I think if I were to conduct a random survey and ask people if they had ever prayed, most of them would answer, “Yes”. If I asked the reason for the prayers, the most common answer would probably be that the person had a need that was beyond their capability to meet, so they turned to God.
As I reflect on my own prayer life, I am so humbled by the thought that God wants to hear from me. Why? Because as I pondered this unfathomable concept, I thought about the majesty of the Lord, the relative insignificance of me, and this desire of this Almighty God to have a personal connection with me. The Lord desires to be my prayer partner! Completely mind-blowing!
What do I know about this divine prayer partner of mine?
- My God is the CREATOR of everything!
- “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” – John 1:3
- Truths worth pondering:
- God made the universe. All the stars and planets, comets and meteors, and all that is beyond the universe’s expanse of which we have no knowledge of the vastness.
- “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” – Genesis 1:1
- “And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.” – Genesis 1:16
- God created life from nothing. He simply spoke these into existence.
- Plant life: “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.” – Genesis 1:11
- Birds and sea creatures: “And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” – Genesis 1:21
- Land animals: “And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.” – Genesis 1:24
- Mankind: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” – Genesis 1:27
- God made the universe. All the stars and planets, comets and meteors, and all that is beyond the universe’s expanse of which we have no knowledge of the vastness.
- This is my divine prayer partner!
- My God is OMNIPOTENT… all-powerful!
- “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26
- When I ask God for something, I am asking the One who can do ANYTHING! Think of what that means! ANYTHING! God can do anything, therefore, He can answer any prayer I bring before Him!! Nothing is outside of His power to do!
- This is my divine prayer partner!
- My God is OMNISCIENT… all-knowing!
- “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” – 1 John 3:20
- If I ask amiss, God speaks to my heart through His Word. He teaches me what is right in His sight and gives me a better understanding of how to pray in accordance to His perfect will. I know that He will answer in ways that are best for me and for those for whom I intercede in prayer.
- This is my divine prayer partner!
- My God is GOOD!
- “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” – Nahum 1:7
- God will never answer OR withhold an answer to prayer to harm me. He is my SAVIOUR! He died for me on the cross to provide a way for me to have an eternal relationship with me. He didn’t save me to abandon me, reject me, or ignore me. Jesus said He came to give me an abundant life full of joy! (John 10:10, 15:11)
- This is my divine prayer partner!
- My God is GRACIOUS!
- “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” – Ephesians 2:8
- God’s grace means that He has given me what I definitely don’t deserve, and that is salvation through His precious Son, Jesus Christ. There is nothing I could ever do to earn His forgiveness for my sins, yet He forgave me at the cross of Calvary simply by my acceptance of His Son, Jesus, as my Saviour and Lord. I now have eternal life and a promised forever home in heaven!
- This is my divine prayer partner!
- My God is MERCIFUL!
- “O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.” – Psalm 136:3
- God’s mercy means that the punishment I deserve for my sins, He withholds. I deserve death and hell because of my sinful state, but because of His mercy, He offers me forgiveness and everlasting life instead!
- I don’t deserve an answer from God, much less the “right” to even approach Him with what is on my heart, but because of His mercy toward me, I am told I can “boldly” come to God.
- “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16
- This is my divine prayer partner!
- My God is LOVE!
- “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” – 1 John 4:8
- God doesn’t listen to and answer my prayers because…
- I deserve it. I don’t.
- I earned it. I didn’t.
- He needs to do it. He doesn’t.
- He has to do it. He doesn’t.
- God answers my prayers because He loves me! He wants the best for me; He delights in my joy; He sees His beloved Son in me… oh, this list could go on and on. The fact that the God described above knows my name is astonishing; the fact that He desires me to pray to Him without ceasing is incredible, and the fact that He loves me with an everlasting love is overwhelming. (Jeremiah 31:3)
- This is my divine prayer partner!
This is by no means an exhaustive list of the attributes of God! I could list so many more! But even this short list makes me pause and ponder about the Lord I love and serve. The God who spoke ALL things into existence, who could create anything His mind could conceive, who lacks nothing, who needs nothing from me at all, created me because He wants a unique personal relationship with me, and He wants to bless me! All He asks of me is to ask of Him!
Prayer is direct and personal communication between God and His children. It is not something to take lightly. The Lord is not a magic genie who grants wishes whenever I feel like asking Him. Prayer is my way of connecting with the heart of God, and then He speaks to me through His Holy Word. Whether I offer up prayers of praise and worship, petitions for help, or just sharing what’s on my heart, my prayers to the Lord never fall on deaf ears. Instead, they fall upon a heart whose love knows no bounds!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! Thy wings shall my petition bear To Him whose truth and faithfulness engage the waiting soul to bless. And since He bids me seek His face, believe His Word and trust His grace, I’ll cast on Him my every care, And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer! (from "Sweet Hour of Prayer" by William Bradbury)
“I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.” – Psalm 116:1-2
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God is waiting to hear from you. Why not have a chat with Him right now!