One Number That Is NEVER Busy - God's Phone Number

 A few weeks ago I posted about "Perseverance In Prayer" that was influenced by my personal quest to memorize Scripture using The Joshua Code by O.S. Hawkins.  This post is a continuation of this topic on prayer - specifically God's faithfulness to hear our petitions.  The verse reference was Jeremiah 33:3 "Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things which you do not know."  The first part of this verse is an assurance from God that we can call on Him and He will answer us.  The following part is a promise of revelation that He will tell us of things far and above what we already know that have not yet happened (read Ephesians 3:20).  

You see, prayer is a two-way form of communication and a way for our relationship to strengthen with God.  The more we pray, the stronger our faith becomes and the deeper our confidence in that same faith gets.  Like the psalmist writes in Psalms 1:3 "He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."  A tree that is nourished by water will have strong roots that run deep, much like one who has a healthy prayer life will be nourished by the Holy Spirit and that nourishment will only work to making our faith go deeper and stronger.

The part we express in this two-way communication is the actual prayer, or talking part of the relationship.  Hawkins reiterates what many psychologists and counselors know as fact: "to have a positive and productive relationship, there must be verbal communication" (page 65).  This is also true when we pursue our relationship with God - there MUST be communication.  If we fail to express ourselves verbally to our loving Father, the health of the relationship will deteriorate or die.  We simply cannot let this happen - prayer is vital for our own spiritual growth!  As Luke illustrated in his gospel, communicating with Him causes our hearts to burn when we hear from Him and, Hawkins states, when we hear from the Lord, God opens the Scripture to us (Hawkins, 2012).

There are four truths that we can take from a healthy prayer life: 1) God desires to fellowship (have relationship) with us; 2) God knows what is best for us; 3) God teaches us lessons by way of our prayers when answered as we ask or not; and 4) God reveals things to us about His character, His plans, and His love for us.  These truths, when examined, show three things: why we pray, when to pray, and how to pray (Hawkins, 2012).  Hawkins (2012) illustrates prayer as being like a symphony - "the Bible is the score, the Holy Spirit is the conductor, and we are the instruments".  Furthermore, when we talk to God in prayer, He becomes real to us.  Another tangible benefit from prayer is that a new dynamic to our Bible reading forms.  Simply put, the reason why we pray is because God knows better than you and I about what we really need this side of Heaven.  Hawkins (2012) states it this way: "[a]s we read God's Word, the Holy Spirit leads us in our prayer life, and we actually begin to pray the Scriptures for ourselves and for others."  1 Thessalonians 5:17 exhorts us to 'pray without ceasing' - in other words, live in a constant state of communion with God as we set out about our work and witness.  We can take our cues from Jesus, the One Who was without sin, as to when to pray: day and night; in good and bad times; after great accomplishments and before great temptations of life.  In all circumstances, He prayed - as should we.  Lastly, how we pray is important. 

There is a formula of sorts to prayer that Hawkins (2012) outlines as the right combination of humility and honor to God. He states that prayer should begin with confession, or agreement with God, that our sin is not to be minimized just because it may not be as bad as another person's transgression. Sin itself is what made the cross necessary.  In our confessing, we should shine light on the sins related to our words, actions, thoughts, and omission (knowing to do right but not doing it).  God promises us that "if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" [1 John 1:9].  From here, we move to the prayer of thanksgiving - thank Him for material blessings, physical blessings, spiritual blessings, and for the people who are important to us.  Next comes the prayer of praise where we thank God for what He has done - for who He is!  Recognize Him for His wonderful characteristics of goodness, patience, holiness, and mercy.  After the prayer of praise, the next step is the prayer of intercession where we can boldly come to the throne of God on behalf of others (family members, friends, national and local leaders, unbelievers, and those who have spoken against us).  Through prayer, we learn to be less selfish and more mindful of the needs of others. This is followed by the prayer of petition where we ask God for anything and everything that He has laid on our own heart.  Lastly, there is the prayer of communion - and this is the part of prayer that is more than just mere words - it is where we become still and listen to God.  

As part of the chorus in "Honey In The Rock" states:

I keep looking, I keep finding
You keep giving, keep providing
I have all that I need
You are all that I need
I keep praying, You keep moving
I keep praising, You keep proving
I have all that I need
You are all that I need

Be blessed & be a blessing ~

Wendy