TheBETTERLife Post
Week of January 12-17 2015
On what basis do we pray?
On what basis do we ask God for blessings?
I believe it is on the basis of father-child relationship. Outside this relationship prayer is nothing but an art of begging. Prayer is not meant to be begging but an exclusive right of God's children to ask for what they need. Since there is no such thing as right or privilege without a relationship, our relationship with God then becomes our basis for prayer. If you saw someone on the street asking
a total stranger for favour you would say he is begging for alms. Prayer without a relationship is the same. If God is not our father, praying to him is like begging and beggars do not get more than crumbs that fall from the children's table. I didn't say that, God did.
a total stranger for favour you would say he is begging for alms. Prayer without a relationship is the same. If God is not our father, praying to him is like begging and beggars do not get more than crumbs that fall from the children's table. I didn't say that, God did.
One day, one woman came begging Jesus to heal her child. Our merciful Jesus looked at her and said : "first let the children eat all they want, it is not right to give the food that is for children to dogs" Jesus was saying in essence "On what basis are you praying to me or asking me for that favour?" Jesus continued, "it is not right to give to dogs the food that is meant for children" Mark 7:26-27
Jesus's response is hard for some to grasp. But Jesus was not being unkind to the woman at all. How could the one who went about doing good and ultimately giving his life to save the whole world be unkind? Jesus helped her anyway. But by his response, Jesus was simply letting the woman know that the blessings of God are for God's children only. And of course the woman could become a child if she so wish.
Without a father-child relationship you have no right to pray. Simple. If you choose to pray regardless, the most you would get are crumbs. Does that mean a sinner who is not a child of God cannot pray?
Yes and no. Yes, if she is asking for mercy and no if she is asking for blessing. The only valid prayer a person who is not a child of God can pray is the prayer for mercy. "Lord God, have mercy and save me" If she or he refuses to take this route, that person's prayer might actually be an abomination before God.
Proverbs 28:9
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
Proverbs 15:8
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight
John 9:31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will.
Do you know God as Father?
Technically God is the father of the whole world but not everyone is living in the will of God. Living outside the will of God in any area make us prodigal children. In that sense, though everyone is a child of God by origin everyone is not a child by rights. If we are not children by rights then we are not entitled to the rights and provisions reserved for children who live in God's will.
Is God your father? If yes are you close to him?
Effective prayer is based on effective relationship. Relationship gives us the right and privilege to boldly come to God and confidently pray like Jesus taught us to pray:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven...."Matthew 6:9-13
Would you like the right and privilege to pray the "Lord's Prayer" with boldness and confidence like all of God's children do? Then you need to get right with God and get close to God.
1. GET RIGHT WITH GOD
If God is not yet your father, making him your father is easy. Humbly come before God in your innermost being and pray something like this: "Lord God, I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is your son who came to save me from sin and all the consequences of sin. Save me and make me your child". Rom 10:9 Done. If you prayed that from your heart, you are in the family. The children rights and privileges are now yours. Find a bible -believing church and plug in for a chance to grow in your walk with God.
2. GET CLOSE TO GOD
Whether you are new or old in God's family your relationship will only grow by your faithfulness along these five lines: effective communication, regular meetings, valuing the relationship, expressing love through giving and asking for forgiveness.
1. Effective communication. We fellowship and commune with God through prayer of asking and listening on the basis of God's word. Make this a daily habit and your relationship with God will grow.
2. Regular meetings. Out of sight is out of mind and out of mind is out of life. In addition to private prayers and bible studies, we grow in God-consciousness and godliness when we fellowship with other children of God in a local church. Besides this growth benefit, being an active part of a local church gives us a spiritual covering that outsiders do not have.
3. Value the relationship. We demonstrate our value for our relationship with God through HONOUR. Give God the first place in your life by prioritizing your time and work to acknowledge him. No father bonds with a child that disregards and refuses to acknowledge him.
4. Express your love through giving
Honour God with your wealth. Prodigal children have a sense of entitlement and they squander their wealth but wise children honour their father by using their resources to promote the work of God. Why not? All that we have came from God our father in the first place. Our right to ask God to give us our daily bread is based on our wise use of what he has already blessed us with. Two ways to do this is tithe and offering. (Ref: Mal 3:10, Matt 6:33. Luke 6:38)
5. Ask forgiveness
Sometimes we err as children. When this happens it is good to not assume we are automatically forgiven without asking. That would amount to taking God's love and grace for granted. If we fall, we need to return, confess and forsake with a desire and commitment to sin no more. God is faithful and just to forgive all our sins and restore our relationship to good standing.
I pray that your prayers this week will ascend to the throne of grace as the prayers of a beloved child. May the lord grant the desires of your heart.
#PastorPeterOkaka, #TheBETTERLife #FreshwaterChristianHouse, #Fastingandpraying, #newyear, #dominion,
