Photo credits: journeychurchcolumbus.org
1 John 5:14
“And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
John 14:13
“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
John 16:4
“Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.”
Principle: “If we want to see God move, we need to make a move.” – Mark Batterson, Draw the Circle
My church is going through the 40 Day Prayer Challenge in the book, “Draw the Circle” by Mark Batterson. While I have written songs about prayer and daily write in my journal, this book is opening my eyes to the need to go even deeper. I always love it when God brings fresh insights to draw us nearer to Him!
Much like a game of chess, checkers or backgammon, prayer is an opportunity to risk something and dare to ask for more than we could ever dream possible. I confess I have sometimes not been as bold in prayers and have been content to just trust in the LORD. This is not a bad thing, but what struck me was that relationship with God means He wants us to ask and not just accept what life brings.
Sure, I have fallen to my knees and begged God for strength when challenges seemed insurmountable, but the fervor of prayer seemed to dim when I was not in the fire. I have seen God move in miraculous ways and notice as I look over the landscape of my life that those times were most often when I was desperate for Him. How sweet it is to run to our Abba Father and pray. He wants to meet our every need.
Fervor is reignited when we cry out to God for His Name’s sake rather than for our own. The desperation of our hearts should be for His glory and the need for Him to move so that those around us see Christ in us, not us getting what we want or having pain diminished in our lives.
God is watching to see if our hearts will be moved with His passion and our prayers energized with His love and vision. Writing this blog over the past year and a half has been a prayer – borne out of my personal time with the LORD. I realize that although it was sickness that caused me to slow down, as I began to rest in His presence, prayer became a way of life as I journaled what God spoke to my heart and then blogged about it.
The ball is in our court . . . will we dare to fall to our knees consistently and inquire of our awesome God Who is ready to answer? As we tarry in prayer, hoping for things to change, it is us who are changed – more and more into His image and after His purposes – all for His glory.
Lord, purpose in our hearts prayers You would have us to utter. Help us to make a move and to be moved in our spirits to worship You and pray to You passionately.