How to Pray: Blessed are The Humble

Hey, friend.

What a while it has been, huh?

I am glad to been with you again.

In my time away, I got reflective of many things among them being prayer.

As a believer, my life has been shaped by prayer and figuring out what God desires for me.

It's not been easy and I am still learning to hear God. I am still learning how to follow His leading. I am still growing in my theological knowledge through revelation and God's written word. I am still going back into the (spiritual) surgery room for corrective procedures and going through recovery periods where my mind and spirit are re-wired to understand the workings of God (which is also a never ending process on this side of eternity)

A Strange Thing

One thing I have made peace with is that when it comes to the things of God, the learning curve is different for different people. Everyone is in the same school (I call it the School of the Holy Spirit) learning different curricula at the same time. Some are taking their first class on salvation, while others are learning the meaning of faith. Some are being taught patience while others are learning wisdom. A God who can be everywhere at the same time cannot be limited by our limited systems of thinking and living. He is beyond our ways. Isaiah 55:9 (NKJV) "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."

A God who can be everywhere at the same time cannot be limited by our limited systems of thinking and living.

The School of Prayer

I am currently learning about prayer (I feel like I have been here for the past two years and I still have much to learn) and boy, is it a dynamic class! Scripture is littered with different people and nations in need who cried out to God in prayer. If it's not David giving thanksgiving for salvation from evil enemies, It's Solomon praying for wisdom. If it isn't Hannah crying out for the fruit of the womb, it is Daniel seeking God out for revelation of deep things. Paul prays for the strengthening of brethren in the early days of Christianity and John prays for mercy. Even Jesus prays more than anyone else on His team!

There has got to be something so powerful about prayer that even the son of God immerses Himself into it unto the point of blood. There has got to be something divine about it that causes the Creator of Heaven and earth to call forth intercessors to pray.

One thing I know for sure is that if God takes something seriously, then we ought to take it seriously too. Prayer is definitely one of those things.

A Call to Humility

We pray because we acknowledge that there is a Creator above us who knows infinitely more than we do and whose arms we are safe in. Prayer brings us into humble submission and if rightly intentioned, redirects our desires back to Him and His purposes.

Prayer is an act of the humble and no proud man can pray let alone pray in accordance with God's will.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

The above is Jesus' example of prayer. It outlines the desires of an individual to be led and to be provided for. It submits to the authority of God Himself and is in keeping with Jeremiah 10:23

Since Jesus is our model for Christian living, we take examples from the power and consistency of His prayer life and His life in ministry. In fact, they are one. Christ does nothing without God's approval and lives in perfect obedience, obedience which led Him to a cross.

Nothin' Wrong With a lil' Dependence

Modern day man has idolised independence and self-will (as prophesied) as opposed to dependence on God for everything (our daily bread). Independence is a counter blow to the standards God set for living. I mean, Proverbs 3:5-6!

Prayer reminds you that the rightful centre of all attention is actually God. That you are a vessel for His use, a beloved child whose Father knows best for them at all times. (This may sound off but it is true. God's ways are infinitely wiser than our own!). Prayer sets off as an act of surrender that then works at the innermost things of your being, touching at the dark places in your heart and building you up from the inside out.

Prayer is an act that truly humbles and whose dimensions grow deeper as they are explored.

Join me next week as I delve into the next part of this prayer series.

Let me know your thoughts down below!