Mobilizing Missionary Prayer (Part 4)

The practice of prayer is an interesting discipline in the life of someone who identifies themselves as a follower in the way of Jesus.

We often approach it as if we are the ones in control, changing the course through our actions of prayer, and I suppose at some level this has a bit of truth to it. But the reality of this spiritual practice is we are not in control at all, or at least, not beyond the initial involvement of praying. Our prayer simply opens the door for the Holy Spirit to go to work. God is in control, and we get to join Him through prayer.

Our moment of “control” is a submissive act as we turn to God so He can step into the situation. Thus, our involvement is really no control other than opening the door.

In the prayer He taught us, Jesus gave this perspective to consider … “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10 NIV)

Notice through prayer we are opening the way for the will of God to be experienced on earth just as it is in heaven. The Practice of Prayer has a very practical purpose for our lives. It is the avenue through which the will of God can be experienced in this world.

Powerful.

We have been given the authority to call on God through the practice of prayer and, in doing so, create the avenue for God’s intervention in whatever situation is being presented at the time. In essence, we have the responsibility through prayer to open the way for God to intervene in the affairs of men. The reality is He waits for us to open the way. It is a big piece in the process. Such incredible trust.

This practice is such an important part of living out the mission He gave us. When we find ourselves engaged in rescuing isolated hurting people we have the opportunity to open the pathway for them to experience the plan of God in their lives.

So, let us raise the level a bit, at this point, in our ongoing conversation around prayer and move us beyond some of the more mundane aspects we might focus on.

We can take the prayer experience to a whole new level without the strangeness we often associate with such bold prayers. In short, we can enter into bold prayer without ever having to shout or get weird. Did you catch that last piece?  It is really important. We don’t have to carry on and get all strange, loud, or whatever antics we have seen for being bold in prayer. None of that is what makes this prayer thing work.

We do need to understand the insight Verlon Fosner brings us when he says, “Bold prayer and deep submission have an unbreakable bond; bold prayers that are not rooted in submission are simply exercises of carnal desires. … We must be submitted to the things of God in order to pray for the interventions of God - whatever they might be.”

There must be an attitude of submission that accompanies our prayer.

We are not the ones in control of any outcomes that derive from the practice of prayer. God is in control. The Holy Spirit goes to work and determines which course to take and how all of that will look. We do not have permission to dictate results; we simply open the way through prayer for the solution directed by the Spirit.

We can relax and express bold prayers, asking for whatever specific outcomes we might hope for because it is rooted in a deep submission to God. It is His will we hope for and that is sufficient and best. More than the answer, we desire for the will of God to be realized in this situation just as it would be in heaven. Our faith is in God and not focused at a particular result we want God to perform.

Our submission frees us to pray with abandonment, loud or soft, because we don’t know what God may do. We pray and trust Him in His infinite wisdom to do what is best.

What a difference this has in our practice of prayer.

As followers of Jesus, we have been given the authority to essentially override the authority of the strongman (Satan) and open the way for God to step in with His authority. This changes the course of a person's life.

And we get to be a part of this life-altering process.

The practice of prayer can be genuinely bold when it is tied to a deep submission to God. It is an amazing reality. Now let’s go and practice.