This morning I am re-blogging a post from another Daily Prayer blog (http://praying.kansasbob.com/):
I fear that, too often, we get the wrong idea about prayer and what it's all about. Some people even ask, "Why pray at all?" and yet others think the basic purpose of prayer is about obtaining things from God. George MacDonald offered this rationale for prayer in "Our Daily Bread" and I thought it was good enough to share:
What if God knows prayer to be the thing we need first and most? What if the main object in God's idea of prayer is a supplying of our great, our endless need - the the need of Himself?... Communion with God is the one need of the soul beyond all other need. Prayer is the beginning of that communion, of talking with God, a coming-to-one with Him, which is the sole end of prayer, yea of existence itself.
I love the truth that God wants us to Himself. He desires communion with us! In fact, His Word tells us that He delights in us! His purpose in prayer is not about what it does for us in terms of receiving. It's about what it does for us in terms of giving. Giving Him praise and honor and all glory. He wants us to know Him in a sweet and intimate way. Prayer is the method He uses to accomplish that. Prayer is more than just about the hand of God granting us favor or mercy. Prayer is about that precious Hand of God period.
Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you,
Bruce
Sweet Father, give us eyes to see the majesty of who you are.
Give us the ears to hear your voice speak and the desire to commune with you in prayer for nothing more than just to sit in your presence.
Help us to see that prayer is not about us at all. It's all about you.
"But we will give ourselves continually to prayer,and to the ministry of the Word" (Acts 6:4)
Amen
 | Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address. Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know. |
I like to think of prayer as putting God in a place or situation. Especially putting Him where no one else (in the situation) would think to ask. I just watched some of "Bruce Almighty" the other day and I loved how the movie demonstrated that Free Will means that God cannot/will not (depending on your definition) take control unless He is asked. Our responsibility is to ASK. If we do not put prayer into the Middle East, as an example, then those who are lost there do not stand a chance. It is especially for those who do not know Him that we are responsible for because they will not know to seek Him. He is what we need most, personally and collectively. He is our Hope, our Sustainer. The communion with Him is an honor. It does everything. It strengthens, sustains, encourages, mootivates, makes one Whole, and gives one the power to change the world because He listens. So why would we NOT pray?
ReplyDeleteWith lots of love and blessings to all in the list
Beth