P.R.A.Y.E.R. - Results 2 of 2
As we come to our last blog in this series on prayer, we are going to continue our look at the results of prayer. Like last week, you’ll notice that we are focusing how prayer “impacts” us. One common theme among each of these is this:
Prayer is not always about trying to change or control our circumstances but it’s about knowing God better in order to face our circumstances.
1.Prayer reorients us by giving us a different and higher perspective on this life. It’s like the difference from seeing things from the ground versus the view from the top of a peak - like from the Cross at JH. The higher elevation gives us a whole new perspective on what we can see in terms of oursleves in relation to God and everything else. This helps us move from living a day to day, temporal perspective to an eternal perspective.
2. Prayer truly has a cumulative effect. With consistent daily prayer, we are building an “ongoing and unending” line of communication with God.
1 Thess. 5:17 Pray without ceasing…
This makes us feel comfortable jumping into prayer at any time during the day and immediately feel close and dialed in to God. The more often that we talk with God, the more comfortable we will be in going to Him in any situation and at any time. It’s like we never hang up the phone.
3. Prayer turns our hearts to God and unites us with Him. There are so many things that compete for our hearts and attention but consistent prayer helps us approach all aspects of our lives from our relationship with Him.
Psalm 86:11-12 Give me an undivided heart… that I may praise you, Lord my God, with all of my heart
This produces a joy evident to those around us – peaceful, selfless and filled with fruits of the Spirit.
4. We create dependence on God through prayer. Culture pushes us to be “self-reliant and fully independent.” There are some aspects of that which are good but a life of dependence on God is largely created through prayer.
Pray like it all depends on Him, work like it all depends on you.
Stay hungry,
Big E