GET TOGETHER- SEEK THE MAN MORE THAN THE METHODJer 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Mt 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
During these last two weeks, our congregation has been involved in a special time of prayer. We have had different leaders leading prayer meetings at different times on different days. I haven’t been able to come to all of them, but I have been able to come to some of them.
The Lord has blessed me with the opportunity over the past twenty-seven years to read several books on prayer. The best one that I have read is the Bible. I like it because it is inerrant and makes praying pretty simple in most cases.
On the other hand, I have gained a lot of insight on prayer from the various authors that I have read on prayer. Several years ago I read one by Richard Foster the name of the book is Prayer : Finding The Heart’s True Home. I guess that of all the books that I have read beside the Bible Foster’s book influenced as much as any other. One thing that I remember in particular from reading his book is that different people have different temperament’s in prayer. Some of us may be more vocal. Some of us may be ready to start praying at the drop of a hat. Others may feel like they need to sit quietly before the Lord before they verbalize their prayers.
I observed that at the different prayer meetings that I attended last week. At one prayer meeting one of our leaders read scripture to saturate the spiritual atmosphere in our sanctuary. While she was doing this, some sat quietly while other walked around the sanctuary praying quietly.
The next night we had prayer meeting after our small group. Sometimes there would be periods of silence as people waited for direction on how to pray. At other times people would pray out loud concerning the things that God was laying on their hearts.
At the one that I had the opportunity to lead we used Ac 1:8 for the first thirty minutes. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” We prayed for our congregation, other congregations, our city, our region, our nation, and the world. The last part of the prayer meeting we prayed in the Spirit and freely as Holy Spirit brought people, situations, and circumstances by us.
The next prayer meeting that I attended the people began praying in the Holy Spirit walking around the sanctuary while music played. During this time people would write on a board things, people, situations, or words from the Lord that the Holy Spirit was bringing by them.
We have really been able to tell the difference in the spiritual atmosphere here at CCF during this special season of prayer. The point I wanted to make and I pray that it benefits all who read this is this. There are times that God gives us strategies and plans to pray through. But don’t ever let anybody make it too hard for you. Also, your temperament in prayer may be different than mine. But remember from the two verses that we started with. Seek Jesus with your whole heart. Seek first the Kingdom. The Holy Spirit will lead you and guide you. Stand on the Word of God when you pray. Here are a few passages that should help you to grow in confidence when you pray.
Ps 34:17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.
Ps 56:9 When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me.
Ps 57:2 I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me.
Mt 7:7 ¶ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Joh 16:23 ¶ “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.
No matter what your prayer temperament is seek God with all of your heart in prayer.
Let Us Pray
Lord Jesús we thank You that we can come boldly before Your throne of grace. Today stir our hearts to pray and believe with more confidence than we ever have before.
In Jesus Name
Amen
Pray without ceasing!
Your Friend/Kinfolk
Preston
