Prayer: The Gate

Romans 5:5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Photo by Chrissy Oldham

 

There is a spirit within us that is never poor, yet I think sometimes we go hungry because we are afraid to ask for what we want. We fear we may be inadequate.  We fear there may be some powerful world-changing gift we have, and therefore we are responsible to utilize it.  Is there a huge audacious idea you caught a glimpse of that could make a positive impact on humanity? What holds us back?  What keeps us from acting on the large, or small important things?  Our fears.  What if we are wrong?  What if we fail?  We can’t see too far ahead. Usually that is a good thing.

 

Father God, guide our steps.  Help us live in faith.  Help us each to know we are capable of sharing the great and wonderful gifts you have given us.  We invite the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and connect us to you.  Let us each be a force for good.  Let us encourage each other and bring out the very best in all that surrounds us.  Amen

• Alpha and Omega – God is the beginning and end.  There is nothing before God.
• The Omni’s – Omniscience (all knowing) Omnipotence (all powerful), Omnipresent (everywhere simultaneously)
• Holy
• Uniqueness – God is like no other
• Spirit
• Immortal
• Alive
• Supreme – God is the supreme being
• Transcendent (universal)
• Immanent (within us)
• Personal
• Theistic ( not necessarily Deistic) Deistic is the absentee father or distant God.  Theistic is the relationship God. (more…)

June 4, 2009 morning walk Garden of the Gods, balanced rock

I believe our spiritual walk is important to the balance of our lives.  I also believe we must develop the other facets of ourselves, the physical and intellectual, relationships, and career as well. (more…)

Sometimes we go along thinking the Spirit of God is somewhere else.  Where?  Who knows?

1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

Dwells is such a comforting word for me.  The spirit dwells, abides, rests, in me.  God is never far away.

When I pray, I invite the presence of the Holy Spirit to be known.  I wait a moment or two and allow myself to feel the presence of God to become predominant in my awareness.  In attempting to describe it, there is a fullness in my spirit, a warmth in my spirit, not like outdoor temperature heat, but the power of God.  Anxiety passes away, peace and stillness take it’s place. 

When I listen for communication from God, it is a nudging in my spirit at times.  I have heard distinct words, but more often it is an enlightenment or feeling.  There is a small intuition, a thought within you; and in your heart you know it is Holy and it is God. You know with all certainty that God is guiding you, especially when you have invited him and are expecting it. It is an exciting and beautiful thing.

Holy and powerful God, reveal yourself to me this day.  Allow me to know the purpose you have for my life.  Allow me to hear your voice and understand the nature of you, and my relationship with you.  I am grateful for the Spirit of God that dwells within me.  Let me experience the spiritual awakening that transforms life from ordinary to extraordinary.  Amen

You want to hear God’s voice.  We all do.  So often prayer time is quick and we rejoice, or petition and then rush on to the next thing on our list.   If you want conversation, and to hear God’s voice, there are several things you can do to allow this to happen.

1. Set aside 45 minutes for an appointment in prayer.  When we feel rushed and under pressure to move to the next task on our list, we are reacting and not relaxed.  If you schedule a hair cut, or an appointment with your tax person you block out that 45 minutes and stay present for what is going on.  Keep prayer like this as well. Find a quiet place for your appointment.

2. Invite God to join you.  Invite the Holy Spirit to fill you.  Reverence may be a little out of style at this time, but I believe it is important to formally issue the invitation.  I wait upon the LORD at this point.  I may begin praying, but wait and invite and feel the presence of God. You will feel it, you will know.  If you have never done this before, it may take a little practice.  Have some grace and patience with yourself here.

3. Listen.  I say this outloud in my prayer, “I shall hear what the LORD God will speak to me.”.  Then allow time for a response.  That is what conversation is. Try to focus on one topic at a time.  You may be coming to prayer with a lot on your heart, but deal with one issue at a time.

If you feel you are not hearing God, set another appointment.  Give it a chance and persevere.  You will get better at it, and more sensitive to hearing God’s voice.

This is such a worthwhile activity.  People who practice this type of prayer, get kind of addicted to it.  It is OK if you want to set an appointment every day.  God is always there, all you have to do is show up.

You may not hear the answers you wish.  Your prayers may be answered in a different way than you expect.  Be open to God’s will and blessings in your life.

Sometimes I think we don’t want to pray, especially conversational prayer because we are afraid.  We think God may ask us to change careers, do some missionary work…something we don’t want to or are afraid to do.

We get comfortable with the way things have worked.  Maybe they weren’t great, but they worked.  So let’s not rock the boat.  But in times like these, the boat is being tossed and thrown all over the place. 

If we are willing to get out of the boat, we might even walk on water.

God, help us to hear your voice.  Let us be willing to go forward with the changes.  Help us to find the meaningful work, the gifts and the purpose that allows us to be more than we ever thought possible.

Thank you for the blessings, the opportunities and the lives we touch day to day.  Amen