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 PURPOSE IN PRAYER

As we pray, God's purpose for us and in us is not just to answer our prayers (as if we could ever know by our own finite "knowing" what we need to pray into).

Prayer is meant to be a two-way form of communication, communion between The Lord God and us. It is through prayer: speaking and listening informed by His Word that we come to discern His will, His mind.

Jesus made it clear that when He prayed, the Father always heard Him. Jesus Christ NEVER taught on "unanswered prayer." We get discouraged when we have reduced in our own minds that God is like a kind of eternal vending machine that IF we have the 'right change", the magic wording to get God to do what we want. That would make God our servant, not we His disciples, His learners. 

It has been said that when we pray something always happens. And sometimes when we pray, everything happens. "Yes", "No", "Not now", "Not yet" are all ways that God answers prayer. Our hope in coming to God in prayer is that He will work in us both to will and receive power to live into God's purposes for us. In prayer, we offload our souls in His presence to find grace and help in every time of need.

We only grow in human relationships through deliberate, focused time spent, words shared, hopes revealed and gratitude filling the heart. We become more like Jesus by spending time in His presence in prayer, worship and thanksgiving. Prayer is NOT a box you tick off during your "quiet time" for that heart attitude may well mean that you've not met with the Lord at all.

When you pray for another person, it is a definitive manifestation of love for that other one. We pray FOR them...not AT them.

He is waiting for us to meet with Him. Take the time. Ask the Holy Spirit for help in prayer. That is a prayer He will always answer right away.

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