DESIGN FOR LIFE
2/24/13 Prayer - Coming to God
Continuing to take thoughts from:
Globalreach.org
Christian Life
When You Pray
Have you ever heard children arguing as they play together?
“Give it to me, now!” one says.
“Why?” asks the other.
“Because I want it!” says the first.
And on they argue, back and forth. They have not yet learned how to approach others when asking for the things they want. Some people act like that when they pray. Although God always hears us when we pray, we need to come to Him the right way. We need to come to God with an attitude that shows Him the respect and honor He deserves. Then, we can have confidence when we talk with our heavenly Father.
Attitude is always very important in everything we do.
Joe Theismann enjoyed an illustrious 12-year career as quarterback of the Washington Redskins. He led the team to two Super Bowl appearances--winning in 1983 before losing the following year. When a leg injury forced him out of football in 1985, he was in the record books as Washington’s all-time leading passer. Still, the end of Theismann’s career taught him a bitter lesson:
Here’s what he said -- I got stagnant. I thought the team revolved around me. I should have known it was time to go when I didn’t care whether a pass hit Art Monk in the 8 or the 1 on his uniform. When we went back to the Super Bowl, my approach had changed. I was griping about the weather, my shoes, practice times, everything. Today I wear my two rings--the winner’s ring from Super Bowl XVII and the loser’s ring from Super Bowl XVIII. The difference in those two rings lies in applying oneself and not accepting anything but the best.
Reader’s Digest, January, 1992
Think about your attitude when you come to God in prayer. Come in the way that will bring glory and honor to God.
Coming To God In Prayer
Some people will ask: “Does it really matter how we pray?” “Don’t all religions lead to God? Just be sincere in your prayer.”
Jesus answered that question with a very specific statement.
John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
There is only one way to life, to connection with God. It is through Jesus, the risen Savior.
We can only go to the Father through Jesus. This is on the basis of what He has done for us. We pray in Jesus’ name, presenting His promises. Jesus himself is there to honor the promise, to identify us as authorized to draw on His account. Suppose you went to the bank and said, “I’d like to make a withdrawal from the largest account in the bank.” They would probably reply something like, “Do you have the account number? Are you authorized to sign on this account?” You would say “No, but they have so much money they won’t miss it.” The bank would say, “Sorry, no money”.
When we are saved we are authorized to come in prayer in Jesus’ Name.
The Bible tells us about this for those who believe in Him:
John 14:12-14 NKJV
12 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Think about this: greater things. Greater? Than Jesus? The greater things will not happen because of anyone’s own efforts or spirituality. It is the work of Jesus, done through the power of the Holy Spirit. We can pray in his name and a powerful response will come.
Footnote from Fire Bible: Ask in my name. Asking for something in Jesus’ name means being completely aware of who he is, what he is capable of doing and what his purposes are. It means acting as his representative, with his power and authority. It involves giving him honor and following his purposes in all we do. For this reason, our prayer in Jesus’ name must:
(1) reflect Jesus’ character and be consistent with his desires and purposes;
(2) demonstrate faith in him and his authority;
(3) reveal a sincere desire to honor both the Father and the Son. Prayers offered with this attitude and awareness will build faith and provide peace that God is in control and will do what is best for us. Jesus will answer any prayer that he would have prayed himself—that is perfectly in line with his purposes. There is no limit to the power of prayer when it is addressed to Jesus or the Father with sincere faith and according to his desire.
Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
We can approach the throne of grace with confidence. We can confidently approach God because Jesus knows us and He is moved with compassion by our weaknesses, and because is able to relate to all that we experience in life. We know that God wants us to pray. We come to the throne of grace because from it flow all of God’s wonderful blessings. He shows us His favor, love, help, mercy, forgiveness, wisdom, spiritual power, spiritual gifts and the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus is our high priest, our mediator between God and believers. This opens the way into God’s presence where we can always find the help we need.
We commonly pray “in Jesus’ name”. Let’s think about the implication of that way of praying.
**I ask, not because of my goodness but because of what Jesus did for me, making me a child of God.
**I come to ask for and receive what Jesus has promised me.
**I belong to Jesus and ask Him to help me.
**This is something that Jesus would ask for, that will advance His cause, that will please Him, so I ask for it in His name.
Hebrews 10 tells us that we have freedom to approach God because of the:
death of Jesus on the Cross.
sincere repentance we show.
prayers of the saints.
Hebrews 10:19-22 NKJV
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us draw near. It takes faith to draw near to God through Jesus our Savior. Faith is genuinely believing in God, entrusting life to His care while we rely on Him for help and strength. Without drawing near to God in prayer and fellowship with Christ, there is no saving faith.
Coming to God - Attitudes for Prayer
Respect, Joy, Thankfulness, Confidence
Thinking about who God is -
Thinking of His goodness, love, and power -
--- makes it easier for us to come to Him with the right attitude.
We must come with respect and submission to our Lord. We come with joy, thankfulness, and confidence. We know God will hear and answer our prayers because He loves us and because He has promised to give us what we need.
An important attitude in prayer: Forgiving and Loving Others
Not long before she died in 1988, in a moment of surprising candor in television, Marghanita Laski, one of our best-known secular humanists and novelists, said, “What I envy most about you Christians is your forgiveness; I have nobody to forgive me.”
John Stott in The Contemporary Christian
We KNOW we need forgiveness. We not only need to be forgiven but we also need to be forgiving. Hatred, resentment, and unwillingness to forgive those who have wronged us will close the door between God and us. Jesus said:
Matthew 6:14-15 NKJV
14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
If we have done someone else wrong, Jesus teaches us that we should make it right and ask forgiveness. We must also give forgiveness. We should be careful to treat others with love and kindness in our home, at work, or wherever we are. Harsh attitudes hinder prayer.
COMING TO GOD
LIFE APPLICATION: The Next Step
DESIGN FOR LIFE
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