How BIG is your God?

“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. “Therefore do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him. Matthew 6:7-8

This week I am meditating on what it really means to pray. I have to admit... this is the weakest point of my spiritual life and I really don't know why. I mean I know why...(I'm lazy, its hard work, it requires me to exercise faith, and the list goes on...) And I think this morning that if prayer is to the believer what oxygen is to our life... I'm sucking it up... literally. I mean I do pray daily...but is it really the kind of prayers that move the heart of God and shape & deepen my inner life? I don't think so. Where are my prayers of desperation and dependence...where are the prayers that call on the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob to come and show Himself mighty on my behalf?

And then I read scripture like this one today..."for your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him." Great ...I'm off the hook....see God you tell me that I don't have to pray because your already know what I need and you will take care of it! But that's not really what God is saying. Maybe that is the case if your prayer life has become a laundry list of needs and wants!!!! But that's not God's intention for prayer. Im really coming to understand that intimate prayer before God is about coming face to face with WHO HE IS ... its about me recognizing who He is and who I am not! Man how I need to be reminded that I know I am NOT...but I know I AM. You see prayer is not something you DO for God ...it is something you get to share with Him. A face to face encounter! A time where I can be still and hear his voice and where He can remind me of just who it is that holds onto me daily. Listen prayer is important not because of what it does for God...but rather what it does in me! It changes everything! It changes how I view my life, my struggles, my family, my ministry, it changes everything! Bottom line ... I am coming to understand that God calls us to pray not because he needs to be acknowledged and have his ego stroked...no....its for us ... so that we might be reminded WHO HE IS and who we are not!!!!

Not Ashamed....Bill