Tags
Attributes of God, Four steps of Prayer, Moms In Prayer International, Names of God, Omnicience, praise, prayer, Psalm 139, Sovereignty
“Good morning my little ray of sunshine!” This was the way my mother used to great me every morning as she woke me for school, and one that I carried on with my children as I woke them, or more often, they woke me! (I was blessed with some very early risers!) I was reminded of this as I sat in my cozy chair one recent morning, reading my Bible in preparation for prayer. The window directly in front of me faces southwest, and if I look to my left, I can see the sunrise colors through the front windows. The other morning was foggy, and when I looked up, the sky was glowing pink and orange, the sun’s rays being bounced and reflected across the entire sky. Then a beam of sunlight burst through the clouds and illuminated a tree outside of my window, making the drops of water on it sparkle. I praised God for what seemed to be a ray of sunshine he sent just for me.
This came to mind as I was thinking about the posts I promised on the Four Steps of Prayer. I am an Area Coordinator for Moms In Prayer, International, and as such I have the privilege of helping women start groups to pray together for children and schools and teaching them to use a specific method of prayer. This is based on a Biblical model for now we approach God, and is similar to the way many churches structure their worship services.
The first step is to praise God. It is to intentionally turn our attention to who He is as he has revealed Himself to us. Sometimes this is easy, when we see a thing of beauty in nature or the smile of a tousle-haired toddler as they greet us early in the morning. (Well, maybe that is not so easy, depending on how early it is and how many times we were up with them during the night!) But sometimes, when we are in pain, or anxious, disappointed, or any number of negative emotions, these can be like thick darkness that blot out any glimpse of our Creator. We can feel so enshrouded in a blanket of despair that we don’t believe any good thing can penetrate it. This is where having a habit of praying with structure can benefit us the most.
If I cannot see beyond my hurt and strife, I turn to Scripture to read about our almighty, gracious, loving, powerful God. I focus on some aspect or attribute of who He is. I read about the names He calls Himself- El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty), Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals), Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There), Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness), El Elyon (The Most High God), or Adonai (Lord, Master)- and His power revealed in His Word pierces the fog that envelops my mind. I meditate on His Sovereignty– Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. (Matthew 10:29) Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. (Psalm 139:16) – and I am reassured that He is in control.
As I turn my thoughts to who God is and focus on the truths He reveals about himself, I am taking my mind off of whatever seems so overwhelming to me, and allowing the Holy Spirit to bring to mind the truth. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. (2 Corinthians 2:9-10)
With my heart full of His overwhelming might, I can praise Him, my Lord and my God, for who He is. This brings Him glory and sets me on the path to effectual prayer.
This is not to say that it is wrong to cry out for help in our distress. Driving home from a Christian Concert recently, in the snow on a notorious Interstate the other night had me uttering prayers for safety with every big truck that came barreling past me. But just as we want our relationship with our children to be more than just them saying “gimme, gimme, gimme!”, God desires us to know Him and honor Him more.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Diane