Monday, August 27, 2018

"Provision For Prayer"


"Provision For Prayer"

    Prayer is meant to involve vital reality, as opposed to the "vain repetitions" our Lord calls us to avoid (Matthew 6:7).

    "I will pray with the spirit and with the understanding" (I Corinthians 14:15).

    This presents a challenge that overwhelms our human capacities.  Communication with an infinite, unseen Being who knows us perfectly, but who we know so imperfectly should motivate movement to our knees and faces before Him upon first consideration.  "The Lord is in His holy temple.  Let all the earth keep silence before Him" (Habbakuk 2:20).  No spiritual practice more requires the leadership and enabling of the Holy Spirit if we are to genuinely commune with our Heavenly Father in the light of Truth and authenticity.  "Teach us to pray" requested the disciples (Luke 11:1).  How well we do to join them.

    "Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father" (Galatians 4:6).

    Thankfully, the saving grace of the Lord Jesus includes His provision for prayer.  He is Himself the provision, as imparted to us through the indwelling Holy Spirit.  As always, the Lord's teaching involves more than mere education.  Enabling accompanies illumination and command.  "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10).  Apart from such provision, prayer would call us to make bricks without straw.  By such provision, we may consistently and increasingly communicate with the living God in reality rather than ritual or repetition.  He will guide each of His trusting children in Christ to a life and lifetime of prayer that is personal to each of us.  The same Scriptural principles will govern our offerings of praise, thanksgiving, supplication, intercession, and confession.  However, we will each find our own way in the matter, or rather be shown that way as we seek our Lord's guidance and enabling.  "Teach me Thy way, o Lord.  I will walk in Thy truth" (Psalm 86:11).

   As with every spiritual calling, two rails lie before us as we consider the privileged responsibility of prayer.  Utter impossibility in and of ourselves, and ultimate infusion of enabling through Christ.  "Without me, ye can do nothing… I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (John 15:5; Philippians 4:13).  The Scriptures and the Spirit call us in this day to walk with God in prayer.  They also promise enabling for the journey as we heed Solomon: "Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not unto thine own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).  No calling is more important because every spiritual responsibility requires our access of the Lord's leadership and enabling through prayer.  Ironically, prayer itself requires that leadership and enabling.  Teach us Thy way indeed, o Lord!  Teach us to pray.

"O send out Thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacles."
(Psalm 43:3)

Weekly Memory Verse
   Give us help from trouble, for vain is the help of man.
(Psalm 60:11)

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