Revelation
In my strivings to have a more prayerful life I have been trying to be more specific in my prayers. Instead of just saying, "thank You for this day and all the blessings that You give", I am trying to list those blessings. I am making efforts to pray with purpose rather than just pray from habit. And so, I have been studying about prayer and meditating on prayer, reading about prayer and most of all, praying about prayer. I so desperately want my prayer life to be pleasing to God, an integral part of an intimate relationship with Him.
This process has led me to ask God for revelation. I have asked Him to show me the attitudes and thoughts, even the secret ones, that hinder my prayers. Psalm 66:18 tells me that sins hidden in my heart, sin that is "cherished" will keep God from listening. I had never thought of "cherishing" sin before but the more I thought about it the more I realized that cherished sins are those sins we justify, those sins that are always explained with, "I know I shouldn't but . . ." or "I probably shouldn't even say this but. . ." Those sins are the ones that I continue to commit even when I know they are wrong. I am cherishing them, keeping them in my heart and they are coming between me and my God. I must no longer "cherish" those sins if I want my prayers to be heard.
I also asked God to reveal other behaviors that are detrimental to our relationship. He tells me that when my prayers are asked in doubt, He will give me nothing. (James 1:6-8) I often find myself asking God in a sort of "well I know you probably won't but if you could . . ." type of attitude. God says my prayers will never be effective unless I ask ---believing. God also revealed to me that if I ask for selfish or wrong motives, the result will be the same as the doubting prayer. James 4:1-4 says that if my prayers are motivated by selfish desires, if I quarrel and fight, I will receive nothing. The point of asking God is to get answers and doubt and selfishness only guarantee the answer will be "no".
Proverbs 21:13 tells me that my intimate relationship with God will suffer if I am not compassionate toward others. In order to have a successful prayer life, I have to be benevolent. God and me is also about me and others. I know from passages like Mark 11:25 that unless I stand before God having forgiven my brother, I will stand before God unforgiven. If my horizontal relationships are tattered and torn so will my vertical relationship be.
Through His Word, God has revealed His desires for me. I pray God will teach me to forgive, teach me to believe, teach me to obey, teach me to love, teach me to feel compassion so that He and I may have the best relationship possible---the relationship of Father and daughter, of Bride and Groom, of Redeemer and redeemed. My prayer for you is the same.
Peace
Neva
" . . .and God heard them for their prayer reached heaven, His holy dwelling place."
II Chronicles 30:27
This process has led me to ask God for revelation. I have asked Him to show me the attitudes and thoughts, even the secret ones, that hinder my prayers. Psalm 66:18 tells me that sins hidden in my heart, sin that is "cherished" will keep God from listening. I had never thought of "cherishing" sin before but the more I thought about it the more I realized that cherished sins are those sins we justify, those sins that are always explained with, "I know I shouldn't but . . ." or "I probably shouldn't even say this but. . ." Those sins are the ones that I continue to commit even when I know they are wrong. I am cherishing them, keeping them in my heart and they are coming between me and my God. I must no longer "cherish" those sins if I want my prayers to be heard.
I also asked God to reveal other behaviors that are detrimental to our relationship. He tells me that when my prayers are asked in doubt, He will give me nothing. (James 1:6-8) I often find myself asking God in a sort of "well I know you probably won't but if you could . . ." type of attitude. God says my prayers will never be effective unless I ask ---believing. God also revealed to me that if I ask for selfish or wrong motives, the result will be the same as the doubting prayer. James 4:1-4 says that if my prayers are motivated by selfish desires, if I quarrel and fight, I will receive nothing. The point of asking God is to get answers and doubt and selfishness only guarantee the answer will be "no".
Proverbs 21:13 tells me that my intimate relationship with God will suffer if I am not compassionate toward others. In order to have a successful prayer life, I have to be benevolent. God and me is also about me and others. I know from passages like Mark 11:25 that unless I stand before God having forgiven my brother, I will stand before God unforgiven. If my horizontal relationships are tattered and torn so will my vertical relationship be.
Through His Word, God has revealed His desires for me. I pray God will teach me to forgive, teach me to believe, teach me to obey, teach me to love, teach me to feel compassion so that He and I may have the best relationship possible---the relationship of Father and daughter, of Bride and Groom, of Redeemer and redeemed. My prayer for you is the same.
Peace
Neva
" . . .and God heard them for their prayer reached heaven, His holy dwelling place."
II Chronicles 30:27
posted by Neva | 6:19 AM
20 Comments:
Neva,
I have been trying to comment all morning and couldn't--why wouldn't it let me?
Jean
Jean,
Yours is the first one to post. I had nine emails this morning complaining about the same thing. I think I have it fixed now. For those of you who emailed---thanks for the comments, sorry for the technical difficulties.
Peace
Neva
God will always reveal to us if we just ask. Great thoughts today, Neva
Carlos
neva-
I hope (the biblical kind) that your prayer life increases. I'd pray about it but you may be ahead of me on the prayer scale.
Your desire to be more godly is one we all [should] desire.
Neva,
I tried to post this morning, too. Glad you got it fixed. This revelation post is very thought provoking. I have never asked God to reveal anything to me and now I am thinking I should.
Love
Pat
Didn't you and I talk about this? About asking God to show us our weaknesses, our unforgiving hearts, our stubborn sinfulness?
You answered all my questions and more besides.
Thank you friend,
Rachel
And God hears our prayers, they reach up to heaven.
Cool!
Dan
We must be careful when we ask for revelation, we may not like what we get.
Carlos
David's prayer in Psalm 139 was so challenging. It was a prayer of revelations too. It's a risky prayer. Don't pray it if you don't mean it.
"Lord, test me."
I fear that in our haste to acknowledge sin causing a problem in our relationship with God and in our lives, we may encourage the thought 'God does not hear' sinners when they pray.
He hears us not matter what and longs to answer our needs. Sin gets in the way. and the selfishness gets in the way. But, God does reach through sin.
The two men in Luke 18 are a contrast. But both are sinners. One just admits it. God hears that kind of prayer. If we are open to His grace He will hear us. Should we grow yes but we don't have to wait until we have our ducks in a row to think He will hear us and answer. He longs to give us more than we deserve.
James
James
There is a difference between hearing and listening. Scripture specifically speaks of things that can hinder our prayers, things that will keep our prayers from "being heard". I never believed that meant God could literally not "hear" them, but that they rather were dismissed as if our very sinfulness inhibited their flight to the Father or He chose to dismiss them.
All of us are sinful and all of us have areas we need to work on. I agree we do not have to "have all our ducks in a row" in order to be heard (answered) but we do have to pray with a certain attitude, a certain heart--not one that is necessarily perfect but one that is looking to God, striving to please Him, wanting to do His will. I believe scripture teaches this.
He desires to give us more than we can imagine, to prepare us for works of service and to bless us beyond belief. But, He also expects us to give our hearts to Him.
In my quest to become more Christlike, a healthy spiritual self-assessment was required. I needed God to show me how to be a better christian. Through His Word, He did just that. He may very well reveal something else to others who are seeking.
Peace
Neva
Neva,
Thank you for your continued thoughts. My concern was not what you understood and had experienced. I amen you.
I sometimes find in myself and have heard from countless others the fear of rejection for a lack of perfection.
incredible post, you really make a person think, thanks for the reminder!!
In hind site, I have been thankful for unanswered prayers. Right now, I am having a hard time being patient for Him to answer my prayers and for accepting it if He is answering.
love ya,
Kathy
neva,
I am with you. The bible says there are some things that do indeed hinder our prayers, like husbands being unkind to their wives. God is good to reveal these shortcomings to us so that our prayers are no longer hindered. Sister, you are spot on.
Interested Bystander
Thank you for this, Neva
I need a revelation too.
Shari
What I tried to say was that I think you are very brave to ask God to make you so transparent. I think I am afraid to ask that. But, I admire your courage so much. Hopefully I will get there some day. I am so glad I found your blog. Every post is a real blessing.
Love
Jean
I am always grateful for all that He reveals to me through His word. That is the standard by which I revise and change my life. Sometimes God uses others, like you dear Neva. Thank you for being such a wise encouragement.
Love
Yvonne
Neva,
Doesn't the bible say we don't have because we dont ask? I believe it does, therefore, it is totally appropriate to ask Him to reveal areas of growth. Othrewise we all just walk around in our own little worlds, thinking we are doing okay,and we become masters at mediocrity. We never get any better because we are too busy to see and too shallow and lacadaisical to ask God toshow us. I think this is a great post and a great habit to get into.
Blessings
Corinne
Praise God for all His revelations---that is how we know what needs changing.
I like it.
Jeneane
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