Prayer Journal
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Luke 5:16
Most people believe they know how to pray, but most of those same people don't do it very often. Now that raise another question: if you know what to do and you know why you do it, yet you still don't do it, you have to ask yourself why. With all the people you love who are suffering and all the attacks on the church by Satan, you'd think you'd hardly have time to get up off your knees to do anything else.
Some time ago I wrote a series of devotions on the subject, "Why People Don't Pray." I remember the number one reason God showed me: we don't pray because we lack desire. But that reason is based on another reason: we really don't believe prayer works, because if we did, we'd pray!
For those of you who feel prayer is part of a religious exercise, you're probably offended by my words. But let's face it: no one has to make us eat. We do so because we get hungry and we do it often and heartily because we enjoy doing it. But I wonder: if I prayed like I ate, how would my spiritual life change as a result?
Are you defending yourself right now, believing your prayer life is pleasing to both you and God? If that's so, I have one question: is God demonstrating his power in your life? Are you desirous of spending more time with Him? Are you always looking for a time and place to get alone with Him? That's what Jesus did. Before a time of ministry, during the ministry and after the ministry, our Lord was always praying.
How can I change my desire, you might ask. Simple: spend a lot of time in God's word and ask Him to change it. It may be subtle and it may be at a time you least expect it, but I think you'll find yourself desiring those quiet times alone with Him. Beware however, he may have to remove that which is stealing your time. But the more time you begin to spend alone with Him, the stronger your desire will grow. And the more your desire grows, you find more time to be alone with Him.
It's all about desire. The natural man controls his desire or at least he thinks he does. On the other hand, the spiritual man asks the Holy Spirit to control his desire. One question then remains to be asked: Of which persuasion are you?
Just Thinkin'... WebServant
Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society
Copyright © 1998-2003
James R. Green and Prayertower Ministries
All Rights Reserved
I'll pray today for...
* My spouse
* My children
* Their friends
* My friends
* My employer
* My city
* My country
* Civic leaders
* Schools
* Teachers
* The sick
* The lost
* Those in despair
* The hospitalized
* The grieving
* Widows
* Orphans
* My church
* My pastor
* Church leaders
* Other churches
* Persecuted church
* Missionaries
* Myself
