Prayer

Voice of God
Chapter 19 of 1 Kings tells of Elijah fleeing from an angry Jezebel who has sworn to take his life. On Mount Horeb, believing he is he only one remaining on earth serving the Lord, he seeks God. A great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire came a still small voice, and it was so that Elijah heard the voice of God.

Prayer should be much more than a list of requests. It can include speaking, singing, praising, meditating and listening. Surely God can speak to us through the wind, earthquake, thunder or fire, but often it’s only during a quiet time of listening can we hope to hear the still soft voice of God.

We can reach out and touch God in prayer anytime and anywhere. You may have an unusual and strange place where you regularly pray. Jonah prayed out of the fish’s belly. Paul and the disciples prayed on the beach. Jesus prayed in the garden. The thief reached out and touched the Lord while hanging on a cross. I knew a lineman who said his most Spirit filled prayer came while hanging by his foot, upside down from a power pole.

Prayer is conversation with God and is not confined to a particular time or location. God is in all places at all times and will hear your prayer wherever you are, and whatever your circumstances. But to consistently hear the still soft voice of God, you need a quiet time and location. Jesus said to go into your closet and shut the door (Matthew 6:6). You also need a regular time for prayer, usually early in the morning is best, before you get involved in the activities of the day.

What Do You Really Need?
Acts 3:1-10 tells of Peter and John entering the temple at the hour of prayer and meeting a lame beggar asking for money. How many times have we all had such encounters? Certain locations are cluttered every day with folks asking for a handout. It’s usually the same people every day. Acts 3:2 says the lame beggar was laid daily at the gate of the temple.

The beggar fixes his eyes on Peter and John expecting to receive money from them. “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee”. “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk”……..”And he entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God”.

If he had received the few coins from Peter and John he requested, he no doubt would have been back in front of the temple the next day, begging alms from those passing by. But he received much more, he received life changing healing. The beggar thought he needed money, but Peter showed him that what he really needed was Jesus, and Jesus changed his life.

Have you had a similar experience? Prayed for something specific only to learn you needed something entirely different. Instead of a band-aid on your problem Jesus decides major surgery is more appropriate.

A farmer scratches out a living on forty acres of hard clay with an old mule and plow. When the mule dies, he prays for another mule. God says no to the mule and gives him a tractor instead. Sometimes instead of the short term fix we seek, God has for us a life changing experience. That’s why Jesus taught us to pray “Thy will be done”.