Luke 6:12-13

In the above two verses Jesus sets forth a wonderful example for all of us to glean from regarding making important decisions in our lives. I don’t know about you, but I find this VERY convicting! How often I have flippantly muttered a quick prayer to bless MY decisions or desires – quite frankly, telling more than humbly entreating. Shame on me! Hell-o, like I would know more than the Creator of all things (that would of course include myself) that I should be telling Him what I am going to do and asking Him to bless it???? Three words quickly come to my mind...Get over it!!!! If the One in whom “ALL the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in bodily form” (Colossians 1:19) felt the necessity to pray all night before making an important decision, how much more should I? It doesn’t take Einstein to figure that one out! Let’s see what we can learn from Scripture. Prayer – the awesome privilege of every believer! Jesus’ disciples were so blown away by His prayer life that they asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). While I am no authority on prayer, the following are some pointers (certainly not exhaustive) I have gleaned from Scripture:

• I seek to empty myself of me – it simply is not about me but all about Him – asking God to fill me to overflowing with His precious Holy Spirit so that I may pray according to His will and not my own – that He may be glorified. I strive to make His agenda my agenda. This is not always easy but I hold on to the truth that the center of God’s will is exactly where I want to be – no matter what. That is where peace and abundant joy abound. Just as Epaphras prayed for the Church at Colosse, it is a great prayer for us to pray too:

12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. Col 4:11-12 (NIV)

• I ask to be cleansed from all unrighteousness by the precious blood of Christ that I may “enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise”. James gives us the following insight into this:

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16 (NIV)

• I pray Scripture over those within my family and my sphere of influence. God is always faithful to His Word. There are many wonderful prayers in Scripture – especially in Paul’s letters to the Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians. You can place the names of those that you are praying for within the prayer to personalize it. This simply cannot be overstated. I believe God delights in our praying back Scripture to Him. When we are faithful to do this, we exhibit faith in believing that the truth of His Word is the best for both ourselves and for those we love. This honors God.

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalms 119:9-11 (NIV)

• I seek to be “still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him” – this is a very difficult task for me. I am so agenda oriented that to be still often correlates in my mind to doing nothing profitable. I could be no further from the truth. Jesus desires for us to rest in Him. To listen for His still small voice for our direction and guidance. How can He “walk with me and talk with me” if I am running my big fat mouth the entire time? Oh, for my spirit to be quiet and hushed before Him. Like Job I would respond:

1 Then Job replied to the LORD: 2 "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.
3 You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. 4 "You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.' 5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:1-6 (NIV) “O Thou who alone knowest what lies before me this day, grant that in every hour of it I may stay close to Thee. Let me be in the world, yet not of it. Let me use this world without abusing it. If I buy, let me be as though I possessed not. If I have nothing, let me be as though possessing all things. Let me to-day embark on no understanding that is not in line with Thy will for my life, nor shrink from any sacrifice which Thy will may demand. Suggest, direct, control every movement of my mind; for my Lord Christ’s sake. Amen.” John Baillie