Prayer Journal
Wednesday, June 28, 2000
"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." Psalm 145:18
Reason #2 why people don't pray: "They don't have a close walk with God"
Bill Gothard, in his seminar textbook lists four levels of friendship: 1) Acquaintance, 2) Casual Friendship, 3) Close Friendship and 4) Intimate Friendship. He believes that each level is progressive, starting by divine encounter of two people which reaches maturity when the two share a singular purpose and goals and desire mutual accountability.
We know Jesus is OUR intimate friend (cp: John 15:13) because he gave his life for our own. But, "Are we HIS friend?". We are called, "Christian", meaning "little Christ" because we are imitators of Jesus Christ. We become like someone by copying them and we can only copy them if we spend time with them and watch them closely. If we fail to spend time with Jesus, how can we truly "know" Him?
James 2:23 tells us that Abraham, was called "God's friend". The 15th chapter of Genesis reveals a most remarkable event involving Abram, later to be renamed Abraham (cp: Gen17:5), and God. It sealed a covenant between the two of them that would never be broken, because God never fails to honor His pledge, even when man might.
The ancient blood covenant was highlighted by splitting an animal in half longway and spreading the halves apart. Then a vow was made followed by a smoking firepot with a blazing torch passing between the halves to seal the vow.
In generations that followed, different cultures would imitate the blood covenant to "seal" friendships. For example, Indians have long sealed a friendship by one man cutting himself and blending his own blood with his sworn brother's.
In the same way the blood covenant between Abram and God sealed a vow by God to bless Abram, so Calvary was the site of God's blood covenant on our behalf. Jesus Christ's broken body became the blood sacrifice for man. (One might easily picture the Holy Spirit sealing God's redemption vow by passing through the broken body of Christ and entering the heart of anyone desiring atonement.) In effect, God blended Jesus' blood with our own making us "blood" brothers.
In 1 Cor 11:23-34, Paul gives the outline for believers partaking of the Lord's supper. He says as he concludes, "So then my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other."
In your busy life, are you taking time to "Wait" on the Lord? You'll never have to "remember to pray" when you spend time in His presence. It's the natural thing that friends do. Are you Jesus' blood brother? If so, you will cherish your time with Him and "time with Him" is the best definition of prayer.
"Jesus is all the world to me, my life, my joy, my all; He is my strength from day to day, without Him I would fall. When I am sad, to Him I go. No other one can cheer me so; When I am sad, He makes me glad. He's my Friend." (2)
(1) "Research in the Principles of Life" (c)1979,1981 Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts, Inc.
(2) "Jesus is All the World to Me" by Will L Thompson
(2) Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society
(3) The images used herein were obtained from the Learning Company's ClickArt Christian Graphics Deluxe product, (c)1999 The Learning Company, Inc and its subsidiaries, 88 Roland Way, Novato, CA 94945 USA. All Rights Reserved.
