Sooner or later, we all find value in prayer. Some of you may pray generally to an unknown entity, but we all pray as we go through challenges in life.
As mortar rounds crept through our base camp on Artillery Hill in Pleiku, Vietnam, I distinctly recall praying for God’s safety and protection.
That didn’t turn me into a devoted Christian, but I was relieved that a piece of shrapnel landed a few feet above my head rather than in my frozen torso.
These days, I recognize God not only protected me that early morning, but He also had beautiful plans for me going forward.
Let’s address the idea of properly positioning our prayers.
In essence, we need to know where to direct our prayers. We also must determine what we should pray about. And finally, we’ll look at our way of lifting up our requests as well.
As I mentioned earlier, many direct their requests to an unknown entity. That’s fine, but I question the wisdom in reaching out for a helping hand that does not even exist.
God does exist according to His Word, which assures me that He is real even though I cannot see Him.
I know my Heavenly Father is “the real deal” and I talk to Him every day! We don’t have two-way conversations, but my time spent in the early morning, during the day, and as I prepare to rest my head are both intentional and intimate.
After all, He knows us better than we know ourselves!
Listen to these words of Jesus found in His high priestly prayer to His Father found in John 17:25-26: “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
That’s an invitation to all who know Him to talk to Him directly. There’s no need to have someone else pray for you.
Almighty God is available to all who place their trust in Him. He’s available in all aspects of our lives — our business, family and community.
As far as my business dealings, I find myself praying for my clients and their needs frequently. Not for my personal gain, but for God’s blessing on their lives.
Every morning starts in thanking Him for His wonderful blessings and provision immediately followed by prayer for our family.
And, as He puts community members on my heart, I lift their needs and concerns up to my Lord as well.
There have been times in my life when I felt the need to reach out to God flat on my face. The prostrate position is a humble one and there are certainly times when we would be wise to come to the Lord in great humility.
For years I knelt in prayer, but my knees can’t handle long stints in that position anymore. The good news is God knows when we’re kneeling in our heart and our physical position truly isn’t critical to reaching Him.
As a parent, I still long for those special times I spend with our daughter. And, I know God longs for those times we will spend with Him as well
Yes, I’m certain He longs to spend time with all His creation and He has all the time in His heavenly abode to listen to our pleas and praises.
Perhaps you sense something missing in your life. It may well be a God-shaped void.
Sooner or later, we all will face God. Some of you may delay that encounter until moments before your last earthly breath, while others will unfortunately deny Him to the very end.