Ephesians 6:18 AMPC Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding on behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).
In the previous excerpt on the purpose of prayer, we looked into the fact that there was more to prayer than just asking for things and that we pray to know God’s will and get it done on earth and also pray for strength for the journey ahead. From the opening scripture, we see that praying at all times means that we need to pray on every occasion and in every season. This means we don’t only pray when there is trouble or we are in need. Again, many people have backslidden and lost their fire because we were told that anytime you are in need or have a problem, talk to God. As a result of this, we began to use God and dump Him. Whenever things are difficult, we are very committed, we serve, and are humble but the moment that problem is no longer there, our real colors begin to show.
When scripture says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 that we need to pray without ceasing, this is what it means; That our normal and unceasing disposition must be to yield, submit to and communicate with God. That communication doesn’t have to be a need request. Just spending time with the Lord. Have you ever fasted and prayed without talking about your current problems to God? Don’t only decide to fast and pray because there is major trouble. The original meaning of prayer is to come toward or face to face with God. It carries a notion of worship and an appeal for God’s presence and not just an appeal for God’s hand. This is the prayer where you touch God’s heart.
Once you reach God’s heart, you can get His hand.
However, many times in prayer for many Christians, we try to get His hand.
His hand refers to the things He has to offer, His gifts. However, His heart refers to who He is, His person.
Could this be the reason for the absence of much power in the church today compared to the early church? Look at this scripture; Philippians 2:21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. When Matthew 6:33 says, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you, it points to the same idea. That we need to seek God for who He is and not just what he can offer. It can be paraphrased as Seek His person and His gifts shall be added. In Jeremiah 33:3, the Bible says; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Note: He didn’t say call unto me and I will give you. It’s call to me and the answer He will give you is showing and telling you great and mighty things. It is in that showing we get those gifts. So prayer is more about getting God as a person than his gifts. I can understand why David would say God could take away his throne as a king or his wealth but never take His presence. David knew what was to be prioritized.
In the subject or course called communication, there are two major forms of communication; verbal and non-verbal. This is the same with prayer which is a communication with God. There is a kind of prayer that involves the use of words. But there is another which needs no words. It’s mind related. In Psalm 5:1-3, the psalmist says: Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. This means he called meditation prayer. Ephesians 3:20 also has this to say – just in case you are thinking that was the old testament- Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Ask is verbal while think is non-verbal. So thinking is also a prayer. Remember as a man thinketh so he is. Your thinking pattern can nullify your prayer. Guess what? You are constantly thinking so when scripture says to pray without ceasing, another meaning could be to think right always because thinking is a prayer.
Renew your mind on prayer and you’d understand why certain prayers are not answered. Knowing who you are praying to will influence greatly what you can experience in prayer. You must not only be seen as prayerful when you have a need. It only means when certain things are no longer a problem, we won’t see you there again. God is not a genie who is just there to grant our needs, He desires a relationship. That is the difference between going to a fetish priest versus going to God.
The Word In Clarity 