We rarely talk or pray as if this were so,
but the bible is utterly unapologetic about the power of prayer.
Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. - John 16:24
For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. - Matthew 7:7-8
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. - John 14:15
So why do our prayers not reflect this?
We clearly have not fully grasped hold of the gift of prayer as God has presented it to us!
We clearly have not fully grasped hold of the gift of prayer as God has presented it to us!
We have good reason to expect our prayers to carry weight after all,
for the Spirit himself intercedes for us (Rom. 8:26).
Yet how many of us can back up the following verses with our lives?
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. - James 5:16
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence before God
and receive from him anything we ask,
because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. - 1 John 3:21-22
Yes, let us expect our hearts to be more inclined to God when we rise from our knees,
but let us also expect the world to look different because of our prayers.
Let us pray with the expectancy of David and of Paul, who write:
In the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. - Psalm 5:3
And one thing more: prepare a guest room for me,
because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers. - Philemon 22
Let us treasure God's generous and powerful gift of prayer for what it is,
not letting doubts, love of comfort, and cynicism prevent us from biblical prayer.
for the Spirit himself intercedes for us (Rom. 8:26).
Yet how many of us can back up the following verses with our lives?
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. - James 5:16
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence before God
and receive from him anything we ask,
because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. - 1 John 3:21-22
Yes, let us expect our hearts to be more inclined to God when we rise from our knees,
but let us also expect the world to look different because of our prayers.
Let us pray with the expectancy of David and of Paul, who write:
In the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. - Psalm 5:3
And one thing more: prepare a guest room for me,
because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers. - Philemon 22
Let us treasure God's generous and powerful gift of prayer for what it is,
not letting doubts, love of comfort, and cynicism prevent us from biblical prayer.
Here are five simple ways we can work towards praying expectantly:
1. Pray through expectant prayers in the bible, e.g. Neh. 1, Mat. 6:9-13, Acts 4:23-31
2. Try to ask God for things that only he can bring about every time you pray
3. Ask God to increase your faith where you feel your lack, and then pray big anyway (Mk. 9:24)
4. Keep a prayer journal of "big prayers" and leave space to write when they are answered
5. Read relevant books, e.g. a heavenly man - Hattaway; birthing the miraculous - Baker
May God empower you to pray with boldness and expectancy,
Jeff :)
1. Pray through expectant prayers in the bible, e.g. Neh. 1, Mat. 6:9-13, Acts 4:23-31
2. Try to ask God for things that only he can bring about every time you pray
3. Ask God to increase your faith where you feel your lack, and then pray big anyway (Mk. 9:24)
4. Keep a prayer journal of "big prayers" and leave space to write when they are answered
5. Read relevant books, e.g. a heavenly man - Hattaway; birthing the miraculous - Baker
May God empower you to pray with boldness and expectancy,
Jeff :)
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