Pay Attention When You Pray
by Dr. J C House
01/09/2023
Matthew 6:6 “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly”
Jesus' prayer life was such that his disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray.” They had seen Him heal the sick and raise the dead, but they knew that their great need was to learn to pray. Our need is the same today and prayer is a learned spiritual exercise. Praying should be a two-way street. We need to learn to listen when we pray.
“WHEN THOU PRAYEST” The assumption is that Christians will pray. Probably Jesus assumed that we would pray because of our helplessness and great need for spiritual guidance. Our great need and our great problem is our struggle with the evil of this world.
There is evil within us. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Then there is the evil one who walks about seeking whom he may devour. Note now, evil within us and the evil one about us. What shall we do? James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” Listen up, God wants to give us direction.
WHAT PRAYER IS NOT. Prayer is not some religious grab bag we reach into for some kind of prize. It is not a magic shortcut to success. It is not an arrangement of beautiful words in a proper order for others to hear. Prayer is a personal experience of dialog with God. It is God who invites us into His presence and as we communicate with God in prayer we find understanding, clarity and courage to live for Him in this world. We need to listen when we pray.
THE PLACE OF PRAYER. “Enter into thy closet.” Simply put, your private place. Notice,”
Shut the door. God wants to get our attention. A preacher once told me he prayed as he drove to the office each day. No, God wants no distractions. Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God;”
Listen. Hebrews 3:7 “Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, today if ye will hear his voice,”
Talk to God. The closet door is closed, confess your sins, forgive those who have sinned against you, offer up your petitions, tell God you love Him and thank Him for all things.
Speak to my heart Lord Jesus
Speak that my soul may hear
Speak to my heart Lord Jesus
Calm every doubt and fear
Speak to my heart Lord Jesus,
Purge me from every sin;
Speak to my heart Lord Jesus
Help me, the lost to win.
DO YOU TAKE TIME TO LISTEN WHEN YOU PRAY?
01/09/2023
Matthew 6:6 “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly”
Jesus' prayer life was such that his disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray.” They had seen Him heal the sick and raise the dead, but they knew that their great need was to learn to pray. Our need is the same today and prayer is a learned spiritual exercise. Praying should be a two-way street. We need to learn to listen when we pray.
“WHEN THOU PRAYEST” The assumption is that Christians will pray. Probably Jesus assumed that we would pray because of our helplessness and great need for spiritual guidance. Our great need and our great problem is our struggle with the evil of this world.
There is evil within us. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Then there is the evil one who walks about seeking whom he may devour. Note now, evil within us and the evil one about us. What shall we do? James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” Listen up, God wants to give us direction.
WHAT PRAYER IS NOT. Prayer is not some religious grab bag we reach into for some kind of prize. It is not a magic shortcut to success. It is not an arrangement of beautiful words in a proper order for others to hear. Prayer is a personal experience of dialog with God. It is God who invites us into His presence and as we communicate with God in prayer we find understanding, clarity and courage to live for Him in this world. We need to listen when we pray.
THE PLACE OF PRAYER. “Enter into thy closet.” Simply put, your private place. Notice,”
Shut the door. God wants to get our attention. A preacher once told me he prayed as he drove to the office each day. No, God wants no distractions. Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God;”
Listen. Hebrews 3:7 “Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, today if ye will hear his voice,”
Talk to God. The closet door is closed, confess your sins, forgive those who have sinned against you, offer up your petitions, tell God you love Him and thank Him for all things.
Speak to my heart Lord Jesus
Speak that my soul may hear
Speak to my heart Lord Jesus
Calm every doubt and fear
Speak to my heart Lord Jesus,
Purge me from every sin;
Speak to my heart Lord Jesus
Help me, the lost to win.
DO YOU TAKE TIME TO LISTEN WHEN YOU PRAY?
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