Let’s Talk Prayer

I haven’t posted in awhile, dah, but I’m going to get back to writing about prayer.  Time has been a resource I’ve lacked. The goal is to squeeze out a little bit of time here and a little there to get this blog going again. Recently I began a sermon series on prayer from the pulpit. My specific text is Matthew 6:5-14.  The series focuses on what we call, “The Lord’s Prayer.”   It should be more appropriately titled, “The Disciples Prayer” since Jesus was teaching them what and how to pray, but I won’t go there. Further discussion on a title doesn’t get us anywhere in our journey.

My plan is to share some points and lessons from my sermons on prayer. This is helpful with time management since I have already written out my teachings on the subject.  The points and pieces in these blog posts will be without the visual of my joyful smile and verbal attempts of humor, but you get what you get. If you’re interested in learning about prayer, for the purpose of growing in your relationship with God and praying for others, then I invite you to subscribe to my blog. If you’re interested in growing a Weeping Willow Tree from cuttings, then Youtube is your place. I know this because I did exactly that this summer. Amazing.  A ten inch cutting to an eight foot tree in about four and a half months, yea, really.

Okay, I’m back on track.  We’d all agree that prayer is what we need. Prayer is a necessity.  The benefits make it a pleasure, but it is always a need. That means, even when we don’t “feel” like praying, or when we’re not in the mood, we need to pull ourselves aside to a time of prayer.  We need to pray. A lamp doesn’t come on if it is not plugged in the electrical socket. Think of prayer that way.  I need plugged in. My daily fellowship with my God is plugging into the source of life, love, and light. My walk needs it. My soul needs it. Others need it so I will pray for them. I believe this same coat fits you.

Matthew 6:6 (ESV) — But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.


One Verse on Prayer that We’ve “REALLY” Messed Up

Psalm 66:18 is one of those verses in the Bible that has gotten a rotten rap. It has been used by preachers as a whip to chase people out of the proverbial prayer closet. Something like, “If you have sin in your heart, then God will ignore your prayer requests!” Then a double exclamation point is added on to the end of their self-righteous statement!! When we mangle this scripture it becomes a divider between the God of Prayer and the cries of His people. Here is the scripture:
Psalm 66:18 (NKJV) — 18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.
Do you have sin in your heart? Have you been coveting? Have you had selfish attitudes? Have you been giving your affections to things or people above God? Let’s say this in unison: “Guilty! Of course I have. I’m not perfect.” Have you been praying and reading your Bible everyday? Have you been sharing the Gospel daily with friends and strangers? Have you loved your neighbor as you love yourself? Have you … do you? Well, have you? One more time in unison: “Guilty! Of course I haven’t. I’m not perfect.” My point: If we interpret this scripture as saying that our hearts have to be perfectly clean for God to hear our prayers then we should just give up. I’m not perfect, and I am sure (absolutely sure) that you’re not either. Including the Pope–if you’re reading my blog. I’m absolutely sure this includes you. Every Christian is continually in growth mode. As the Apostle Paul wrote about himself, he is not perfect and he wrestled with sin–doing what he didn’t want to do and didn’t do what he wanted to do. “Oh wretched man that I am!” Romans 7:15-25. Everyone of us can relate to Paul. This leaves us needing to see this verse without the bad rap that it gets. The God of Prayer would not be calling us to call upon Him for help or communion and then say, “Whoa! What do you think you are doing here? You still have not conquered those sins in your life that I pointed out to you. Come back when you have it all together, and I mean, ALL TOGETHER! Then, and only then, we’ll talk. Then I’ll hear what you have to say. And until then, I CAN’T HEAR WHAT YOU’RE SAYING!!” I admit that I had some fun writing that last paragraph. But seriously, we know God wouldn’t say that, right? He knows we are not perfect and never can be. He knows that we will wrestle with sins until our last breath. This is why Jesus died for us and we need Him 24/7. This is why Jesus is our eternal propitiation. This is why Jesus is forever interceding for us as our eternal Sanctifier, High Priest, and Sin-Sacrifice. It’s not about perfection, but the direction we are pursuing. So I leave you here with these obvious questions to ponder: If Psalm 66:18 is not expecting us to be perfect before we can take our requests to our heavenly Father, then what is it saying? If it is not intended to be a road block to prayer, then what is it? Next step: Meditate on the context in the light of the New Covenant. I’ll share some of that light later.

God of All—of Many—of One

Psalm 66 starts with praise to the God of all creation (Psalm 66:1-7). It moves with intensity to praise the God who is faithful to His people (Psalm 66:8-12). The intensity grows. But it doesn’t stop there, the writer get personal, very personal. He shares his heart in praise and devotion (Psalm 66:13-15). Then the intensity of this writer goes to the next level. He invites all who fear the Lord to come and hear what the Lord has done for his soul (Psalm 66:16).

Note that the Psalmist does not invite people to come and hear what the Lord has done for his social life, or to his finances, or to make his life more comfortable or fun. As Christians we need to keep in mind that the Lord Jesus Christ came for our soul. To cleanse our soul and make it whole before the Holy and Just God. To reconcile us with the One who made us for His good pleasure.

This Psalm calls us to praise the God who creates galaxies, calls and chooses a people to be His own special people, AND … to the One who gets personal with each of his children. The Old Testament scholar–Derek Kidner, titles Psalm 66: “God of All—of Many—of One.” Perfect!

The dive goes deeper and more personal in the last four verses of the Psalm. We’ll dissect those next.


Choice Privileges

Thomas Brooks, the puritan pastor and teacher, keeps bringing us back to the simplicity of prayer. As children of God we have been brought into special privileges. Christ Jesus brought us into a divine inheritance. As we read the Scriptures we learn of the inheritance that Christ has made available for us. This inheritance is not for everyone, but for those in the Kingdom, purchased of God by the holy blood of Jesus Christ. The privileges of heaven do not belong, and therefore are not available, to those who refuse to come to the wedding feast at the table of God. Those who are outside of the glorious Kingdom do not have rights to the blessings and privileges that are within the Kingdom. Yet, the saints whom Christ as purchased with His life, these are the ones with heavenly privileges. Yes, these are the ones the Father as invited to enter the secret place of prayer–in the proverbial closet, to ask, seek, and knock for the spiritual graces and heavenly rains.

Come, the Father calls. Come and inquire; ask for what Christ has made available for you. No longer enemies of God. No longer strangers to the Kingdom or the King. Children and servants of the Most High God; you are citizens of heaven. Take the Father’s invitation and call upon His mercies and gracious promises that He has spoken of in His word.  What are you waiting for? The God of prayer is waiting for you to ask.

Do you need strength or patience, or perhaps zeal added to your faith? Courage? Understanding in the divine truths of Scripture? A refreshed soul? Healing for a weary or wounded soul? Joy unspeakable and full of glory? The list goes on and on.

Do you know others who need you to ask on their behalf? Of course, we all do. We have family, spiritual brothers and sisters, and the harvest fields are needing laborers. If the mercies and graces of heaven are available to you, then go to the Father on their behalf and pray on their behalf. The closet door is open. The Father is waiting.

Take Thomas Brook’s leading:

… the choice privileges that thou art interested in, calls aloud for private prayer.

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Brooks, T. (1866). The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks. (A. B. Grosart, Ed.) (Vol. 2, p. 219). Edinburgh; London; Dublin: James Nichol; James Nisbet and Co.; G. Herbert.


Wanting God’s Mercy Flying In

I’ve learned over the years that there are a few experiences that help us see the mercies of God at work. When I say, “see” I mean recognize. One of those experiences is in our time of private prayer. When your soul is settled down and quiet and the Spirit of the Lord is speaking through His Word, there is clarity. There is clarity about God and what He is doing.

Prayer is also a tool to access the mercies and graces of God. Has He not invited us to inquire of Him in time of need? Then in prayer ask for His mercies and goodness. Ask. This is so simple but do we take Him up on His invitation to inquire for mercy. Seriously, do you?

A time of solitude with God in prayer not only helps us recognize the hand of God in and around our lives, and to help us settle our mind down to inquire for the lovingkindness of God for ourselves and for others, there is another blessing related to God’s mercies. Prayer prepares us FOR the mercies and graces of God in our lives. When the soul is laid bare before the Lord it is surrendered to His will and purpose of His mercies. The soul is less to take His mercies for granted, nor to neglect them. The soul is more grateful and humbled by His gifts of mercy. The soul in such a dependent and humble place is more apt to recognize the weight of such sovereign goodness and graciousness.

Oh that the Church would realize how valuable private prayer time is concerning the mercies and graces of God in our lives and in the lives of others. Let’s not neglect such a time to breath in and exhale the mercies of God. Let’s not take them for granted or think that God is somehow obligated to pour them upon us and others–because He is not. He is obligated to nothing. But He has called us to ask for them.

An unofficial footnote on the subject of the mercy of God:  I recently taught three sermons on the subject. If you’d like to learn more about the divine mercy of God, click on this link to take you to these sermons:   https://www.muddycreekbaptist.org/recent

Do you not have because you do not ask? Do you not see the mercies of God because you do not know what to look for? Is your mind and emotions too busy to be quiet? Remember to close yourself in the proverbial closet and be one-on-one with the Father. Leave the world and your busy life on the other side of the door.  Come, seek the Lord, for He who is rich in mercy and grace will meet you there.

Here are a few choice quotes from Thomas Brooks on prayer and mercy.

Oh, how sweet is that mercy that comes flying in upon the wing of prayer!

Prayer prepares and fits us for mercy, and mercy for us. It is prayer that gives us a right and holy use of all our mercies.

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Brooks, T. (1866). The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks. (A. B. Grosart, Ed.) (Vol. 2, p. 237). Edinburgh; London; Dublin: James Nichol; James Nisbet and Co.; G. Herbert.