Doctrine Talk: Prayer (John 17)

Prayer…a conversation with God.

So simple…

Yet…prayer is not natural for us.

our natural instinct is not to run to someone else.

To admit our need for someone other than ourselves.

True prayer puts aside the kingdom of self for the kingdom of God.

Prayer is about dependence.

It’s about relationship….

—it’s not a monologue where we do all the talking,

it’s not us informing God of things He doesn’t already know…because He knows everything.

Instead prayer is God bringing our thoughts and hearts into line with His.

He speaks to us through the Bible, and as we pray, the Spirit in us reveals God’s plans, purposes and course corrections as we allow Him to make changes in us and work within His ways.

The Spirit also helps us pray, even when we don’t know how or what to say.

In John 17- Jesus is with his disciples- its the night before His death and what does he do…he prays… He prays for himself, his disciples, and for you and me.

Through prayer, we praise and thank God, confess our sins, proclaim His promises, and present our needs.

When I don’t value prayer- I make no time for it…Or, maybe I toss up a few words just in case He’s listening, and then move on to my own solutions. I act like God is distant, unconcerned, and powerless to affect my life.

But when I do trust that God not only hears but delights to answer my prayers, then I’m quick to share joys, sorrows, and burdens with Him. This regular conversation with God provides an eternal perspective on life, and an ongoing awareness of God’s loving presence in every circumstance.

Each week we gather at LM and pre-class prayer to praise God – to thank Him – to ask for an awareness of His power at work in our class.

But for daily sustenance and moment-by-moment spiritual strength, prayer in solitude is what creates a life-sustaining intimacy with our God.

It’s easy for prayer to become one more area where we feel guilty, but prayer isn’t about guilt.

It’s not a duty that we miss and then get in trouble and have to suffer the consequences.

Prayer is a gift, a privilege, an invitation into a conversation that we desperately need and want to have with the one we love. We make prayer a priority because we value this relationship.

Here this week in Jesus’ prayer we see him pray for God’s kingdom…for His glory.

This week, will you ask God to increase your delight in being with Him in prayer?

Will you ask Him to give you such a craving to be with Him that nothing will stand in the way?

Will you allow prayer to be the first preparation to do the work He’s calling you to do, just as prayer prepared Jesus for what He was about to do?

Prayer is a privilege—it’s not an obligation—the greatest privilege we’re given is this invitation to approach Him absolutely anytime—24/7.

Have you been trying to serve God without seeking Him? How is that going?

Where might you need to put aside all the things…and start making intentional time to pray…

remember…pray is not natural, in fact, it can be hard work- it takes discipline and at times energy to focus- to listen- to speak- and to hear.

But prayer is never a waste of time..it’s never a one sided conversation…

In a moment…we are going to pray.

At LM…We pray on our knees…as a reminder of our position before a HOLY God….as a reminder that we are talking to the creator and God of the universe and as a way to focus our minds on Christ…

So share a request with a neighbor…