The subject of prayer keeps jumping into my life. I started reading Praying Backwards the other day. I watched a documentary on George Mueller. (WOW, that man was truly amazing! Faith and trust like I have never seen) and today I open my devo to “Keep Praying” by Greg Laurie. I believe the Holy Spirit is at work bringing these subjects into my life for the specific purpose of growth.
What am I to learn?
1. Watch my words.
We always say “In Jesus name” at the end of the prayer. What does it sound like BEFORE your request? Would we change our request putting Jesus first? Do we think about what it means? Or do we just tag, “In Jesus Name” to the end?
2. Depend Entirely on God for everything.
Then there is George, making even the smallest request made known ONLY to God. He asks in full knowledge that God WILL provide.
“God has never failed me. For seventy years every need in connection with this work (helping orphans) has been supplied. Hundreds of times we have commenced the day without a penny, but our heavenly Father has sent supplies the moment they were actually required.” – George Muller
3. Ask
Pastor Greg encourages through the text of Luke 11:9 -10
“Here’s what I’m saying:
Ask and you’ll get;
Seek and you’ll find;
Knock and the door will open.
So how do I pray? I feel so unsure at times. I do feel sure that the GOAL is GOD gets the GLORY.
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There is a scene in the documentary where George Mueller is on a ship surrounded by fog. The Captain notifies him they will not be on time. To which George says, “I must make my speaking engagement. I must share with those people the faithfulness of God.” The Captain affirms, he will not make it. To which George says, “We must pray. Let’s go to the Chart Room and pray.” On their way to the Chart Room, George asks the Captain, “Are you a praying man?” He says “Yes, but I do not believe in miracles.”
George prays thanking God for removing the fog and getting to his speaking engagement on time. The prayer is short, very short. When George is finished the Captain tries to begin his prayer shaking his head already disbelieving his own prayer. Captain gets maybe three words into his prayer and George places his hand on his shoulder and says,
“No, stop. Let’s go and see what God has done.”
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I apply this to my day.
I pray for a Preschool teacher, asking God for this person. Yet I want this volunteer so I am “doing my job” and thus look “good” then who seeks the glory? Yeah, me.
I pray for a Preschool teacher, asking God this person. The preschoolers are shown love and taught about Jesus – then HE gets the GLORY.
God knows what is in my heart. He knows my true motives. God knows who you want to get the GLORY.
I search my heart moment by moment.
Am I the Captain?
Am I a Believer?
“Blessed is the man that trusts in Him.”
Psalm 34:8
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