How then should we pray?
I’ve been listening to a CD series by John Eldridge on prayer. Very interesting and helpful. This morning, while I drove to work he quoted Oswald Chambers. (the paraphrase) ”When we pray, it is not to get answers from God about issues, situations, needs and/or wants that we have. It is to join God in unity. To aspire towards ONEness with Him.”
In prayer, God already knows what we are going to ask and what we need long before that time comes where we sit down to actually tell Him about it. In turn, prayer is about uniting with God in His desires. We are to ALWAYS be praying what God is praying. So then what…that means our ‘prayer times’ are in large part about discussing what God is praying on any given thing. To align our hearts (our whole being) with the desires, thoughts and plans of God Almighty. In this, we are allowed to enter into the comings and goings of God with Him.
God no doubt wants to bring His fullness into the lives of His people. Life is about God redeeming all things back to Himself. I believe He wants us to join Him continually in that process and experience. By His side, to take part in divine healing, prophecy, Spirit-filled community, the salvation of souls, bringing glory to His name, expressing our gifts and much more.
Eldridge encourages that our prayers should always be filled with praises to God, as well as questioning as to how then we should pray. Not to say simple words and simple prayers are not affective, but he suggests not all prayer is the same. I back this statement with referencing the disciples asking how to pray. They understood the basics maybe, but saw Jesus communicating with God and acting on a whole other level.
We are entrusted with playing a role in greater and greater opportunities for advancing the Kingdom. As we mature, the degree of responsibility increases. Our need to surrender and pray like Him, WITH Him is also every increasing.
God wants unity, to connect with us, even when we are little monsters. To be like-minded with God. He wants to share the advancing of His great Kingdom with His children. It requires openness, humility and complete obedience. Throwing off our expectations and assumptions of how God should respond to our prayers. Instead, He desires to ”make all things new” for us according to His will. To put us on track with what He is already doing instead of begging Him to move along our own agenda.
“…you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer…” This is difficult for me to understand, but I want to consider this. If prayer is about unity with God, then it means - when you seek Me in prayer and connect with Me your desires and requests change. They become those things I already have planned-. Now, whatever you ask will be given because it’s already in motion. We are asking God to play out and fulfill the plans He shared with us in prayer. We become an intimate and crucial character in that plan.
I pray these things continue to reshape my life in Christ and existence here on earth.
