[Word Count: 1166]
Restoration
Things are becoming quite exciting! You have heard GOD's Call through the Gospel; you have received Divine Grace in the form(s) of faith, repentance and humility...the Image of Christ which was lost in the Garden of Eden is now being restored to you! You may or may not feel the difference, but those around you will.
The Second Mighty Work
Faith in the Written Word (the Bible) inspires faith in the Living Word: Jesus Christ; this is the First Mighty Work that GOD the Father accepts from you. This births in you the Second Mighty Work in which you will continue for the rest of Eternity: PRAYER.
Like Saving Faith, Prayer is a universe...an encyclopedia of riches you can never exhaust! Once again, therefore, i will make every effort to stick to the basics.
From the Heart and Gut
Prayer is difficult for intellectuals like me, because real prayer doesn't originate in the mind, but in the heart and the gut. Christ, Who possesses a level of intelligence, illumination and genius far beyond any created being, cannot be impressed by your cognitive calisthenics. He's only interested in the attitude of your heart; and the attitude that most attracts His Attention is HUMILITY.
For this reason, you can be deaf, dumb, blind and buried under a mountain and GOD CAN STILL HEAR YOUR CRY.
The Listener
Religious people get frustrated because their "prayers" aren't responded to within their timetable...they've completely missed the Point.
I AM A SINNER; GOD SHOULDN'T EVEN BE LISTENING TO ME, MUCH LESS RESPONDING TO ME.
The Blood of The Lord Jesus Christ has ABSORBED all my sins: past, present and future. Because of Him ALONE i have access to the Nexus of Existence: The Throne of Deity. JUST TO BE HEARD BY GOD is a Gift, Grace and Privilege beyond price!!! ENJOY IT!
But don't waste it with words that have no heart or passion behind them. It would be better for you to kneel silently in the Presence of Absolute Power than to engage in empty words. David is an excellent example of a man who knew how to pray:
“Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; Have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. "O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing [lies]? Selah. "But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for Himself: The LORD will hear when I call unto Him. Stand in awe, and sin not: Commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still. Selah. "Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD. There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift Thou up The Light of Thy Countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, More than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: For Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” -- King David, Psalm 4:1-8 KJV
There are marvelous examples of prayer in the Bible; use them as inspiration, but it is not necessary to "re-pray" them. In Christian literature there are many excellent books filled with prayers for every occasion; again, let them inspire you for your own personal time with GOD. GOD loves you--not because you are perfect or because you pray perfect prayers but because He is Love. His Heart longs for your company! Hearing from you is the best part of His day, and being in His Presence will always be the best part of your day.
Thanksgiving
Another attitude GOD takes pleasure in is GRATITUDE. Many religious people are praying "correct" prayers, but in their hearts they are ungrateful and bitter. Don't make a practice of offering prayers that don't line up with your attitude.
Now i'm going to qualify that last sentence...
...it's better that you complain TO GOD about your situation than complain ABOUT GOD to someone else. It's better to express the bitterness of your soul TO GOD than to hold it in and pretend that GOD doesn't see it.
“O Lord, rebuke me not in Your Anger, nor discipline me in Your Wrath. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled. But You, O Lord—how long? "Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of Your steadfast Love. For in death there is no remembrance of You; in Sheol who will give You praise? "I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes. "Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer. All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.” -- Kind David, Psalm 6:1-10 ESV
You have the GOD-given authority to CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE when it is contrary to Christ's Nature! You have the right to ask GOD to change your attitude from one of ingratitude to one of gratitude and from one of doubt and unbelief to one of Faith.
A good practice is to make a list of all the good things that you have enjoyed this past month and give GOD thanks for every one of them...i guarantee that your attitude will improve.
WORSHIP
Faith, Repentance, Humility, Thankfulness and Worship are ATTITUDES the Holy Spirit of GOD inspires in you as you digest the Word of Life from the Bible and present yourself to GOD in prayer. To your soul GOD BECOMES MORE REAL AND YOU (and your circumstances and situations) BECOME LESS REAL. At some point it will hit you like a ton of bricks: "GOD IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN I AM!!!" and you will be inspired to WORSHIP the GODHEAD (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).
It is when you enter the Spirit of Worship that the Voice of The Living Word Jesus Christ becomes increasingly clearer in your heart...
...and that's when you become a serious Threat to the spiritual darkness around you. Without saying a single word your presence will change the atmosphere of any gathering of people in which you find yourself.
Far more delightful than watching an action movie is being in one: the Main Character Jesus is making you His instrument to destroy the works of the Devil and set his prisoners free!
In Part Twelve our joy will leap to a new level as we explore the Justification granted to us through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ!