In my last post I wrote about prayer being a means of communication with God. Most of us are acquainted with emails, social networks and other means of relating to others. This even includes methods such as Twittering on your mobile phone or up loading and down loading pictures and web sites. So, an understanding of communication should be a subject we are comfortable with.
Why, then, when it comes to communicating with God, do we seem to be prone to making our praying one-sided conversations? Why do we, so often, just want to tell God what we want or need? Real talks with friends usually include their talking, too. Does their view point or advice have meaning to us? Then, why not more listening on our part?
If we have an appointment with our doctor regarding a disease or illness, isn't it the normally expected reaction to take his/her advice, as well as the medicine they may prescribe? Why not with God? Are we simply wanting God to do for us, without any involvement on our part?
Two things are needed in our praying as a means of communicating with God.
1. Having (or Starting) a Personal Relationship With God.
We all have a relationship with God. It just may not be a personal one. Many of us don't mind talking with someone we don't know in line at the grocery store. But we don't typically think we can tell them all our problems and expect them to solve them (or even be interested in them).
If you don't have a personal relationship with God, then begin on today. The only prayer that God will always answer for a sinner is one of repentance. Ask Him for forgiveness and give Him your life now. Read Luke 18:9-14. The prayer of the tax collector was "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Jesus answered, "...This man...went home justified before God."
The second thing needed in prayer as a means of communicating with God is
2. A Partnership With God
James, the Lord's earthly brother, in his letter in the New Testament, gave an excellent example of this. Read James 2:14-17. James was explaining that simply to have faith without actions (deeds) that back up that faith is useless. Now, don't get upset. I'm not we have to have more than faith to be saved. But there is more required. God's grace is necessary also. See Ephesians 2:8-9. There is a partnership involved.
Paul, in Romans chapters 1 through 7, gives his great and often partially quoted exhortation on faith. In Ephesians 2:8-10, Paul expounds on the partnership with God. We provide the faith and God provides the grace. God created us to do good works. We both work together to do God's will and for the answering of our prayers.
During my years as a business owner, I tried partnerships on more than one occasion. Those arrangements never seemed to work out. In all honesty, my stubbornness and pride were probably the primary reason. However, in our spiritual lives, partnerships are necessary. Yes, God can do any and all things Himself. But, from His Word and personal experience, I have found that He has chosen to do most things in cooperation with His creation.
Instead of praying, "Thy will be done" and then giving God a list of things that "we just know" are His will, we could be praying, "Here are my concerns, Lord. How can I help you accomplish what you know is best?" We could, as His partners, pray, "Lord, what are Your concerns?", or, "What do You want me to do today?"
As we look more specifically at the prayer life of Jesus, in the coming posts, let us make sure our relationship with Him is a right one. Let us offer ourselves as His partners. Then we can better pray as a means of communicating with Him. Perhaps, just maybe, we won't be complaining about unanswered prayer.
Your comments and questions are encouraged.
Why, then, when it comes to communicating with God, do we seem to be prone to making our praying one-sided conversations? Why do we, so often, just want to tell God what we want or need? Real talks with friends usually include their talking, too. Does their view point or advice have meaning to us? Then, why not more listening on our part?
If we have an appointment with our doctor regarding a disease or illness, isn't it the normally expected reaction to take his/her advice, as well as the medicine they may prescribe? Why not with God? Are we simply wanting God to do for us, without any involvement on our part?
Two things are needed in our praying as a means of communicating with God.
1. Having (or Starting) a Personal Relationship With God.
We all have a relationship with God. It just may not be a personal one. Many of us don't mind talking with someone we don't know in line at the grocery store. But we don't typically think we can tell them all our problems and expect them to solve them (or even be interested in them).
If you don't have a personal relationship with God, then begin on today. The only prayer that God will always answer for a sinner is one of repentance. Ask Him for forgiveness and give Him your life now. Read Luke 18:9-14. The prayer of the tax collector was "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Jesus answered, "...This man...went home justified before God."
The second thing needed in prayer as a means of communicating with God is
2. A Partnership With God
James, the Lord's earthly brother, in his letter in the New Testament, gave an excellent example of this. Read James 2:14-17. James was explaining that simply to have faith without actions (deeds) that back up that faith is useless. Now, don't get upset. I'm not we have to have more than faith to be saved. But there is more required. God's grace is necessary also. See Ephesians 2:8-9. There is a partnership involved.
Paul, in Romans chapters 1 through 7, gives his great and often partially quoted exhortation on faith. In Ephesians 2:8-10, Paul expounds on the partnership with God. We provide the faith and God provides the grace. God created us to do good works. We both work together to do God's will and for the answering of our prayers.
During my years as a business owner, I tried partnerships on more than one occasion. Those arrangements never seemed to work out. In all honesty, my stubbornness and pride were probably the primary reason. However, in our spiritual lives, partnerships are necessary. Yes, God can do any and all things Himself. But, from His Word and personal experience, I have found that He has chosen to do most things in cooperation with His creation.
Instead of praying, "Thy will be done" and then giving God a list of things that "we just know" are His will, we could be praying, "Here are my concerns, Lord. How can I help you accomplish what you know is best?" We could, as His partners, pray, "Lord, what are Your concerns?", or, "What do You want me to do today?"
As we look more specifically at the prayer life of Jesus, in the coming posts, let us make sure our relationship with Him is a right one. Let us offer ourselves as His partners. Then we can better pray as a means of communicating with Him. Perhaps, just maybe, we won't be complaining about unanswered prayer.
Your comments and questions are encouraged.
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