PRAYER—Before & After We Are GOD’S
Before we know God . . .
Before we know God . . . as our Father . . .
Before we know God’s Son . . . as our Savior . . .
Before we know the filling of God’s Holy Spirit . . . as our Comforter . . .
Before all that, there is only one prayer God hears us pray.
Before we know God intimately, we can only pray, “God, please save me.”
“For the Scripture says, ‘WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.’
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;
for WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’ “
(Romans 10: 11-13)
Then, after we have prayed, seeking to accept Christ, we are known by God . . . as His.
Then, after we have prayed, we are known by Jesus . . . as heirs to the promises of God.
Then, after we have prayed, we are known by God’s Spirit . . . as we walk with God through this new life He has given us to walk.
Before we are God’s, there is only one prayer we can pray.
After we are God’s, we can enter into a time of prayer with God, praying for everything.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
(Philippians 4: 6)
Jesus prayed.
Jesus prayed for His disciples, and four times, asking God for them to be one with God as He is One with God—John 17.
Jesus prayed for His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane and reminding them twice to pray, so they may avoid temptation—Luke 22: 39-46.
Jesus prayed before His crucifixion, troubled and distressed by “the cup” He must endure for us; nevertheless, Jesus was obedient to the will of the Father—Mark 14: 32-42.
Jesus prayed on the night He was betrayed, tried, and crucified—“and prayed a third time saying the same thing once more”—Matthew 26: 44.
Solomon prayed when he constructed the Lord’s temple, & the Lord heard his prayer—2 Chronicles 7: 11-16.
Job prayed: A Lament, A Plea, A Statement—“My prayer is pure,” A Confession, & A Repentant Prayer—Job 16: 17 & 42: 1-6.
David prayed, knowing how the LORD always hears and receives his prayer—Psalm 6: 9.
Solomon prayed, knowing God hears the prayers of the righteous—Proverbs 15: 26.
Isaiah prayed and obeyed God—Isaiah 56: 7 & Luke 19: 46.
Matthew reminds us how we can pray, asking God, trusting Him to give us what is best at just the right time—Matthew 21: 22.
Luke tells us how Jesus prayed throughout the whole night—Luke 6: 12.
John reminds us that we can ask our Father for anything in Jesus’ name and He will give it to us—John 16: 23-24.
In the Acts of the Apostles, we are told how we (BELIEVERS) must be devoted to prayer—together, as the family of God—Acts 1: 14.
Peter instructs us in the way we should go so that our prayers are not hindered—1 Peter 3: 7, & then Peter reminds us that the LORD HEARS OUR PRAYERS—1 Peter 3: 8-12.
The Apostle John encourages us, telling how the prayers of those names are written in The Book, assuring us that God collects our prayers in “golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints [the children of God]”—Revelation 5:8.
Jesus has no unanswered prayer!
Almighty God has sent His Son to the world so that we can come to know Him.
God calls us from the womb, from our beginning, desiring for us to come to know Him as He knows us.
Then, once we have prayed, calling on Him to be saved, God allows His children the privilege to participate in the process of prayer. Oh what a blessing and honor!
We participate—through PRAYER—
- In the Process of Healing.
- In the Process of Bringing Peace.
- In the Process of Changing Circumstances.
In fact, crisis is the catalyst for PRAYER!
We can influence the lives of others when we PRAY FOR THEM, on their behalf!
Yes, Almighty God wants us to PRAY, talking with Him ABOUT EVERYTHING!
Before we know God intimately, we can only pray, “Oh, God, My God, I need You. Please save me.”
After we are God’s, after we belong to God’s family, we can seek God anytime, entering into a time of prayer with God, praying for everything—“Oh, God, My God, My Rock of Ages, we are standing on Your promises, lifting up these names to You—lifting up these concerns to You—trusting & knowing that You, God, hear and answer our PRAYERS.”
- I am reminded of this privilege!
- I am reminded of this honor!
- I am reminded of this responsibility!
And so, allow me to leave you with a song, yes, a melody by Katy Nichole that touched my heart.
Maybe there will be an opportunity for you to listen.
“In Jesus Name” proclaims—God is the God of Possible!
“And Jesus answered saying to them, ‘Have faith in God.
Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.
Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.’”
(Mark 11: 22-24)
JESUS—THERE IS POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS!