Conversations with God…40 Day Prayer Adventure
Week 2
Our Willingness to Forgive Others …forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Matthew 6:12
Forgiveness of others opens our hearts to God and generates truly vital prayer. The need for forgiveness is universal. We need forgiveness and we are called to forgive others. Forgiveness is God’s remedy to the world’s brokenness. Lewis B. Smedes wrote, “Forgiveness is God’s invention for coming to terms with a world in which, despite their best intentions, people are unfair to each other and hurt each other deeply. He began by forgiving us. And he invites us all to forgive each other.” Read Hebrews 12:14-15 and release your offenders in prayer so that a “root of bitterness” does not defile your life.
Doing What Comes Unnaturally …giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20 (HCSB)
Giving thanks should be a very important part of our prayer lives. Thanksgiving corresponds to God’s creational intent for us. We were made to give glory to God and thanksgiving is a way that this purpose if fulfilled in our lives. Thanksgiving is also good for us. Barry Landrum writes, “…every time we do so [give thanks], our minds, hearts and wills are drawn into a greater wholeness.” Who among us does not need a greater wholeness? Read Luke 17:11-19 and imagine yourself in the scene. You may want to pray “The Samaritan Leper’s Prayer” – Master Have Mercy. As God answers this prayer for you embrace him in thanksgiving. In this, God receives glory and your faith makes you well.
For All Things My soul, praise the Lord, and all that is within me, praise His holy name. My soul, praise the Lord, and do not forget all His benefits. He forgives all your sin; He heals all your diseases. He redeems your life from the Pit; He crowns you with faithful love and compassion. He satisfies you with goodness; and your youth is renewed like the eagle. Psalm 103:1-5 (HCSB)
Thanksgiving is one of the highest forms of prayer and praise. Thanksgiving does not always come easily or naturally. Over the past three years we have not done a very good job of sharing thanksgiving testimonies during our Wednesday night prayer service. I recently repented publicly for failing Truitt Memorial as worship leader and began to teach that thanksgiving is a spiritual discipline. Since that time thanksgiving has grown in our corporate life. Discipline yourself to give thanks by making a list of all the “benefits” God has brought to your life. Count your blessings name them one by one.
Asking for Things You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and don’t receive because you ask wrongly, so that you may spend it on your desires for pleasure. James 4:2b-3 (HCSB)
Petition means, “request prayer”. Petition recognizes that God is the ultimate provider and that our reception of his provision is at least in measure contingent upon our asking and asking with the correct attitude. If our prayers are consistent with the plans of God for the world then God is liberal in his responses to us. Ask in faith and watch for results. Take some time today to pray like the Davidic psalm, “at daybreak I plead my case to You and watch expectantly.” Psalm 5:3 (HCSB)
The Necessity of Desire Therefore I say unto you, what things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you received them and you shall have them. Mark 11:24
One of the most underrated elements of Christian growth is “want to.” Desire is absolutely essential in the area of answered prayer. When our three-month-old daughter desires a bottle no one doubts it. She becomes passionate about receiving what she needs to grow up and be healthy. Do you desire God in this way? We need to break our crusty exteriors and get a little emotional. Read through the Psalms and notice all of the emotions associated with desire exhibited by the psalmists. Ask God to touch your heart and warm your emotions for him.
Our Priestly Ministry But your are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you – from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. I Peter 2:9-10 (The Message)
Carlyle Marney said that we are called to be, “priests to each other.” This high calling includes the work of representing God to each other and each other to God. In the words of Dutch Sheets we “re-present Jesus” in our work as priests. We are doing Jesus things when we pray for one another and testify to God’s faithfulness. Pray for others today and seek out an intercessory prayer group this week that you can join.
Making a List and Praying It Twice I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:20 (NRSV)
Jesus prayed for all Christians in his priestly prayer recorded in John’s gospel. In doing this he set an example for all of us who are priests in his name. Intercessory prayer is a great mystery. It involves human and divine interaction. Intercession celebrates the works of God and human responsibility. Stanley Grenz wrote, “God is the author of renewal, but in this task God wills the cooperation of human instruments. And at the heart of this cooperation is prayer.” Cooperate with God in bringing renewal to our church and community. Make a prayer list and prayer over the names and circumstances. Listen as the Holy Spirit guides you to actions of love that correspond to your prayers.