GOING DEEPER WITH GOD

THE HEART OF PRAYER

This study will challenge each of us, to ask ourselves are we wholly following Jesus and if not what is keeping us from this. This study begins with taking a look at our prayer life. Do our prayers please God or could we be so focused on our wants we have neglected to truly seek God's desire. We will deal with many subjects along the way that may be hindering our walk with Jesus and keeping us from receiving all that God has for us.

Today, it is about our prayer life. In the Old Testament God separated His people into two groups, those who sought after Him and those who did not seek after Him. To begin let's turn to Isaiah 65. I ask that you turn and read this chapter. 

In the beginning of Isaiah 65, God says, I was sought by those who did not ask for Him. He was found by those who did not seek Him. And He called out to a nation who was not called by His name. (This is the gentile nation that came to Him, through the cross of Christ Jesus).

Then God begins to address His people who did not seek after Him. He calls them a rebellious people, who are up to no good, seeking their own ways, a people who provoke Him to anger because they had made for themselves high places to worship and sacrifice to false gods, gods of the pagan nations around them. Today we would say, some have left the One True Living God to worship false religions who worship false gods, some have turned to worship a god of their own imagination (to worship a god they know of but have no personal relationship with Jesus the Son of God) and many have chosen to worship the god of this world and still more have given themselves over to the worship of satan. Look at Isaiah 65:13-14 a promise to His servants who seek after Him and listens for His voice, to hear and obey:

Isaiah 65:13-14 Therefore thus says the LORD GOD: Behold, My servants shall eat, But you shall be hungry; Behold, My servants shall drink, But you shall be thirsty; Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, but you shall cry for sorrow of heart, And wail for grief of spirit,

Once more God addresses His rebellious people, He begins to speak through His prophet coming judgment, then this verse speaks of those who judgment is coming:

Zephaniah 1:6 Those who have turned back from following the LORD, And have not sought the LORD, nor inquired of Him.

In 2 Chronicles 19:3 God is addressing King Jehoshaphat, through His prophet Jehu. In verse 3 he begins to speak the good things God had seen in Jehoshaphat then he speaks these words of what he had done: "and have prepared your heart to seek God". See those words "prepared your heart", these words will be looked at again as the study continues so that we may learn how do we prepare our heart.

But today we all must examine our own hearts, and ask ourselves "Do I truly seek You my Lord, or do I just give You lip service? Have I given You all of me, my life, my time, wholly following You with a surrendered heart?"

In the next few weeks, I hope we can answer these questions each of us individually plus more. I am beginning with "A Heart Of Prayer", or you might call it "PURITY OF PRAYER". Because prayer is essential to every Christian, our prayer life grows as we grow in Christ. But let us always remember God is not looking for elegant prayers but simple prayers that come from the heart flood His throne room. I was reminded of what my pastor once said, "say what the Holy Spirit leads then hush, be silent, even it is one sentence." I believe that there are times when Christians have this thought that the more words and ground they can cover will bring them closer to God's heart. Yet, the prayer of the humble needs only to call out His name, "Help me Lord your servant!" And He is there. 

Remember Jesus' parable about the Pharisee and Tax Collector? Turn to Luke 18:9-14 read how Jesus speaks of how the self-righteous Pharisee bragged on his good deeds and then look at verses:

13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me a sinner".

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other.........

God desires to see a humble heart  verses a lengthy tongue. Now I am not saying our lengthy prayers are self-righteous, I have prayed long, short and in between. I am encouraging us that it isn't the length of our prayers that God looks at but the heart in our prayers. Are our prayers coming from a pure heart with the right motives!

For yourselves read the scriptures above in your word, let God speak to you in your quiet time. Do a word search of the word "seek" and see where the Holy Spirit leads you.

As I am studying this along with you and gaining new insight, for my own prayer life, I am looking forward to how God will lead us. In the times we are living in, it vital that we seek God more, that our faith become stronger, and that we fearlessly jump in to go deeper with God. Next week we will look at "THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER".

Have blessed week.