Maturing in Prayer
“A mature disciple will exhibit consistent communication with and from God. He or she will make time daily to pray and listen to the voice of God.”
Bad habits are easier to fall into than developing good habits. Prayerlessness, ritualistic prayer, unbelieving prayer, and the lack of listening to God are common and easy patterns for most Christians. Consistent and meaningful communication with and from God are much harder patterns to forge into our lives. What can help us grow in this intimate relationship with Christ?
Let me remind us of Jesus’ metaphor for intimacy—the vine. In John 15 we read these words:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you (5-12, NIV).
Let me identify three factors that may help us to mature in our prayer relationship with God. First, we need to be convinced of the source of true life. Grape branches are dependent on the roots and main trunk of the plant. Unless they receive the nutrients through this system they will wither and die. This is an obvious metaphor for our dependency upon the Lord. Jesus puts it this way: “apart from me you can do nothing.” Our problem is we do not really believe that in the practical. We live as if everything depended on us. If we think and plan and scheme we will be all right. If we work hard and network with the right people, life will turn out OK. If only we could have a conversion of our minds so that we truly understand that anything worthy of eternity flows from being connected with Jesus. With that burning conviction, we will continually seek out the ear and mouth of God.
Secondly, we are invited to remain close to God and ask anything we wish. That almost sounds like the story of the Genie in the bottle. God is granting us three wishes. We start to make out our Christmas list of goodies that we think will make us happy. But before you get too far on your wish list, remember that the gracious invitation is for those who stay close to him. In his presence, our hearts are transformed. Our selfish motives begin to melt away and we begin to adopt His heart. Listen to the call of Jesus to draw close. He wants to change you and bless you according to his wise and divine plan.
A third transforming concept is that we are loved by God. Often we see God like the frightening Wizard behind the curtain in the Land of Oz. If our picture of God were more accurate, we would run to his extended arms. Continually through our day we would hug the Savior through prayer. He wants us to stay in that love relationship. He doesn’t want us to cut ourselves off from the intimacy of the vine. He warns us that disobedience, particularly the disobedience of not loving others, is what will distance us from the loving relationship with the Father.
Let these three ideas seep deep into our consciousness. As they simmer on the stove, we will find ourselves drawn increasingly into the prayer room. We will delight to listen at the feet of Jesus. We will gratefully come in and participate in His work through your intercessions. Will you grow with me?
Pastor Ed
|
