Praying God’s thoughts . . .

One of my friends prays specific requests using Scripture in her prayers. She shares how God has specifically answered, just as she asked. We agree that this isn’t about being specific as much as it is about praying God’s will, praying His thoughts as they are expressed in His Word.

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. (1 John 5:14–15)

This isn’t about word for word praying, like repeating the Lord’s prayer from Matthew or memorizing the prayers of Paul. It is having the same heart, the same desires as God and expressed in those prayers. Today’s devotional reading gives examples of the way to pray God’s thoughts . . .

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:15–23)

Paul hears of those with faith proven by their love for other Christians so he gives thanks for them and remembers to pray for them, not the opposites such as criticism for their worship habits and other differences or expressing impatience with their lack of maturity.

Instead, he asks God to give them these things because these are the things God wants them to have:

·         The Spirit of wisdom (wisdom is the skillful use of knowledge in life’s situations)

·         Knowledge of God that is known only by revelation from the Holy Spirit

·         Enlightenment so they are assured concerning their eternal hope

·         A full realization of all that they have in Christ

·         The understanding of God’s power toward them, power as used to raise Jesus from the dead.

By praying what God wants, we can be certain He will answer those prayers.

This passage shows how Paul cannot help himself as he prays because as he speaks of Christ, he moves from requests for the Ephesians to ways God demonstrated that resurrection power and begins to praise Him. He seated Christ at His right hand, above all others and over all rule and authority — forever. He put all under the feet of Jesus and made Him head over the church which is His body. He is the fullness of God and fills the earth with His glory.

This is how prayer should be. It might start out with what I need or what other Christians need, but soon moves to worship and praise for the Lord Jesus Christ. This morning, we did just that with other people in the Body of Christ. We praised Him for His supply, including wisdom and the knowledge of Him. We expressed our gratitude for the hope we have of eternal life with Him and all that He has done for us in this life.

God answered Paul’s prayer for the Christians at Ephesus, yet also for Christians all over the world and for centuries later. This is the way I want to pray as well.

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Lord Jesus may your thoughts be my thoughts each time I join Your people in worship and prayer. May each of us realize more fully what we have in You — your grace and power and the promises that You give us because You rose from the dead and live forever. May You also give us greater wisdom each day as we need it for the challenges of life here and until You come again . . .

Today’s thankful list . . .

Wonderful time of worship, prayer, singing, listening to Your Word.

Fellowship with Your people.

An afternoon at the horse races watching them run (we don’t bet, just love their beauty).

Unexpectedly meeting two cousins and their spouses in a crowd of hundreds.

Laughing at our son trying to pick winners on criteria like their color and size (his first time watching them run).

No rain when the weather forecast said 50% chance

Waffles and crispy chicken.

A warm home on a cold evening.

Stay close to His heart

Her husband was at war. The king summoned her to his bedroom. She went, whether willingly or out of fear we are not told. She became pregnant. The king arranged to have her husband moved to the front lines of battle where he was killed, then the king married her.

A modern movie? No, it is a story from the life of King David of Israel, whom God calls a man after His own heart. What? After doing this terrible thing, how can that be?

David was no god, but a man. The Bible clearly teaches that all men are sinners, and this story shows that David was no different in that respect. He gave in to selfishness and made the wrong choices.

Years ago a pastor told me, “Everyone makes mistakes. It is what you do with your mistakes that make a difference.” This is where David showed that his heart was God’s. Even though David chooses sin, he also hates sin and confesses it to God. It took him awhile to deal with it before God, (am I any different?) but eventually he said this:

For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight — that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge (Psalm 51:3-4).

David could not make things right with this woman’s husband; it was too late for that. We are not told if he asked the forgiveness of this new wife, but the child she bore died and David “comforted his wife.” Whatever her reasons, she stayed with him and bore him another son, the heir who became the next king.

To be a person after God’s heart isn’t about being perfect, for no one is perfect. However, it is about thinking the same way as God thinks about my sin. The devotional reading today is so true. I rewrite it here to make it personal.

If I want to have a decreasing frequency of sin in my life and an increasing amount of spiritual growth, I must acknowledge my responsibility. I cannot blame my circumstances, my husband, my friends or family, other Christians, the people I work with or who work for me, or my pastor. I cannot even blame the devil. My sin is my fault. While the world’s system can contribute to the problem, sin ultimately occurs as an act of the will—and I am responsible for it.

He goes on to say that one of the best examples of someone who learned how to take responsibility was the prodigal son. When he returned home to his loving father, he said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son” (Luke 15:21). He was even willing to be treated as a humble laborer because he knew he didn’t deserve anything (v. 19).

Having this right attitude toward sin, confessing it, and dropping all excuses and pride is the only appropriate response when I mess up and make sinful choices, and the only response that can expect the forgiveness and cleansing that God promises. How amazing!