Daily Devotional for Sunday June 5, 2011
One of the Most Misunderstood Things We Do in Our Life is Prayer
(Matthew 6:9-13)
One of the most misunderstood and misguided things that we do in our life is prayer. Prayer, my friend, is simply our communication with God. Nothing more, nothing less. It is the wonderful privilege our Creator has given us to communicate with Him. The subject of prayer has probably been over-analyzed to the point people have all sorts of tortured notions of what it is. There have been so many books written, so many teaching on this issue, that people are afraid how they pray is wrong"!!!
My friend, if you never learn ONE OTHER THING from me, please learn this. Prayer is not some mystical experience, it is not magical words; it is simply our communication directly with God.
YOU DO NOT NEED ANOTHER PERSON TO TALK TO GOD . . . YOU DO NOT NEED A SPECIAL FORMULA TO GO TO GOD . . . YOU DO NOT NEED EXACT WORDS TO TALK TO GOD . . . JUST TALK TO HIM THE SAME WAY YOU WOULD YOUR VERY BEST FRIEND . . . WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT GOD IS!!!
One of the most popular books in recent times was the book "The Prayer of Jabez." This is a great "model for prayer", much like the anchor verse for today's Devotional given to us by Jesus is a "model for prayer". The sad thing to me, many people think that there is some magical formula in the Prayer of Jabez. First, in proper context, it is the Biblical account of ONE person's prayer to God. The most important fact is, it is a great example of how ONE person communicated with their Creator. After all, that is what prayer is. The sad thing to me is how many people think that there is something "magical" about this prayer.
IT IS NO MORE SPECIAL TO GOD THE TIME THAT IT WAS UTTERED, THAN WHAT YOU PRAY TO GOD FOR TODAY!!!
Sadly, to sell books, this simple passage from the Bible, became to many people, some sort of 'special magic prayer". Please, hear me when I say this.
THE MOST SPECIAL PRAYER TO GOD IS WHEN YOU TALK TO HIM OPENLY AND HONESTLY FROM YOUR HEART!!!
I can assure you, by reciting the prayer of Jabez, you are no more assured or guaranteed of having your prayers answered, than if you recite any other "prayer" that is written down. All you are doing is praying for the same thing Jabez asked God for out of a needy heart many years ago. The point I want you to understand today is that there is no "formatted" prayer, or "prepared prayer" that moves the heart of God more then what you can say to Him.
IT IS YOU, IN YOUR OPEN AND HONEST WAY, ASKING HIM FOR THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART, THAT GOD IS INTERESTED IN!!!
I love you and care about you so much. So many I deal with daily are frustrated because they "prayed the Prayer of Jabez", or they said some other pre-written prayer, and God never answered.
PRAYER IS NOT A MAGIC ACT!
Prayer is that intimate conversation that YOU have with God, one-on-one where you share YOUR heart with Him. It is no more complicated then you telling God how you feel.
IT IS SIMPLY YOUR OPEN AND HONEST CONVERSATION WITH GOD, YOUR CREATOR!!!
You don't have to say specific "magic" words, you don't have to be in a certain physical position to talk to God. Just simply take a few minutes, talk to God just like you are talking to your mom, your dad, you husband, your wife, or your best friend. Spill your heart to God. Be open and honest, since He knows anyway. All prayer is, is talking with God. There are no magic words, no magic formulas; it is simply you talking to God.
I will pray for you today, that you will talk to God just like you would your best friend. After all, that is what God is.
YOUR BEST FRIEND.
You don't have to worry about saying the "right thing". You don't have to worry about letting someone else speak to God for you. You can talk to Him, one on one, just like I am talking to you right now. Share your hurts, your pains, your joys, your pleasures, just talk to Him. He is waiting for you, and sadly to say, more willing to talk to us than we are to Him.
MAKE THE TIME TODAY TO GET ALONE AND TALK TO GOD.
In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller