Musings regarding prayer resulting from an understanding of God’s glory by His church

Over the past few weeks as I have sat in a classroom and worked within a local church, I have been deeply burdened in the specific area of prayer. To be honest, this began over a year ago, as I was introduced to an in depth, biblical understanding of prayer. To the one who helped me walk through this portion of my discipleship, I am greatly indebted for without such an introduction my spiritual walk during seminary would have been lacking greatly. It was during this first year at seminary that I came to understand the fullness and necessity of prayer within my life. More than that, it was a need which turned to desire to commune deeply with the Father through His Spirit made possible by His Son. To be clear, it is the daily working out of Gospel within life as this communion precedes life transformation made possible through the work of Christ on the cross. So it has been that as I desired to see things within my personal life change, intense prayer that moved beyond asking God for things was a necessity.

 

This all seems elementary as I sit here and type, yet I have started to wonder how many people grasp this or simply ignore it. I wonder if this a product of the quick and convenient lifestyle or does it go much deeper than that. Quick and convenient in the way of saying our five minute prayer when we have the time and expecting that to carry throughout the day. It is easy to point fingers and reprimand groups for bad teaching (and I believe some is needed), however, does it come back to the understanding of the Gospel, and possibly more than that, the glory of God being displayed in His character and nature. If there is a proper understanding of who God claims to be then do we trust it enough to allow it change how we might live? I believe this is Paul’s argument within his letter to the Colossians. He builds this wonderful understanding of Christ in chapter, displays the work of Christ in chapter 2, and applies both in chapter three to the transformation of the believer. This transformation takes place as one seeks out the character and nature of God in the daily life (Col 3:1-4). (To hear me ramble about this visit this site:  http://gracepointfellowship.org/resources/sermons/2011/3/24/life-transformation-colossians-31-4) Paul understands that a true understanding of who God is and the work accomplished in Christ, will lead one to a place of communing with the Father resulting in the transformation of life from sin to glory. This transformation will one day be fulfilled in the coming of Christ when we will be made like Him.

 

Yet this is one aspect of the need for prayer within the life of the believer, it is the next one that has challenged me as of late. While sitting in class, discussion of different revivals came out. The name of Evan Roberts was mentioned. Not knowing much about him, I looked him up, and became impressed by his desire to see God work within his community. Roberts as well as others during different movements devoted themselves to prayer that was centered around the glory of God being displayed in their community and throughout the nations. These times of intense prayer and focus on the character and nature of God became pivotal moments of change as people came to know Christ.

 

It has always been easy for me to pray for myself, but over the past few weeks, I have been asking God to grow me in how I pray for others and my community. It is my desire that my communion with the Father will reach beyond what I see as my needs and reach out to the needs of others. Not just physical needs either. I want to desire change within the community that I live and serve, beginning with the church. During this time of thinking through prayer, I have also been reading the Gospel of John. Throughout John, Jesus constantly speaks of believing in Him, remaining, and being obedient. He teaches of the oneness between Him and the Father, and how we should desire the same with Him and with one another as believers. Jesus teaches that if we remain in Him as the vine then we will produce fruit. Based on the context, I don’t think He is simply leaving it at fruits within ourselves (i.e. fruits of the Spirit), yet extending it out to others coming to know Christ (Jn. 15:16). This is powerful to me! It tells me that if I desire to see change within the lives of those surrounding me, I must pray seeking to remain with Christ and the oneness promised by Him.

 

The challenge comes in devoting ourselves to a praying life rather than just having a prayer life. This is something that I am still working out in explanation, but it comes when viewing the everyday life through a lens of prayer seeking the Spirit to work. I have seen how it changes my approach to the mundane tasks, yet have yet to experience the fullness of it. But this is where I end as it is where I am at in my journey… In the end, I believe that proper view of God’s glory being displayed in His character and nature (i.e. His faithfulness, mercy, compassion, and grace) will sustain a praying life that will live to see the God desired change one is praying for.

Grace and Peace.

 

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~ by Matt Lambert on April 13, 2011.