Dear LifeSpring Family
As Pastor Gabe shared with us the prayer requests this past Sunday, it reminded me of what I read in my BSF notes on prayer. Allow me to share excerpts from my BSF noted on the Doctrine of Prayer.
“The Doctrine of Prayer”
When we draw near to Him, He draws near to us (James 4:8). We cannot overestimate the amazing privilege and responsibility of prayer.
Prayer is equally simple and complex. Most simply, prayer is talking to God. Christ broke the barrier between God and sinful people and made access to Holy God available to those who believe in Him. The Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings too deep for human words (Romans 8:26). All parts of the Godhead are actively engaged when you pray.
Prayer reflects a relationship with God. Your love for God and desire for Him draw you to prayer. God speaks in many ways – through His Word, creation, our circumstances, other people, through the Holy Spirit. In prayer, we speak to Him. Do you want to spend time with God, to listen and to speak to the One who knows the secrets of your heart? Prayer is more about surrendering to God than communicating our agenda.
Prayer expresses dependence on God. The depth and regularity of your prayers indicate how much you depend on God and how much you depend on yourself. When you pray, you acknowledge God’s attentive, active interest and involvement in your life.
Prayer connects people on earth with God, their Creator. People do not pray because they do not think rightly about God. Some reject God, and some ignore Him. They do not think God cares, listens to them, or will do anything for them. To fail to pray either ignores the reality that God exists or relegates Him as a distant being removed from daily life and real people. People often treat prayer as a last resort when all else fails. To fail to pray is to ignore a lifeline from God and to choose to live with only the limited resources of this world. What keeps you from praying? What does your prayer life reveal you believe about God?
Prayer can be as natural as breathing for a believer. A child of God needs neither fanfare nor formula to gain immediate access to the Sovereign of eternity. How do you feel when you receive a telephone call from someone you love? God loves it when you call out to Him.”