Thoughts for Life: #62 Draw Near to God

C. Peter Wagner: Drawing near to God is the second lesson. This has to do with our personal prayer life.

Prayer in general is a broad subject with many extremely important facets. But none as more important for a Christian who desires to do effective spiritual warfare than personal prayer.

Why is personal prayer that important?

Our personal prayer life is the principal barometer used to measure the quality of our relationship to God. I agree with John Wimber when he says,

"Intimacy with God in prayer is a primary goal of the Christian life."

Jesus provides our example. The world knew that Jesus was authentic because Jesus did only what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19).

Wimber asks, "Why is our goal intimacy with God?

His perceptive answer is that only in sustaining a close relationship with the Father..

"do we experience forgiveness, renewal, and power for
righteous living. Only in an intimate relationship with
God can we hear His voice, know His will, understand
His heart."

Like it or not, drawing near to God requires time. If we are motivated to pray, the first and most important act of self-discipline for implementation is to set aside blocks of clock time.

Once you budget the time, a kind of spiritual Parkinson's law comes into play and prayer tends to expand to fill the time available.

Those who do not carve out time, particularly those who rationalize their reluctance to do so by claiming "I pray without ceasing," usually end up praying very little.

One reason some do not dedicate much time to prayer is that they don't enjoy it.

My daughter Ruth hated to wash
dishes when she was at home.

I was amused to observe through the years that by far the most urgent and critical demand on her time invariably came immediately after we finished dinner. Since she hated to wash dishes, there was always some higher priority demand on her time.

Many Christians have the same attitude toward personal prayer. There always seems to be something more urgent to do.

Time for prayer is scarce because other activities have higher priority. Some even make the statement that "prayer is hard work."

I have difficult time understanding this if the essence of prayer truly is a relationship of intimacy with the Father.

It would be like me saying, "Spending time with my wife, Doris, is hard work." I would never say that for two reasons. First, it is not hard work, it is pure joy.

Secondly, if I did say it, she would take it as an insult, and I wouldn't blame her.

Could it be that God might take such an attitude as an insult also?

(Google images and emphasis added)

Warfare Prayer

#62 Draw Near to God
By C. Peter Wagner

(pgs. 109, 110) Regal Books

Let's pray:

Father, because it's very important to
make time with You, most likely, it will
be hard at first to carve it out of our busy
days.
May I become diligent in this effort to
make sure that my time with You is first.
Whether it is best in the evening before retiring, or early in the morning before starting the day, I ask for Your Spirit to prompt me, and to give me Your thoughts, to urge me to set aside time for meeting with You.
I ask this in the precious Name of Jesus. Amen.

Today’s Bible verse:

(2 Kings 23:25 a) "..that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might."

Today’s quote:

Dr. Charles F. Stanley - "What is God calling you to do that's "far more abundantly" beyond all you think you can achieve? Stop making excuses and get to work! Within you lies untapped potential—not your own strength and abilities, but the unlimited might of the holy spirit. His power will be unleashed in response to your acting on faith."

(Taken from Dr. Charles F. Stanley's In Touch, daily readings for devoted living - May 2015 pg 33. Used by permission - customercare@intouch.org)

Some thoughts today:

- Read the Bible out loud with your mate, friend, or children. Situations, hearts, and lives can be healed by it!

- God's desire is to show His power in our weakness. He wants to break us of our human weakness and self sufficiency.

- When we are at our worst, God is at His best. If you flaunt the gift God's given you, you're through!

5/2- Saturday’s post: The Fear of Man
Kimberly Damon
3rd- Sunday evening's post: When the Waves Come
Lisa Buffaloe

~My vacation time~ (I plan to visit my family and friends downstate)

19th- Tuesday's post: #63 Enjoying Prayer
C. Peter Wagner
21st- Thursday's post: #64 Fasting
C. Peter Wagner

A popular post:
Lord, I Want to Know You More
"Lord I want to know you more, than just a figment of the mind, I want to know you in a way, that I will let Your light shine.

I hear others talk about the intimacy they have with You. I want to get to know You like they say they do..."