Henry and Norman Blackaby wrote about experiencing the presence and example of Jesus in prayer.  They bring to your attention that, “Prayer is not for the purpose of getting God to help us…but for getting us in line with what God is about to do.  Prayer is God’s invitation to enter His throne room so He can lay His agenda over our hearts.”  Wow, powerful.

How does God place his agenda in your heart?  He does so through prayer, as Jesus taught.  When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, pause to consider how Jesus’ answer to them had some very pointed statements.  Jesus answered, “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done” (Matt 6:9-10). It begins with praising God and yearning for His Kingdom.  As He continues, the request for a disciple’s needs are for daily bread (which represents Christ, the Bread of life, as well as food) and deliverance from sin and the evil one—connecting in the center is “your will be done.”  
 
Jesus set the example at the end of His earthly ministry, facing the cross He prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done” (Matt. 26:42). 

In Christ: Father, “Your will be done,”

Owen <><