I love prayer. Anyone who knows me well knows that prayer is a passion of mine. I consider it a privilege to be able to talk freely and honestly to God about everything in my life; my fears, doubts, longings, desires, failures, victories, friends, family, petitions for others and myself ... oh, the list never ends!
I am so blessed that the Lord has called me to use certain gifts that He has given me to honor Him and bless others. This morning He really convicted and challenged me about how I use those gifts ... and when. What He taught me today is that in order to use those gifts effectively, I need to make sure of one thing: that I spend much time before Him in prayer before I even open my mouth.
No surprise to those of you who happen to read my blog occasionally, God brought this to my attention through my daily devotion from Tozer. Here it is.
April 4
Prayer: Long Before the Lord
But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded. --Exodus 34:34
It is written of Moses that he "went in before the Lord to speak with him...and he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel." This is the Biblical norm from which we depart to our own undoing and to the everlasting injury of the souls of men. No man has any moral right to go before the people who has not first been long before the Lord. No man has any right to speak to men about God who has not first spoken to God about men. [Emphasis mine] And the prophet of God should spend more time in the secret place praying than he spends in the public place preaching....
One swallow does not make a spring nor one hot day a summer; nor will a few minutes of frantic praying before service bring out the tender buds or make the flowers to appear on the earth. The field must be soaked in sunshine over a long period before it will give forth its treasures. The Christian's heart must be soaked in prayer before the true spiritual fruits begin to grow. The Root of the Righteous, 121-122.
"Lord, it seems like much of what we've been emphasizing all year requires that we slow down from our frantic pace. It takes great spiritual discipline to 'spend more time in the secret place praying than we spend in the public place preaching.' Quiet my heart today, slow me down I pray. Amen."
About Me
- Joyce
- I'm just an ordinary woman who loves an extraordinary God. I'm happily married and crazy in love with my adorable and hilarious husband, Jeff. My passion is seeing people receive healing and wholeness from Jesus ... nothing humbles or excites me more than being at the feet of my King watching Him do the amazing things only He can do. I am insanely and more-than-extravagantly blessed and surrounded by some of the most amazing friends I have ever known, all met at Crossroads in a city where I didn't know a single soul. Incredible. I am spontaneous, loud, borderline obnoxious, compassionate, kind, a quick and frequent laugher, and the queen of procrastination. I spend my life laughing in the face of storms and flying by the seat of my pants.
2 comments:
I find it hard to pray sometimes. Oh, I like to talk to God and that part isn't hard, but I find it hard to wait on Him, to hear His voice.
Sometimes I wait to hear from Him, and I don't hear anything. Other times, He speaks loud and clear.
I'm kinda of new at this.
What's your experience Joyce?
One could say talking is the same as praying. the only real difference is a show of respect. We all talk to god everyday, be it in our thoughts, or conversations. I see no difference. As for waiting for god to give a reply......lol you could be waiting till the cows come home. People who become to holy, seem to come up with new methods of doing the same thing. Talk, pray, sing, the only real important thing is to have a realationship with your god.
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