Prayer Problems?

Time with Jesus - Saturday, 28 July 2012

Hi all,

Today’s meditation returns to prayer. Sadly, prayer remains one of the least “popular” features of Christian life. One reason is because the Lord tells us: ⁶ But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:6 NLT Here’s one of the most difficult things we do. Be alone with God. We seem to be addicted to noise. Silence is uncomfortable!
Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Saturday, 28 July 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	Prayer Problems?
One of my favourite comments about prayer is the question, “Why pray, when you can be sick and have ulcers?” Normally it’s phrased the other way round. “Why be sick and have ulcers, when you can pray?” Of course both ways are true. For me, prayer has never been “easy”. Actually the enigma about prayer is that even though we know the time will be profitable, we are reluctant to start. There always seems to be something “more important” to do. In some respects, prayer is a bit like medicine. We know it’s good for us but we really don’t want to take the next spoonful. Personally, I’ve never found prayer easy. There was a time when I would walk round silently praying in tongues. The idea behind this was that since I didn’t know what to pray for, the Holy Spirit would pray on my behalf. This method is Scriptural so I’m not “knocking” it. My difficulty was that this way I didn’t know what the Lord had said or done in response to my prayers. This may appear to be selfish. But it seems to me to be pointless praying if nothing ever happens as a result! Some folk seem to take to prayer like a duck to water. They have an extraordinary ability of being able to go from place to place and spend hours in prayer for what they see in and around them. Presumably this is a gift from the Lord. A gift I sometimes feel quite envious of. It’s fascinating that Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them to pray. No doubt they were strongly influenced by His prayer life. His answer was not what I would have thought it would be. Instead He gave them what most people call, “The Lord’s Prayer”. What is so surprising about this prayer is its simplicity while being all embracing. Matthew phrases the prayer: 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13 KJV What I find so challenging about this prayer is the fact that it is not “me” centred. First the focus is on the Father. One of our greatest “errors” when we pray is to forget that when we are praying, we are addressing “Almighty God”. Furthermore, He is “Our Father”. Certainly Jesus spoke to His Father. But in prayer I’m a bit more comfortable addressing Him as “Our Father”. This may be my own preference. One of the features of this prayer is that almost half of it focusses on the Person and Nature of God the Father. In the above translation 24 words are addressed to Him. Collective needs comprise 28 words. The “doxology’ comprises a further 13 words. Thus 37 words speak of the greatness of God and 24 words refer to needs. So, in a prayer of 61 words, ± 61% speaks of God’s greatness. Only ± 39% focus on us. I’m not exactly sure what this means. One thing is sure. Most of our prayers focus on us. They are “me” centred. I’m reminded of a little boy walking round the supermarket and whining, “Daddy won’t but me a lollipop”. Does this infect our prayers? Jim & Phyllida Strickland			6 Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Philippians 4:6 GW 36 "Abba, Father," He cried out, "everything is possible for You. Please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine." Mark 14:36 NLT 6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won't do it, because I don't want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, 7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. 8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time He said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:6-9 NLT A prayer of David when he was in the cave. A maskil. 1 I call out to the LORD. I pray to him for his favour. 2 I pour out my problem to him. I tell him about my trouble. Psalms 142:1-2 NIrV 9 One time when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. The priest Eli was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the LORD's house. 10 Hannah was very bitter. She sobbed and sobbed. She prayed to the LORD. 11 She made a promise to him. She said, "LORD, you rule over all. Please see how I'm suffering! Show concern for me! Don't forget about me! Please give me a son! If you do, I'll give him back to you. Then he will serve you all the days of his life. He'll never use a razor on his head. He'll never cut his hair." 1 Samuel 1:9-11 NIrV 20 In due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, "I asked the LORD for him." 1 Samuel 1:20 NLT 26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. Romans 8:26 NLT 4 He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. - Selah Psalms 47:4 TNIV	If you think prayer is difficult, please know that it is true. It’s something that each one of us must be committed to. It’s something that gets easier, on each successive day; But only if you will decide the time has come to pray. At first we all feel foolish. It seems to be no use. But even while we’re thinking’ we have to be obtuse, To keep on talking to ourselves! Perhaps He doesn’t care, About our little mutterings which masquerade as prayer? Where’s the cloudy pillar? Where are the tongues of flame? In spite of all we pray about, do things remain the same? Does prayer have an influence on what is taking place? Does it make a difference, or is it that we chase, Random thoughts in circles round and round our head? Perhaps we’d be much better off by staying in our bed! These are the thoughts that haunt us. Perhaps it works for you. But nothing seems to happen, no matter what I do? Don’t think you’re unusual; most people feel that way; And if you let them get to you, those thought are sure to stay. But there’s no need to panic. Don’t go by what you feel. Satan tries to tell you, that prayer is never real. And every opportunity that he will ever find, He is going to do his very best to muddle up your mind. The fact is, if you let him, he’ll try and interfere. Any trick that he can use, to spoil the things you hear! But when you are aware of it, there’s things that you can do, To stop him interfering, with what’s required of you. Everyone who’s every prayed has also felt this way. So let me assist you with some tips to use this day. The first one and the easiest; always pray out loud. This will keep you focused and stop you feeling proud. This can be so difficult unless you’re tucked away. But when you’re in your closet, is when it’s best to pray. Do not be elaborate! Ask the Lord to lead! Let Him guide you through a time, when you will intercede, For many other people. Say what’s on your heart. Don’t go round and round the bush, don’t try to be too smart! He already knows the facts about the situation. So be economical with all your information. Make sure you are honest; If you have to cry, Know the Master understands and knows the reasons why. Learn to sit in silence and ask Him to reveal. What He wants to tell you. If you’re being real, He will not ignore you or chase you far away. You will find that, truthfully, you’d so much rather stay, In His loving presence, than leave the Holy place! Where with Christ Your Saviour you’ve spent time face to face. Jim Strickland Written 28th July 2012