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Mar. 28, 2006 Sometimes praying isn’t praying. In the beginning of man’s walk on the earth Adam and God would walk and talk and discuss the day and the events of life. I believe these were natural and normal conversations, perhaps even face to face until Adam sinned and lost his likeness to the godhead. We see examples in scripture of God approaching in the form of a man or an angel. These approaches were for conversation. It was God wanting to talk with and fellowship with his special people. God spoke with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob many times. Stubborn men of scripture were spoken to by God also. Some of these conversations emitted from burning bushes or from mountaintops smothered in clouds. It was still God approaching men. Sinful men never deliberately sought the true God. This is as it is today. We know that men do not deliberately seek God. It is God who initiates faith in the individual and makes his approach and speaks his words to the heart of the soul he seeks. It is still a conversation; many times one-sided, but still the voice of God speaking to a heart. This is not prayer. I think of prayer in a strictly petitioning sense. The scriptures are replete with examples of prayer and virtually all prayer set as example is prayer in the form of petition; man in a desire to see God work in some way to help or lend comfort to the life. I look at the many Psalms of David which are not just songs, but prayers. I look at the petitions of Jesus. He would ask and his Father would give him his desire without fail. I look at the prayers of Peter. Some of his prayers are petition, but one of his most important encounters with God was in Joppa; leading to the conversion of a great number of Gentiles. That encounter was a conversation with the Lord more than a prayer. That is why I believe not all praying is praying. Sometimes it is conversation as communication. I believe that once the Spirit indwells it is as the scripture tells us; that the Spirit speaks expressly for us in words we don’t know how to use. I believe all we need to do is speak with God as Adam once did. Oh, we are as sinful as Adam when he failed God. That is why we aren’t necessarily in two-way conversations as Moses, Abraham and others managed. Yet, don’t think that God does not speak. He has spoken through the written word. He has spoken through his prophets and he has spoken to us as the Christ. Jesus promised a teacher and comforter, and truly the Holy Spirit continues his work indwelling the faithful and teaching the written word to the souls of the faithful. Each time we open the word of God he speaks again the lessons we need for admonishment, doctrine, correction and instruction in righteousness. It is not a difficult thing to know God is still active with his faithful. We see answers to prayer and we gain daily comfort from our conversations. Each morning we should make it a point to thank God for the coming day and simply ask him to protect our walk that day so not to bring shame to the body of the faithful or the Name of the Lord. One thing I have found is when you ask for opportunity to preach the gospel, or witness to a soul that does not know God, the Lord delivers those opportunities. We should ask that we not be distracted from those chances but remain bold and ready to speak that word in season. Many people think that evening is the time for prayer and fellowship with God. This is after all the distractions of work or play or mealtimes or family or whatever is done. There is something to be said for that. I believe the best time to approach God is in the morning. Making God your first thought for the day keeps your focus on God all day. Why is it most of us prefer to keep God in our background and only seek him after we’ve already stumbled and bumbled our way through another day? It is the rare Christian that looks to God in everything. The scriptures tell us to give thanks in everything and never to grieve the Holy Spirit or “quench” the Spirit in us. Those Christians I know that seek the face of God all day never seem to struggle. I’m sure they have the same troubles as every other human on earth and probably more so because of their great faith. You would not know it to fellowship with them. I believe that a Christian need not be formal with God unless making that serious petition for a loved one, or a close friend; someone ill or very oppressed in some way. Everyday conversation with God can be just that. Knowing God is present with the believer in every situation we do not have to fall on knees or publicly prostrate ourselves or even make a display of piety over restaurant meals. We need only acknowledge God in a way that honors our relationship as a servant to his Lord. There is no special format for that. It is as one is led by the indwelling Spirit. ------------ Email Skip: skiptoomaloo@hotmail.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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