The Mystery of Prayer (Part 3)

The Fellowship of Prayer
Bouncing off our discussion of Wednesday, it is important to remember that prayer is not a subordinate going to their commander for marching orders. This is the wonderful, surprising, majestic reality of prayer, and an amazing part of prayer’s mystery—prayer is a hurting child turning to the Father that loves them. When we pray, it must be under the profound understanding that God has powerful concern for His dear child.

A.    God Cares
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
Hebrews 4:15 reminds us that He was tested like we are and knows the struggles we face! He cared enough to walk life so that He could be a priest to us! In Matthew 6, Jesus says the Father’s care for us dwarfs the birds and lilies. He values us so much more! He loves us so much more that this love compels His care for us. We do not go to a distant High Priest separated by social status or ecclesiastical authority. We go to Christ who cares for us with all His heart.
Perhaps the great issue of Matthew 6 is not that we don’t believe in God, but that we don’t recognize just how deeply and passionately the Father loves His children. Listen, “He spared not His own Son!” Do you think He has stopped caring for you? Never!

B. God Is Able
Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
When we go (Heb.4:16) to His throne of grace, we find Him more than sufficient for the heartaches, challenges, disappointments and pains of life! “He is able, more than able…” We can rest in that. And that is key—because trust is the opposite of anxiety! In Matthew 6, Jesus repeatedly challenges us, “Do not be anxious!” Over and over He repeats that theme, then Paul reaffirms it “Stop being anxious!” Instead, go to God in prayer! He is able, Shadrach, Meschech and Abednego confirmed by the fiery furnace. “Our God is able…” and we act like we actually believe that when we pray.

Key
Once again, we see these things held in suspension by the fact that God does not always seem to act on His love. But know this—we can’t just settle for “any” god. We need a God who both cares deeply for our hurts, and is capable to do something about them. And then, we just trust.

Well does the song remind us, “In Times Like These… we need a Savior”
We might want answers, or strength, or satisfaction, or self-sufficiency, but what we need is the Savior. My prayer for you as you shoulder the overwhelming task of life and ministry is that you will routinely find yourself turning to the sufficient Savior for the strength, wisdom, and direction needed for a task that is too large in a life that is too big. Why?

“Nothing of eternal value is ever accomplished apart from prayer.”

We are those who often live lives of quiet desperation, and who desperately need our God to step into center stage of our lives with the grace and strength and help we need. May we look to Him for our supply.

Feel free to share some of the joys and frustrations that have marked your own prayer life.