Prayer is a privilege!
It’s really encouraging to have a God you can pray to-
– anytime, anywhere, for any reason.
But-
– prayer can become meaningless and ineffective when we take it for granted.
You’d prepare yourself; you’d be respectful and thoughtful and take it very seriously.
Prayer is conversation with God.
But don’t forget who God is.
“For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God” (Deuteronomy 10:17).
When you come into His presence, remember that:
“Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary” (Psalm 96:6).
That’s nothing to be taken lightly.
However, don’t be afraid to come before God.
Hebrews 4:16 says ” Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God gives one of the keys to privileged prayer:
A humble heart!
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven.”
What attitude do you bring before God?
Do you take Him for granted and treat prayer like a nice way to get something good?
Or is it serious business for you?
Jesus told a story about two men praying in the temple.
Read Luke 18:9-14; then describe the prayers of these two men.
What’s the attitude of each heart?
Which one was more pleasing to God?
Which prayer sounds more like yours?
Don’t be afraid to come to God in prayer.
But don’t take Him lightly.
Prayer is a privilege we enjoy-
– because Jesus died to give us a relationship with God the Father.
Because of Jesus, 1 John 5:14-15 says “this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”
How are you going to pray today?
When you do, pray with humility and confidence, seeking God’s will.
And ask Him to show you how to become intimate with Him but never take Him for granted.
(PR)