LET US PRAY

He saw that there was no man--He was amazed that there

was no one interceding...

Isaiah 59:16

How stunning ...that God would be amazed when we don't intercede in prayer. And do we? Oh, we make prayer requests. We write them on white boards, on clip boards, in emails...we go into great detail about problems and issues and exactly what we feel the solution is and how we feel God should answer. But then what? Do we leave them on a list as though some mystical power will lift them to the Lord? Or do we hope that maybe enough people will pray so that God will feel obligated to answer....exactly as we have requested? Do we believe in PRAYER or do we believe in GOD?

To pray is to seek oneness with God...to take on His mind, see through His eyes, feel with His heart. That's why prayer changes us even if our circumstances remain untouched. When we pray, we must begin with worship. When we see God as He is...the Creator of all the universe, high and exalted...full of compassion, perfection and righteousness...then we find ourselves seeking His will and desires about everything.

On Sunday we talked about a model Jesus gave His disciples for prayer. Here are some simple reminders:

OUR...we are a body of believers. This one word reminds me to pray every day for my brothers and sisters around the world who are being persecuted right now for the sake of the Gospel. It is an incredible privilege to pray with and for other believers, even those we will never meet, those who have gone before us and those who will follow behind us. (John 17:20-23)

FATHER...we can pray because we have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It is an awesome miracle and a mystery that the Creator of the Universe is our loving Father and we are His child. But it is true. He knows what we need before we even ask. We can speak freely from our hearts. He wants to hear from us. (Romans 8:15)

WHOM ART IN HEAVEN...God is God. I am not. As I bow down and acknowledge who He is, I am always struck by my desperate need for Him. (Psalm 103:19; Psalm 31:14)

HALLOWED BE THY NAME...The names of God describe His character. As I meditate on His names from scripture, I cannot help but worship and praise Him not just for what He does, but for who He is.

(Psalm 145; Psalm 9:10)

THY KINGDOM COME...God's kingdom is established on earth in the lives of believers as we die to ourselves and live for Him. It's not about me. (Galations 2:20)

THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN...God's will and plans are perfect and eternal. Ours are temporal and self-centered. As we yield to Him, His plans are perfected in us. How amazing. (Psalm 40:8)

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD...Placing our trust in Him daily, moment-by-moment, because He is trustworthy.

FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US... When, in humilty and brokenness, we recognize our need for mercy, we are in a position to recognize that those who offend us are no different...they, too, are in need of mercy and grace. Self-righteousness and pride do not coincide with a repentant heart. As we ask for God's mercy and recieve His forgiveness, we can recognize that we must extend that same forgiveness to others. (Matthew 6:14,15)

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL...We are weak. We have no power to live in victory except through the One who has conquered sin and death. He wants us to depend on Him. He will show Himself faithful.

(1 Cor 10:13)

FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM...God is ruler over all. He has authority over all of heaven and all the earth. In His hands, we truly have nothing to fear. (Romans 14:17)

AND THE POWER...All the power God used to resurrect Jesus Christ is available to us because Christ lives in us. Ask God to do what only He can. Begin with your heart. (Jeremiah 10:12-16)

AND THE GLORY...He alone is worthy of our praise. I want to let go of my urges for things, my desire for recognition or approval, and all other idols that clamor for my devotion, and worship Him alone. (1 T imothy 1:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Psalm 57:5; Psalm 19:1)

FOREVER...He is the Alpha and Omega, the God Who Was, and the God Who Is To Come, and the God Who Is (with us. Now.) (Revelation 1:8)

AMEN.

Will you pray this week? Will you use this model and worship God in prayer, taking on His mind, His eyes, His ears, His touch, His words? God will change us as we seek Him with all our hearts.