Hearing from Heaven
When was the last time you heard from God? As we continue our series on biblical discipleship, this week we will look at the importance of prayer in the believer’s life.
In our last few emails, we presented what biblical discipleship looks like—a process of becoming more Christlike. In addition to bible study and memorization, prayer plays a huge role in becoming more like our heavenly Father.
While growing up in a traditional Protestant home, my prayers were limited to bedtime and grace over meals and it wasn’t until after I submitted to Christ’s lordship that I learned the importance of prayer.
In Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby, I discovered that God not only answers prayer, but speaks to his children through his word, through prayer, other people and even through the circumstances in our daily lives. But are we listening?
It was after a friend recommended Dutch Sheet’s book Intercessory Prayer that my prayer life took on a whole new dimension. That book helped me see the spiritual battle that is being waged all around us and that God gave us the tools to engage in that battle! My eyes were opened to the power of intercessory prayer for others, especially for those ensnared by “world forces of darkness” who need Christ to free them. (Ephes. 6:12)
I’ve learned that prayer is simply communicating my heart and thoughts to God, and in turn, allowing him time to communicate his heart and thoughts to me. One of my favorite names of God is Abba, which I translate as Daddy. I picture curling up on my father’s lap as I talk to him, and I receive strength, love, and a sense of safety.
The purpose of drawing near to God is to know him as intimately as we do our best friend. And as it is with our friends, so it is with our heavenly Father—the more time we spend with him, the more we know him . . . and that bears the fruit of Christlikeness.
I am confident that the Lord always answers prayers, even though the answer isn’t always a “yes.” Sometimes the answer is “no,” or “later,” and sometimes what seems like silence is a time of spiritual growth and of God bringing me into a deeper understanding of him. While reading Intercessory Prayer, I applied those lessons as I prayed for a loved one who had wandered away from God and from me. The Father’s answer for his return to the fold was “later’ for many years . . . followed by a miraculous “YES.” God not only hears our prayers but answers them “pressed down, shaken together, and more than I could ever ask or imagine!”
So how do we become more Christlike in our praying? We use Jesus as our example. He neither said nor did anything but what the Father told him in prayer. The importance of prayer is seen by the multitude of references (approximately 25!) in the New Testament to Jesus praying!
Jesus taught the disciples how to pray using the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-15). This simple mnemonic "ACTS" is based on that prayer and helps me remember both how to pray and the priority:
1. Adoration – praise God for who he is and what he has done.
2. Confession – confess your sins and ask for forgiveness (both asking God for His forgiveness and forgiving others).
3. Thanksgiving – praise God for all he has done for each of us.
4. Supplication – lay at God’s feet your daily needs, including protection from temptation.
It was also the custom of Jesus to slip away from the distraction of the crowds (Luke 5:16) to pray for wisdom (Luke 6:12-13) and needs of others—he prayed for you and me, specifically!
It was also the custom of Jesus to slip away from the distraction of the crowds (Luke 5:16) to pray for wisdom (Luke 6:12-13) and needs of others—he prayed for you and me, specifically!
But now I come to You [Father],...Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth...I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You... -John 17:13-21
Have you ever attempted to have a serious conversation with someone in a crowded noisy restaurant? I have - and found it doesn’t go well! Even though I pray at all times, including shooting up an “arrow prayer” for an immediate need, my best times of prayer with my Father are in “quiet times.” I pray you will find a time and place for building your relationship with our heavenly Father. Escape from the crowd (people, TV), the distracting noises (phone).
But you, WHEN you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your
Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. -Matthew 6:6
One suggestion would be to pray God’s word back to him and use bible memorization to enhance your prayer life! Memorize some of the apostles’ prayers in the Bible as you learn to pray God’s will for yourself and others. A few suggestions are:
I hope we can all take time to consider the priority of prayer for our lives and lean into the Lord more through our prayers. Let Jesus teach you its importance.
George Mueller, a missionary pastor in the early 1800’s England, was called to turn from a wild life to serve God during his college years. He pastored a small church and was moved to open an orphanage after seeing the many orphaned children on the streets of England. Throughout his lifetime, he fed, clothed and cared for 10,000 orphans and never asked anyone—except his heavenly Father—for one donation. His prayers were never refused!
Only God knows what he wants and can do through the prayers of his children. Won’t you join me in this discipleship journey? Let us each strive to be more like Christ in both attitude and action.
