The Best Prayers (1)

Dear God: Please send a new baby for Mommy. The new baby you sent last week cries too much. Debbie, 7

Dear God: Who did you make smarter? Boys or girls? My sister and I want to know. Jimmy, 6

Dear God: How many angels are there in heaven? I would like to be the first kid in my class to know the answer. Norma, 8

Dear Lord: Thank you for the nice day today. You even fooled the TV weather man. Hank, 7

Dear God: I need a raise in my allowance. Could you have one of your angels tell my father. Thank you. David, 7

Dear God: This is my prayer. Could you please give my brother some brains. So far he doesn’t have any. Angela, 8

"Dear God, please take care of my daddy and my mommy and my sister and my brother and my doggy and me.

Oh, please take care of yourself, God. If anything happens to you, we’re gonna be in a big mess. Timmy, 7.

There’s a million prayers that we could pray. Prayers for safety, money, healing, mercy,forgiveness. In fact, if there are 365 days in a year, and you prayed for 70 years at least once a day- you would pray some 25,000 prayers throughout your lifetime- and most of us pray more than once a day. In fact, if you pray over your three meals a day you will easily pray more than 75,000 prayers just over your meals. With numbers like these, it makes sense that we would want to eventually ask ourselves, what should I be praying for? Or, how should I be praying? So, today we are going to start a 2 part sermon called “The Best Prayers” where we will look at how the Bible teaches us to pray.

Just know that what we are talking about is not verbatim prayers to recite, but ideas, directions, and concepts that are helpful to keep in mind as we pray.

Pray to know God’s Will

Colossians 1:9-10 “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

It is important for us to make some distinguishing comments. There are 2 kinds of applications for “God’s Will.” Some of God’s will is inescapable- it is going to happen whether we like it or not. For example, if God wills it to rain today, it is going to rain- you have no say in the matter. Or the force of gravity, or needing oxygen to breathe- these are elements of God’s will that are not up for debate.

There is another aspect to God’s will though, that is the will that we choose. For example, the 10 Commandments show us God’s will for our lives, but we must choose to allow that will to direct our lives. God’s will is that we should not murder, but ultimately we as humans choose whether or not to embrace that will. God may will for you to give $100 to the charity down the street, but it is up to you to hear that will and respond.

These 2 can also intersect. For example, if God wills a charity to operate, and you fail to respond to his will for you to give, he will use other means to accomplish his will- with or without you.

This is why it is important to pray to know God’s will; so that we are able to be used fully by the Spirit of God. Knowing the will of God keeps us in step with the Lord’s plan and purposes for our lives. Knowing God’s will is more about our blessing than God needing us to do his work for him. God will accomplish his work- but he loves us and desires for us to be a part of that will and work for our good and our blessing.

It’s also important for us to know that there is no magic prayer that keeps us in the will of God- it truly is discernment and trust. Many times knowing the will of God is a moment by moment exercise that keeps us always connected in prayer.

However, I did find a prayer that I love to help know the path of God, and bring peace to us while discerning. It is called the brick wall prayer and it was written by Rachel Cockwell. It goes like this:

God, you know me better than I know myself. You know my fears and my desires. You know how much I want this. You know how much I will be devastated if this doesn't happen. I know you love me. I know you have a plan for me. Please, Lord, don't let my desires blind me to your will. If this is not within your plan for me, throw up a Brick Wall. Give me an obstacle I cannot get past. Help me follow your will, Father. Give me peace about whatever is to come. If this falls through, I will know it is your hand.

Pray for the Ability to comprehend the Love of God

Ephesians 3:14-19 “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Let’s just be frank- knowing the Love of God is like knowing how much water there is in the ocean- you just cannot do it- it’s impossible.

But, through the gift of the Holy Spirit we can begin to comprehend the kind of love that God has for me. I do not have to know exactly how many ounces of water in the ocean to understand that it is A LOT- more-so than I can ever imagine. I don’t need to know exactly how many blades of grass are in my yard to know that the number is massive.

We can also be reminded of how constant and present the love of our God is.

There is a story of CH Spurgeon, that he has walking with a friend and they spotted a weather vain with the words “God is Love” written on it. Spurgeon proclaimed the ridiculousness of such a thing. “The love of God is not like the wind! It does not change directions or force.” Quickly his friend corrected him. “I think you’re seeing it wrong. Perhaps the message is no matter which way the wind blows, God’s love is always there”

When we are praying for a comprehension of the depth and presence of God’s love, we are praying for the most foundational reality that we can exist in. Every other truth for the follower is a fruit of this root- God’s love for you.

But, as pointed out by Ann Tatlock, there is a paradox in attempting to comprehend the love of God as well, for “We can fully embrace God’s love only when we recognize how completely unworthy of it we are.”

Pray for a revelation of God’s Power

Ephesians 1:16-19 “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might”

God is an omnipotent God, there is nothing more powerful than he is! No force in all of creation is bigger or more powerful than our God- this is a true statement whether you believe it or experience it, or not. The fact that you refuse to believe that the train is powerful, and regardless to whether or not you get hit by a train does not nullify the truth of the power that lies in the locomotive- it is what it is, like it or not.

How many prayers have been found futile because rather than asking for a revelation of God’s power, they are instead focused on the power and strength of the person. Many times we picture God’s strength like Popeye’s spinach, take it when we are weak and our spiritual muscles will swell up- this is an image that I have often considered, and used in at least one sermon. But this week while studying I was presented with a new image. The image not of the power of God pumping me up, but the power of God stepping in my place and accomplishing what I need.

It’s like I’m playing a game of horse in the gym against Jake over there, and he has me on the ropes- I’ve got HORS and he hits a 3- I am shaking in my shoes because I am about to lose- until the gym door cracks and Steph Curry walks in and says “don’t worry, Ill shoot for you..”

When we pray for a revelation of God’s power, it helps us put our focus and attention on God and what can can do, and his power and greatness- not our ability, needs, or resources. And proper prayer is always focused on God.

Pray the the Name of Jesus would be exalted over every other thing in world

There is a reason Jesus started the Lord’s prayer it “our Father who art in Heaven , hallowed by thy name” God’s name is holy, and it is our job as Christians to lift that name higher than everything else in our lives.

I love going to sports games- there is something electrifying about it. We see this same concept at work in sporting events.

It’s 3-10 and your team needs a stop, so the stadium begins to chant “de-fense” in order to disrupt the other team

Your Basketball team is up 2 and a player from the other team is going to the FT line, so everyone behind the basket starts yelling, holding up signs,

When we lift up the name of Jesus we are choosing to focus on the Savior over our situation

When we lift up the name of Jesus we are frustrating the plans of the Evil One

Perhaps the most important, as John 12:32 tells us- When Jesus is lifted up he will draw all people to himself.

The name of Jesus is the most powerful force in all creation. As John Henry Newman once said “To holy people the very name of Jesus is a name to feed upon, a name to transport. His name can raise the dead and transfigure and beautify the living” There is nothing you can do to decrease the power of Jesus’ name- but there is something you can do to stifle it- and that is never use ! If we do not lift it up, the name of Jesus becomes use in our lives and situations. Not because it has lost power, but because we have lost the focus.

I hope you will join us again next week as we look at some more of the Best Prayers we can pray.