Jesus set the example on how to Submit to God's
plan when he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. His prayer was.....
"Father, if you are
willing,
take this cup from
me--nevertheless,
not my will but yours
be done."
Luke 22: 42
We know that the answer to that prayer was NO. But,
we tend to overlook that part of the crucifixion story or forget that the
answer was no. When we receive that very same answer we get discouraged,
we fret, we wonder why we aren't getting a YES.....and therein is a huge source
of life's pain. The pivotal point on prayer is this: When we pray we must submit to God's plan.
This seems frightening to many of us....because "what if this
happens".....or "what if that happens" becomes our
mindset! We can't imagine the end result not being what we want it to be!
Earthly fear makes that so!!!! But, remember:
"God did not give us
the Spirit of fear,
but of power and love and a
sound mind."
2nd Timothy 1:7
Scripture teaches that the Lord can take
what was meant to harm and work it out for our good. This is where our
trust and faith gets tested. We have to link our desires & plans with
God's plan and be willing to trust that the God we serve WILL protect us (as
the Bible teaches)....WILL lead us (as scripture indicates).... and WILL love us
(just as Abba (our daddy) says He does). If we do not tie our faith and
trust together with our PRAYERS we will get absolutely NO WHERE when it comes
to receiving answered prayers.
Below is my edited version of bullet points that the
evangelist Robert Muller (1805-1898) used as he prayed. His
understanding on prayer was a confirmation for me regarding the sound principle
of "learning things the hard way". Through trial and
error, I find his bullet points of prayer to be spot-on. Here is my
understanding of his “Process of Prayer”:
·
Quiet your heart and mind by releasing all worry,
stress and forced decision-making processes-so that your mind has no will or
direction of it's own regarding the matter at hand.
·
Don't lean on feelings or impressions but draw close to
the Lord quoting the Word of God (scripture), His promises to you (through
scripture), who He says He is (through scripture) and who He says YOU are
(through scripture). *In other words....know specific scripture that speaks to
what you're praying about. Scripture is God's Word, it is His voice and
it will never contradict itself nor mislead you.
·
The Spirit of God (whom we communicate with via PRAYER)
and the Word (scripture) must be combined. If you pray (which is a spiritual
activity) and do not tie the Word of God (scripture) together with your prayers
you open yourself up to be misled!! If the Holy Spirit guides us at
all....it WILL BE in accordance with Scripture (what the Bible says) and
NEVER CONTRARY SCRIPTURE!
·
Take into account providential circumstances!
(WOW). These often plainly indicate God's Will in connection with His Word
and Spirit.
·
In prayer, ask God to reveal His Will to you (ask for a
revelation, ask for an epiphany, ask for specific scripture to be revealed to
you, ask for a providential circumstance!!!)
·
This final step is a direct quote from Mr. Muller: "Thus,
through prayer to God, the study of the Word and through reflection, I come to
a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if
my mind is thus at peace and continues so after two or three more petitions I
proceed accordingly. In trivial matters and in transactions involving
most important issues, I have found this method always effective."
"Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you"
Matthew 7:7
Song Recommendation:
Even If
By: MercyMe
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