IS PRAYER YOUR STEERING WHEEL?
Do you want to have a better relationship with God? Newshia Augustine tells us about the importance of prayer in building up our life of faith.
WHAT IS PRAYER
Simply stated, prayer means communication with God. We know that constant communication is necessary to build and maintain good relationships. How many times a day do we call or text our friends and our loved ones? We try to keep in constant touch with them. Any time the phone makes any kind of noise, we eagerly check it to see who it is. It might be that person, who we really want to talk to. In the same way, God is longing to have the same sort of relationship with each one of us. He wants to be that special person in your life, your best friend who you can love and trust the most. It is through constant communication, i.e. prayer, that we can deepen our relationship with God. Our main purpose in life is to live in a relationship with God, and prayer is the foundation for building that fellowship.
PRAY FROM THE HEART
God looks at the intention and attitude of our prayer life, which should be honest and good. Our prayers should be sincere and from our hearts. In the Bible we read the story of the Pharisee whose prayer was rejected because he was comparing himself to the sinner. He was a good man, but he was putting on a show when speaking to the Lord. He justified himself by boasting of all the good things that he had been doing and at the same time judging the sinner. God does not like the ‘I am better than he is’ attitude. The Lord is the only one who can judge us according to our deeds. He is the one who does not look at the outward expression of anything, but looks into the hearts of His people.
POWER OF PRAYER
The author, Max Lucado wrote, “Our prayers may be awkward, our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it, and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.” This is true. The power of prayer is not the result of the person praying. Rather, it is in the power and love of God. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we asked of him." No prayer goes unanswered. God answers either by ‘yes’ or ‘no’, whichever is according to His will and in our best interest.
OUR STEERING WHEEL
Corrie Ten Boom, the author of ‘The Hiding Place’ and other spiritual classics, raised an important question, “Is prayer your steering wheel rather than your spare wheel?” If we only pray when we are in need of something or when we are in a difficult situation that is like using it as a spare wheel when our car gets a puncture. But when we pray regularly, seeking God in the good and the bad times in our lives, it will steer us in the right direction and help us to build a better relationship with God. So make prayer a priority in your busy life today. Make time to talk to God, be in constant communication with Him! He is there always waiting to hear from you!
"Be joyful always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in every circumstance, for this is the will of the God for you in Christ Jesus" 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
