Issues of My Payer Life

I'm having one of those weeks. You know them. Heck, I bet you have them too sometimes. The best laid plans to be disciplined, guided, grounded in Christ, etc. seem to go awry. What happens? I'm studying prayer, trying to figure out what is it about my relationship with God that needs to improve. I'm asking myself how I can relate to God more effectively. In the process this week, I ran across some notes I'd assembled in my journal.

Foundations of Prayer

What to ask of God? - 1 Kings 8:56:60
Solomon prayed for the people, giving us a pattern for prayer – what to ask for. Ask for God’s presence. Ask for the desire to God’s will in everything. Ask for the desire and ability to obey God. Ask for help with each day’s needs. Ask for the nations. How closely does this model for prayer reflect my own prayers? How close are these five requests to our individual hearts?

Serious Prayer - Ezra 8:33
Ezra knew that God would provide, but he also knew that God’s blessings are appropriated through prayer. Fasting reminds us of our dependence on God, and reinforces our commitment. Prayer becomes spiritual preparation for the journey. How spiritually prepared am I for the journey God has me on?

What Prayer Clarifies - Nehemiah 1:5
Nehemiah fasted and prayed with praise, thanksgiving, repentance, specific requests and commitment. Such prayers clarify the problem(s) we face, God’s power and desire to help, and our role and responsibility. With prayer, difficult decisions fall into proper perspective. Appropriate actions need to follow. Haven't I experienced difficult decisions falling into perspective after praying? Wasn't I relieved? Did I recognize that as obedience?

Prayer to Praise - Psalm 54:3-4
David poured out his heart to God, and expressed his fears and distress as well as his trust and joy --- at the same time. Many of his prayers reflected this pattern. How able am I to we to express my distress --- and joy, simultaneously?

Keys to Effective Prayer - Mark 9:25-29
Prayer is the key that unlocks faith in our lives. Effective prayer requires both an attitude – complete dependence – and an action – asking. There is no substitute for prayer, especially in circumstances that seem impossible. How effective are my prayers? What about my prayer life leaves me feeling really dissatisfied?

Jesus’ Prayer in the Garden - Mark 14:33-36
Jesus expressed his true feelings, but reaffirmed his desire to do God’s will. He was aware of what God’s will would cost him, and stood ready to pay the price. What does my commitment to God cost you? Does it cost me enough? How willing am I to pay the price? How much has this been discussed in prayer?

What Hinders Prayer - 1 Timothy 2:8
Anger and controversy make prayer difficult (they’re already displeasing to God). Jesus said we should interrupt our prayers, if necessary, to make peace with others (Matthew 5:23-24). How do I understand this? What am I doing with it in my life? What if “making peace” is an impossible task, outside of our control?

Common Problems in Prayer - James 4:2-3
James says the most common problems in prayer are not asking, asking for the wrong things or asking for the wrong reasons. How can I make sure that these problems don’t exist in my prayer life? How would I know if I were asking for the wrong things or for the wrong reasons? What would I do about that if I did know?

Jesus’ Longest Prayer - John 17:1-25
Jesus prayed for the disciples and for all of us. Unpack this prayer. Who does Jesus pray for? What does He ask God for on their behalf? Why does this prayer seem so incredibly sobering to me? What is it about this prayer that leaves me awestruck?

I'm no sure why I wanted to share this today. I guess it's what I'm wrestling with. God, help me understand me. It seems like a simple request. Yet it results in a never-ending journey.