The Lord has been merciful in previous years and has kept us in the midst of our microwave mentality. We may spend 5 minutes in what we think is prayer,doing all the talking. Sometimes it seems what we call prayer is merely a gripe session or just asking for stuff.
While God is extremely gracious and allows us to vent, meaningful and purposeful communication with God has to include time to listen.
Just mothers and fathers love spending time with their children talking and listening, our Heavenly Father also looks forward to time with us talking and listening.
Ephesians 1:4-5 GNB says, Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be his through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and without fault before him.Because of his love God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children---this was his pleasure and purpose.
We are reminded in John 15:4&5 we as branches have to stay connected to the true vine who is Jesus, if we are to be effective and really fruitful. It is made clear that without Him we can not produce anything that is truly valuable.
It is by living in Him that we get things accomplished.
Look at the following scripture verses:
John 15:7 CEV Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you. Then you can pray for whatever you want, and your prayer will be answered.
John 15:8 GW) You give glory to my Father when you produce a lot of fruit and therefore show that you are my disciples.
Our minds along with our spirit need to be actively engaged to remember our abiding place in Christ Jesus. It is from that place in Him that we are in His will and bear much fruit having our prayers answered. While not exclusively, I believe from this passage of scripture, answered prayer is like fruit and God is glorified by it, and we demonstrate that we are disciples of Jesus.
The way to stay joined or connected to Jesus is found in John 15:9-10,12 God's Word translation.
9. "I have loved you the same way the Father has loved me. So live in my love.
10.If you obey my commandments, you will live in my love. I have obeyed my Father's commandments, and in that way I live in his love.
12.Love each other as I have loved you. This is what I'm commanding you to do.
Love keeps us connected, fulfills the law and is the fuel of faith. Gal 5:6 tells us that faith works by love.
All of this can be a bit overwhelming, but the Father Himself worked out all the details for us.
(Ephesians 1:13 GNB) And you also became God's people when you heard the true message, the Good News that brought you salvation. You believed in Christ, and God put his stamp of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit he had promised.
We have God the Holy Spirit living in us! He prays with us, for us and through us according to the will of God the Father.
(Romans 8:26 GW) At the same time the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we don't know how to pray for what we need. But the Spirit intercedes along with our groans that cannot be expressed in words.
(Romans 8:27 GW) The one who searches our hearts knows what the Spirit has in mind. The Spirit intercedes for God's people the way God wants him to.
Prayer is the place of our abiding/living in Christ Jesus. It is the communion and fellowship of the Holy Spirit leading us in the way to speak and respond to God.
Because the Holy Spirit secures our remaining in Christ, we have confidence that God hears our prayers and answers.
Now let’s take some time to praise God,worship and PRAY.
