Do you go to God seeking His will for your life or do you simply want something from Him? This is a critical question because your prayers to God are not for changing Him or to beg Him to do what you want Him to do. Rather, it is to be changed by God and to be empowered to do His divine will. Man is transformed in prayer, not God. You cannot exploit God, but you can submit yourself to Him and let God use you.
It remains a mystery as to why we seem to treat God as Santa Claus or some benefactor who will give us our heart's desire and yet, require nothing of us. We want to "use" God for our own selfish purposes and give nothing in return. We seem to want God to hear our prayers but we suddenly become deaf when He speaks. Well, God is deaf to the prayers of those who are deaf to His will.
We diminish the integrity of our prayers when we foolishly attempt to use God as a means of straightening out the mess we, ourselves, have created. Getting yourself in debt and begging God to get you out from under is not praying. Mumbling words to Him when your back is against the wall is not praying. Praying means going to God on His terms, not ours. It means drawing nearer to Him in humble submission, realizing our unmitigated unworthiness before His Holy Highness.
When we pray, we pray to the Holy with a penitent spirit. Prayer is the language of worship and recognition of our total dependence on Him. We submit ourselves and approach Him as the sinners we are who have been saved by His amazing grace. As the recipient of His mercies we offer up our grateful thanksgiving and praise in humble adoration. Our prayers honor Him with the glory due His name.
Prayer is central to our very existence; it is our communication line to God. A Christian without an authentic prayer life is like a bird without wings. We get nowhere.
When you pray, confess your sins and weaknesses and turn all your concerns over to Him. Talk to Him as you would to your best friend and confidant. Tell Him all about what is troubling you as if He did not know. Be honest and forthright. Do not hold back anything. Then ask God for guidance, help, strength, mercy, forgiveness, and intercession for others.
Authentic prayer emanates from a deep spiritual need and you understand where to go to get the need met.
Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. http://www.clergyservices4u.org She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, will be available soon.
express cleaning service Arlington Heights ..We want to hear from God so that we may... Read More
"Let me take you down to a town called Paradise."Van... Read More
Judgement; What does this mean? The encyclopedia definition is, "The... Read More
Did you ever get a feeling or gain notion of... Read More
For many years of my life, I thought the spiritual... Read More
I don't know of anyone who really liked taking tests... Read More
The expression "Spiritual Enlightenment" has been used often in reference... Read More
Oxford dictionary defines PRAYER as "a request for help or... Read More
Is your hope in God? Or, is it in people?I... Read More
How do we feel the fullness of life itself?We have... Read More
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that... Read More
Iktomi:Another and somewhat longer term correspondent of mine is a... Read More
Anyone who has invested time, energy and effort into finding... Read More
I have held numerous teleconference workshops where I help individuals... Read More
One of the first things you will find that God... Read More
Attachment... Bondage... Moha... state as we may but the meaning... Read More
We are living in highly challenged times. Our mass consciousness... Read More
INTRODUCTIONSpiritual affirmations are positive, statements of intention, that facilitate manifestation.... Read More
Are you always looking for bargains, especially something that you... Read More
(Channeled)Roy-when does the end of physical life come? Is it... Read More
1. How can anyone receive direct communication from Divine Source,... Read More
There was a time in my life when I seriously... Read More
The question of life after death is one that continues... Read More
Greetings my Dear Beloved SoulsWe have heard your cries, your... Read More
Matthew 3:1-3 The Preaching of John the Baptist1 In those... Read More
tidy up service Arlington Heights ..He knew it was going to happen. He wasn't really... Read More
Lately In my email newsletters (available for FREE at http://www.ChristThroughMe.com... Read More
Those living on the highest levels of life have learned... Read More
Is life challenging you to take a bigger leap? Are... Read More
The myths of man have been with us throughout time.... Read More
Rabbi Kushner in his book "When Bad Things Happen to... Read More
Do you ever get into those moods where you just... Read More
Knowing what is right and what is wrong in your... Read More
What does it take to live life holistically?It definitely does... Read More
Walls as a blockade seem to be an integral part... Read More
I cringed lower into the seat of my grey metal... Read More
Although your creative ability and talent is something that God... Read More
"You have not handed me over to the enemy but... Read More
What does the story of your life say about you?... Read More
If you're going to listen to anyone you're going to... Read More
Existence of God: facts and figures Does God exist?If you... Read More
Jacob had sent his family on across the river Jabbok.... Read More
The Mystical Experience"The mysteries of life become lucid ? and... Read More
"Self-Actualization" is the process of making our self "actual." Our... Read More
Angels are making their presence felt everywhere. Once I started... Read More
In life, sooner or later, we come to the midnight... Read More
Love...it's a deep emotion. Sometimes we say it in jest... Read More
The gate of every year is the begining of that... Read More
The practice of meditating on loving-kindness may be over two... Read More
If anyone says that his/her religion is the only path... Read More
Spirituality |