Praying Hands
by Albrecht Durer
It’s so easy to fall into a routine. Pajamas on. Face washed. Teeth brushed. Scripture passage. Prayer time. Sleep. … Whoa! Prayer time? That five minutes a day when we read God our prayer list and tell Him who we want Him to heal, what we want Him to do, who we’d like Him to save? That prayer time?
I don’t think Paul had a prayer list. He prayed for his fellow Christians always. Always. They were always on his mind, in his heart. And he talked to God about them in that conversation that took place between Paul and God all the time. He prayed that they would be worthy of the name of Christ in the way they lived out their salvation in their daily lives, in their dealings with the lost and with other Christians.
Paul wanted them to realize that prayer wasn’t about them – it was about God. It was about knowing God, knowing the heart of God, knowing the mind of God, so that His desires became their desires. Paul wanted them to pray for those things that would please God, and he wanted those prayers to be answered powerfully in their lives. He wanted the results of their efforts to bring glory to God.
What do you want God to do in your life, in the lives of the people you love? What do you want Him to do in our church body? Are you praying for material things, or are you asking God to make you worthy? Are you praying for what you want, or are you asking God to give you what He wants you to have?
Father, stir our hearts. Take away our selfishness and replace it with a hunger and a thirst for righteousness, so that the things we ask for will be things You desire to give us. Amen
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desire of your heart.” I have always thought that this meant He plants the correct desires in our hearts when we seek Him. You and I agree. That’s nothing new, huh?
Not much of a surprise, no.
I remember someone being critical of a “Christian” movie in which the protagonists didn’t pray over a meal. We pray at dinner as an example to our granddaughter, but for the most part prayer is an ongoing monolog between me an the Lord. There are too many concerns to limit it to a given time or place.
I totally agree, Susan. Prayer is part of that internal, eternal, conversation inside my head.
There is alot to think about here, Gayle……just keeping our eyes and hearts on God/Jesus and He will direct our prayers. I think we are all on the same page. Blessings, Donna B.
Thanks, Donna. I always appreciate your comments.
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Me, too, Donna. I think God brought you into my life to be a constant encourager. I love your spirit and wonderful attitude – and your cookies!