Even though at times my prayer is vague, it has been continuous. I have variously defined how, why, and what I need strength for, but most often it is for the sake of His name. Here is a short prayer I often pray:
“Lord, for the glory of Father, and the sake of His holy name, may I be strong in you Jesus. Grant me gospel strength to live in the gospel and to possess great gospel wisdom in any and every situation, Amen.”
Sometimes, slightly modified, this is a prayer before I answer the phone, sometimes it is a prayer before I walk in the house, and most often it is the prayer as I get out of bed. I believe this is a good request. Yet I find myself being prayerless in my prayers, especially this frequent prayer. Perverting an otherwise good prayer by heartless repetition is dangerous. Great danger rests in the subtle morphing of the prayer, as strength is requested for its own sake. Requesting strength for the sake of being stalwart and mighty extends well beyond the borders of self-adulation. Sadly, my continual appeal has become a plea for the difficult to become easy, with comfort in mind, not God’s glory.
I am rebuked in my sin. Thank you Jesus. Father, grant me repentance, may I then desire your glory and not my own. May my prayer for strength be a request to stand strong in your might. May my request be that God's glory be known. May I be prayerful in my praying. May you correct me when I stray.
So now I ask you:
- What is the most common prayer of your heart?
- Have you been prayerless in this prayer?
- How has your flesh perverted this prayer to meet its own ends?
1 comment:
Hey BJ,
First off, congrats on the coming baby boy. He is going to be beat up a lot by his sisters, but he'll be all the better for it.
I think the thing I pray for myself the most is that God would keep me faithful. Just, "keep me, Lord." Especially in times of doubt, it has been the only thing I have been able to pray. But, like you point out, it often gets perverted by my sin. I pray that God would keep me, then just sort of give up, expecting Him to work round me without working through me. A verse that has helped me fight this lazy sanctification has been 1 Peter 1:5. "...who by god's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
His power through my faith (which depends entirely upon Him, but nevertheless requires my effort and participation).
Love you brother, and look forward to seeing you this summer. Say hi to the girls for me.
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