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Thursday, May 6, 2010

8 'A's of Prayer - part 4

7)Align
-ALIGN YOURSELF WITH GOD’S WILL-

After we finish expressing what we wanted to say to God, we typically end by saying “Amen.” But what does that word really signify? In effect, it means, “May it be so in accordance with the will of God.” That is, we want to tell God that ultimately we want what he wants. He knows best, he wants the best for us, and so we tell him that regardless of what we have asked of him, everything is contingent on it being consistent with his will. In fact, remember what the apostle John said: “If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

Think about Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, shortly before he faced the torture of the cross. “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me,” He said. That was a genuine expression of His heart. But then He also stressed: “Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

“We would be in deep trouble if God gave us everything for which we asked,” Hanegraaff said. “The truth is we don’t know what’s best for us.” But we can rest assured that our all knowing heavenly Father does. The Bible says that God “wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” and he is “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” At the same time, however, he abides by the spiritual decisions of each person.

Actually, the whole tenor of our prayer from the outset should be that we want to align ourselves with God’s will. But as we end our side of the conversation with God by declaring “Amen,” that’s a good time to affirm that it’s God’s will, not our own, that we want to prevail.

That doesn’t end our conversation with God, however. He very well might have something he wants to communicate to us in return. That’s why this final “A” is so vital.

8) Act
-ACT ON GOD’S LEADINGS IN YOUR LIFE-

Communication with God was never intended to be a one-way conversation. After we talk to God about what’s on our heart and mind, we need to allow him an opportunity to speak to us. He can do that through a variety of ways-through the Bible, through Christian friends, and by giving us an inner impression that is hard to define. “He speaks certain general truths that are true for all time, and he speaks certain specifics that are true for me in my life at this moment,” Cal Thomas told Larry King in his interview.

Pause at the end of my prayer time and invite God to speak to you, say to God, “Lord, I need to know what you want me to do, and I’m listening. Please speak to me through my friends, books, magazines, and circumstances." There are people who like to follow up their daily talk with God by scheduling some time when their mind is a little less active than usual. They may wash the car, mow the lawn, or wash the dishes to let their mental rpm slow down so God’s voice might be more evident.

The important thing is that you made yourself receptive to him. When you do sense God communicating to you, however, it is important to distinguish between His voice and your own motivations and desires. We are warned by 1 Thessalonians 5:21(NIV): “Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.”

It is like when you are first getting to know a new friend and he/ she calls you on the phone. You might not recognize his/ her voice at first. After a while, though, you become familiar with how he/ she sounds, and as soon as he/ she starts talking, you know who he/ she is. Similarly, you learn over time to distinguish God’s voice from the background noise of your mind. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me,” Jesus said in John 10:27(NIV).

God won’t ever ask us to do something contrary to Scripture. And he’s consistent; he won’t give conflicting orders to two Christians, so it’s a good idea to bounce everything off of a mature brother or sister in Christ. One test is to ask whether following this particular leading will accrue to your glory or to God’s. If it’s primarily yours, it’s probably a product of your imagination!

Many times God will use the Bible to communicate what he wants us to do. The Holy Spirit may illuminate a verse in such a way that it seems to leap off the page to you. Or we may feel especially convicted or encouraged by a passage. Most of all, though, the Holy Spirit would reassure you that you're His child and that He was there for you.

When you commit to listening for God’s voice and following him at all costs, watch out! Amazing things can happen. As God told the prophet Jeremiah: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Was that promise also meant for us? All I know is that I have endeavored to follow God wherever he leads, inexplicable things happen.

to end off:
Pray because God wants you to. Pray because God will use that experience to transform your heart. Pray because God is faithful in ways we can’t begin to understand. Pray because you can’t not pray.

“Storm the throne of grace,” said John Wesley, “and persevere there in . . . and mercy will come down.”

source: www.jameslau88.com