Prayer will work as God intends for it to work when it becomes what God intends for it to be. Prayer is not an activity, but a relationship. It is not a formula, but a life. Only when we have learned to live prayer, breathe prayer, be prayer—only then will the power promised in Scripture consistently be your experience. Through an ongoing prayer relationship with the Father, He will reproduce His heart in me, shaping my desires to match His. He will take my self-centered heart and fasten it on Him. The person who is abiding in Christ has desires that are God-shaped. Out of the life that is abandoned to God and His purposes flows the prayer that God has promised to answer. Don’t focus your faith on an outcome. Instead, focus your faith on God.
Scriptures for Reflection:
“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Ps. 37:4).
“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up’” (Dan. 3:16-18).
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Eph. 6:18).
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you” (John 15:7).
“I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1).
Challenge:
As you start your prayer time, before you say anything, let your mind’s eye see Him, high and exalted, and yourself in a position of worship before Him. Stay in that inner posture until His glory fills your thoughts as the train of His robe fills the temple.
