Dr. Wesley L. Duewel- In the prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray, His priorities were (a) the hollowing of the name of God the Father (His reverence, honor, and glory), (b) the coming of God's kingdom (the total fulfillment of God's plan for the church and the world, the advance of His rule over and among men, and the final return of Jesus), and (c) the fulfilling of God's will on earth here and now. These elements should be a part of your daily prayer concern, but particularly of extended prayer periods. (Google image, Jesus teaches His disciples)
Pray for revival among the people of God. Pray that the church as a whole may exhibit holiness of life, separation from the attitudes and actions of the world, and an overflowing love toward all people, especially toward one another. Then the unsaved will say again today what they said in the first century of the church: "Behold how these Christians love one another!'
Pray for the salvation of multitudes of the unsaved. God is glorified when the gospel is proclaimed to the unreached, when a harvest of new believers is reaped here and a round the world. This is the great purpose of God, the great Commission of the church. Intercession for the lost should be a part of every believer's prayer time.
Beware of becoming so absorbed in your own needs and interests that you neglect to pray for others. If self-centered prayer becomes characteristic of your prayer life, your prayers may remain unanswered. Make it a habit to pray more for others than you pray for yourself and your own loved ones.
When you follow the order of priority that Jesus taught us, it will take less praying to get your own needs met! "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matt. 6:33). This is His promise.
4. Humble yourself before the Lord. Humility before God prepares the way for petition for personal needs. Confess your need for Him. Acknowledge His sovereignty. Bow in humble submission before Him. Lift your eyes to Him as you rejoice and thank Him; then bow in lowliness of heart as you begin your intercession.
There are times when we are driven to our knees by a sense of personal, group, or national sin. In such instances confession of sin and total humbling of the self before God may well precede almost all other aspects of prayer. This is the pattern of Psalm 51 in which David approached God under deep conviction of personal sin.
If you are cherishing sin in your heart, the Lord will not hear your prayer (Ps. 66:18). At Kadesh-Barnea God did not hear the prayers of Israel when they wept tears of self-pity (Deut. 1:45). Nor will He honor the prayers of the unrepentant (Job 35:13). Forgiveness for personal sin and reconciliation with Christian brothers and sisters you may have wronged must precede your prayer retreat (Matt. 5:23-24; Rom. 12:18).
When a Spirit-filled believer walking in God's light comes into God's presence, it is appropriate to come with joy, not with head drooped and downcast eyes like the publican (Luke 18:13). Rather, like Jesus, one should lift one's eyes to heaven and first praise the Lord and rejoice in His love. Then, having followed with intercession for kingdom interests, the Spirit-filled believer naturally comes to his own personal needs.
With gratitude to God for His goodness and mercy, but with true humility, tell God how unworthy you are of all His goodness, how far short of His glory you so often come (Rom. 3:23). Then as you look into your own heart in the light of God's holiness, you may recall hasty words you have spoken, unwise steps you have taken, and instances in which you have grieved the Holy Spirit. Then is the time to pray, "Forgive me my debts as I forgive my debtors" (Matt. 6:12).
God "gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time" (1 Peter 5:5-6). In such humility you can then cast all your care on the Lord (v. 7). God will revive the spirit of the lowly and contrite (Isa. 57:15). When God's people humble themselves and confess their sin and the sins of their land, God always forgives and heals (2 Chron. 7:14).
Father, as Jesus taught His disciples to pray, we're learning too, that we are to honor Your Name by reverencing You, asking for Your rule over and among us, and thus fulfilling Your will on earth here and now.
Make us aware of the danger of praying for our own needs, rather than to seek the salvation and welfare of others. Help us seek Christ's Kingdom and righteousness above all else. May we confess our need of Him, acknowledging His sovereignty, and bowing before Him in humility.
You promise to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, so that we can find help in time of need for others as well as ourselves. We ask for this in the Name of the One who is our Savior; Jesus, the Christ. Amen
Today's Bible verses-
Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Psalm 4:8 (AMP) “In peace [and with a tranquil heart] I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety and confident trust.”
~ When tempted to do something we know we shouldn't, our need is to remove ourselves quickly. Otherwise, we will find ourselves failing to resist it. To keep on the righteous path the Lord would have us on, there must be a determination to resist doing what seems to be so tempting to us.
Today's Popular post-
Grace For the Imperfect
"It wasn’t a major thing she did to upset me. It was many minor things over many days. For instance, I shared a joy I was thrilled about, but she changed the subject."
The North Country Christian Fellowship Center Churches,
located in the St. Lawrence county of NY,
broadcast their Sunday services at 10 or 10:15
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