Pillar #1: Your Relationship with God | Week #1: The Power of Prayer
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| "What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?" |
Talking is so central to life - maybe that's why God put our mouths in the middle of our faces! Ha! No, but seriously, besides taking their first step, a baby's first word is a monumental event for every family because speaking is the most intimate and personal form of individual expression. This is by divine design. We are made in His image and likeness; so just as God said "let there be..." and there was, each of us has the same declarative ability to shape our realities based on what we say.
The problem for many of us is that while we emit a lot of words, often we're saying a bunch of nothing -- and our realities reflect that. We shoot verbal buckshot, when what would be more appropriate is a well-aimed slug. Truly powerful speech is the kind that manifests itself as verbal communion with God, otherwise known as prayer. In Matthew 16:19, the essence of this prayer is crystalized where Jesus said, "And I will give unto thee the keys to the kingdom; and whatsover thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose in earth shalt be loosed in heaven." You have the keys!
King Solomon shed some more light on this in Proverbs 18:21: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." In other words: THERE IS POWER IN YOUR MOUTH! So in the words of Arnold on the 80s sitcom Different Strokes, "What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?"
The most critical words we speak each day are the words we speak with our Heavenly Father. So, as we put our lives in order in 2012, here's a simple guideline for effective prayer as taught by our Lord Jesus:
Adoration: "Our Father, which are in heaven. Hallowed be thy name." Begin your time of prayer by acknowleding how great God is. Magnify Him larger than anything you may be facing. He's bigger than every problem inside of you and outside of you. Give emphasis to the "hallowed" or holy name of Jesus. It may seem old fashioned, but there is still power in the name of Jesus. Every knee still must bow, and every tongue must confess that Jesus Christ is LORD. Blessing the holy name of Jesus calls into subjection everything in your life that would exalt itself above His name.
Declaration: "Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." This is where you use the power of your tongue to begin commanding circumstances to conform themselves to the governmental order of the Kingdom of God. You speak to powers and principalities -- to the governmental system of this world -- to remind them that there is a SUPREME power, and that power resides in the KING of kings, and the LORD of lords. Command power brokers to bow to the sovereignty of God Who lives in you. This has the power to impact not only your life, but the lives of those around you!
Supplication: "Give us this day our daily bread." God is rich unto all who call upon Him, and He delights in giving His children good gifts. Ask God for whatever you need, whatever you want. Don't be shy. God delights when we ask him for the hard things. And don't ask God for cookies -- you can bake those for yourself! Ask Him for things that are beyond your own abilities. Ask in faith, and stand amazed at how willing He is to "do exceeding, abundantly above all you could ever ask or think."
Confession: "And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." This time of vulnerability in God's presence is a good time to admit what you and He already know -- you ain't all of that. You've messed up -- you've messed over others. Confess in as much detail as possible the things you know you have done to displease God. You cannot be forgiven if you are not willing to forgive. Genuinely forgive others so that your prayers are not hindered.
Petition: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." God's guidance for each day is paramount. Our daily paths are often lined with concealed pitfalls engineered by the enemy for our destruction, but we take great joy in the fact that "surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler" (Psalm 91:3). The plan of the enemy will come to nothing when we appropriate God's protection and guidance in prayer.
Adoration: "For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory." Finish up the way you started -- by making God bigger than anything you may face. It's okay to "stroke God's ego". Remind Him how wonderful He is and how much you take comfort in riding in His arms.
There is power in your mouth! Use it wisely.
Not enough practical teaching on this. I often hear God's messenger's saying this is the model prayer, but go no further. I can count on one hand how many teachings I've heard that explained what the prayer may look like aside from reciting it. Was going to do an individual study. Long overdue for it. You've given me a head start. Thanks, Bishop. Good stuff.
WOW just read this today, will be sharing this on facebook and with co workers, powerful!