Stewarding Praying

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 KJV 1900

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

I wonder what our lives would it look like if we included God in EVERYTHING?

See, a lot of scholars believe that praying without ceasing means you can’t go without praying everyday, or even for a few times throughout the day, and they’re not necessarily wrong, but what if I told you that this command that Paul gives us is a literal one?

Today I’ll be going over stewardship over our prayer life, and the effects it can have in your life.

Firstly, before we pray, before we enter His presence, we must always remind ourselves whose presence it is that we’re seeking.

How we should approach God in prayer

R.C. Sproul actually has a quote on this which says, “When we pray, we must remember who we are and whom we are addressing.”

For this, I’d like for everyone to turn to

Matthew 6:9–13 KJV 1900

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

I want you to notice how Jesus starts off this prayer:

He says “our Father” which connects our relationship with Him, in other words, we are His sons, and if sons, heirs.

Then it says “which art in heaven”, establishing which kind of Father He is to us. He isn’t just any Father, He’s our heavenly Father.

Then he ends off that first sentence with “Hallowed be thy name.” “Hallowed” means to sanctify, to make holy. To separate His name before any other. Of course Jesus goes onto speak on other things, but this is the portion I want you to focus on.

I’ll just say it like this: God will never manifest Himself where He isn’t revered, but you can’t revere Him if you don’t know Him, or hold Him in awe. And if you don’t know who God truly is then how can you expect to know who you are?

If you look through every verse, what Jesus is actually showing us is the posture of prayer.

| Go through each verse and give quick explanation of it

Jesus is giving us the “formula” to prayer - and this is not to be legalistic or religious minded, let me make that clear, but we do see a pattern we must follow in order to pray according to scripture. We see something similar in 2 Chronicles 7:14 or in Hebrews 12:14, right? So we’re following a “formula” or a requirement in order for this to work the way the scriptures tell us.

Praying without ceasing

Next let’s turn to another important piece of stewarding prayer

Luke 18:1–8 KJV 1900

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Notice Jesus connects prayerful consistency with faith. I mean our entire relationship with Him is built off faith

This woman was in constant conversation with the judge, but in order to be in conversation with someone, you must first be aware of their presence. See God is everywhere, His Spirit is everywhere, but if you have your headphones on and you’re watching a video on your phone while standing in front of someone trying to get your attention, how do they expect to have a conversation with you?

I don’t know about you guys, but when the Almighty One speaks, I want to keep an open ear to listen to what He has to say, but how can we listen to Him if we never keep an open ear for Him?

See, prayer isn’t speaking to God, it’s not even just about having conversation with Him, but it’s about being aware of Him.

When we’re aware of Him, we begin to see His hand over situations, people.

When we’re aware of Him, our actions begin to change, we begin fearing the Lord, feeling His very eyes upon us.

When we’re aware of Him, we begin to walk in the Spirit, flowing as one with Him.

You won’t have to ask yourself, “Is what I’m doing right now pleasing to God?” No, instead you’ll feel His Spirit convicting you of righteousness.

Cause when we’re aware of Him, we begin to understand that when we walk into rooms, the atmosphere changes. Not because of anything we do or who we are, but by the grace of God, knowing that the fullness of His Spirit dwells within us.

Philippians 4:6–8 KJV 1900

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

That’s the third portion of scripture today that says to pray without ceasing or to pray in every thing. But the beautiful thing is that Paul literally gives us the formula on how to pray, which we’ll get into in a bit, but first, I’d like to touch on something really quick:

We all know that we must first tear down the old to build up the new. A prime example of this is the renewing of the mind. Keep this in mind as we move forward.

Be careful for nothing or worry for nothing, but in EVERY THING by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.

You can’t worry and pray at the same time. See, worrying is praying in the flesh, and as Paul said in Romans, the flesh has no good thing in it. And we know that where God is, there cannot be darkness, for He is light. So when you pray in the Spirit, you remove that darkness completely.

Paul says “by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING.” I’m gonna put it plainly fellas: If you bought a gift for someone, and they acknowledged it but didn’t say thank you, how would that make you feel? That same feeling is what the Lord feels when you ask for more from Him but don’t thank Him, and just like you wouldn’t want to give that person another gift, the Lord feels the same way too. For how could we want to bless others when they feel entitled to it, likewise, the Lord is as such. THANK HIM for all He does. Even when you’re not asking for anything, thank Him anyways. Without thanksgiving, how could we hope for the Lord tho bless us?

Look at verse 8. Listen to the language Paul uses, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever true, honest. He’s clearly talking about God. Think on these things, he says. Another portion of scripture tells us to (Colossians 3:2)

Colossians 3:2 KJV 1900

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Or in the AMPC version it says, “2 And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.

In other words, be aware of the Holy One in EVERYTHING that you do.

The mindset while praying

We can do NOTHING without the Father

Let’s go to

John 5:19 KJV 1900

19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

John 5:30 KJV 1900

30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

| Quick testimony of God speaking to me in shower

And while it’s been extremely difficult, I can now say I have a pretty good understanding of not only when the Holy Spirit whispers, but what He whispers to me.

Imagine the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, who knows beginning to end, every minute detail in between, walking with you. Wouldn’t you want His guidance every step of the way? I mean just imagine how much time you would save not traveling down the wrong path or even more specific, keeping an open ear when you’re doing something and hearing his specific instruction to make you more efficient in that moment. John 15:4-5

John 15:4–5 KJV 1900

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Sound familiar? We can do NOTHING if we are not connected to God’s presence, and the beautiful thing is that we already are, for the Spirit dwells within us, but just like that man with the headphones on, if we are not aware of that connection, how can we see what the Father does