Presenting the Thirteenth Edition for 2006 of the WEEKLY DEVOTIONS: PRAYERKeep on praying, this world is in great need of it. "Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."
As Christians why should we Pray???
In the Book, My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers he says; The Cross represents only one thing for us—complete, entire absolute identification with the Lord Jesus Christ—and there is nothing in which this identification is more real to us than in prayer. "Your Father knows the things you have need before you ask Him" (Matthew6:8) Then why should we ask??? The point of prayers is not to get answers from God, but to have perfect and complete oneness with Him. If we pray only because we want answers, we will become irritated and angry with God. We receive an answer every time we pray, but it does not always come in the way we expect, and our spiritual irritation shows our refusal to identify ourselves truly with our Lord in Prayer. We are not here to prove that God answers prayers, but to be living trophies of God"s grace. "In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God." (John 16:26-27) Have you reached such a level of intimacy with God that the only thing that can account for your prayer life is that it has become one with the prayer life of Jesus Christ? Has our Lord exchanged your life with His vital life? If so, then in that day, you will be so closely identified with Jesus that there will be no distinction. When prayer seems to be unanswered, beware of trying to place the blame on someone else. That is always the trap of Satan. When you seem to have no answer, there is always a reason—God uses these times to give you deep personal instruction, and it is not for anyone else but you. Ref: Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest updated edition.
In the Bible it says: Jesus often prayed. He often got alone and spent a lot of time with His Father in Prayer. If the Master spent His time in Prayer, we His Disciples should do the same.
Prayer
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6: 5-15
In the Bible passage where Jesus walks on the Water:
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Matthew 14:22-23
In another passage; Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:21-22
Then in Gethsemane;
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Matthew 26:36-44
Psalm 17, A prayer of David.
Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea;
listen to my cry.
Give ear to my prayer—
it does not rise from deceitful lips.
May my vindication come from you;
may your eyes see what is right.
Though you probe my heart and examine me at night,
though you test me, you will find nothing;
I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.
As for the deeds of men—
by the word of your lips
I have kept myself
from the ways of the violent.
My steps have held to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.
I call on you, O God, for you will answer me;
give ear to me and hear my prayer.
Show the wonder of your great love,
you who save by your right hand
those who take refuge in you from their foes.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings
from the wicked who assail me,
from my mortal enemies who surround me.
They close up their callous hearts,
and their mouths speak with arrogance.
They have tracked me down, they now surround me,
with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
They are like a lion hungry for prey,
like a great lion crouching in cover.
Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down;
rescue me from the wicked by your sword.
O LORD, by your hand save me from such men,
from men of this world whose reward is in this life.
You still the hunger of those you cherish;
their sons have plenty,
and they store up wealth for their children.
And I—in righteousness I will see your face;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
Prayer!!!!!!! What a beautiful way to communicate with God our Father. A oneness, totally and completely identified with Him, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We listen carefully to God our Father for His responses to our prayers through the Bible and the events in our lives if we believe and have faith in Jesus Christ and totally give of ourselves and our wills to Him.
Prayer is like a special spiritual food that keeps our mind and spirit nourished and functioning properly. It gives holiness to our body, the temple of God. Remember, you can pray anywhere and at anytime; whether in the shower, shaving, eating, washing dishes, at work, at a sporting event, in school, digging a hole, in prison, in a hospital bed or if you’re sick. We can pray for ourselves, for our family and friends, for world events, for people you don’t know, for those who hate you and hurt you, and for your loved ones. Jesus is always there and listens. Are you there and listening to Him? Prayer is not only a one way directional with a long list of demands but it is a special time to be enjoyed in the company of God; where we also listen to him by the events happening in our lives, by quiet times with Him alone, by reading our Bible, enrolling in a Christian conference, event or Bible study group or listening to a Christian radio station or listening to beautiful Christian music. There are many ways and places to pray to the Lord. Enjoy them and see how your prayers will be answered. Constant prayer time will give you an inner peace. Otherwise you would never know what God wants to give you. Examine your prayer life today, try it and see what happens, it will change your life.
