What is Prayer?

Genesis 15:1-6

It has been months since my pastor’s sermon and it has not stopped shouting out to me; I’ve got a love relation problem with none other than Jesus Christ.  It’s not that he does not love me or that I do not love Him, but after that sermon, it has become clear that my conversation with Jesus, is not the same as with my wife, who is my closest friend.  It became clear that most of my chats with the Lord are often about the needs of others, it’s not dialogue, it is one sided, it’s not stopping to listen to Jesus, who has called me His friend.  He also called all who abide in Him friends, in John 15:15,16, Jesus tells us we did not choose Him but he chose us, and in verse fifteen Jesus calls us His friends.

Prayer is nothing more or less than two friends having discussion, both are interested in what the other has to say, and when one talks the other listens intently to hear the heart of their friend.  Ray gave this example of your friend telling you about the area your are going into that it is full of land mines, but your friend has a path through them, all you have to do is listen and follow his steps; often we get blown-up because we do not hear our friends warning.

Abram and God are having an exchange, they are having a discussion, Abram has just won the biggest battle of his life, against four kings with many more weapons and men.  On his way back from the battle, he hung out with Melchizedek, king of Salem, the priest of God Most High, and was blessed by him.  Now Abram is alone with God and this is the dialogue; “After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”  But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you gave me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”  And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir,” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him:  “This man shall not be your heir, your very own son shall be your heir.”  And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.”  Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”  And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”  (Genesis 15:1-6)

We are given many examples of prayer in the Bible, but what you just read are two friends sharing their hearts with one another.  This is not one telling the other what he wants and walking away, it is an exchange, it’s a deep concern, and it is a love relationship.  I have been a learner for many years, and with age comes an understanding that I know so little of the deeper things of God.  The apostle John shares these truths in John 15:9,10, 15, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Abide in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abided in his love.”  V. 15, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”

I must tell you that Jesus has a plan for your life and it’s a good plan, He knows where all the minefields are and has no desire to see you or the ones you love get blown-up.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice