Day 6: Be aware of the power of prayer.

Well, I've just come back from a really, really inspirational speech by the wife of Dr deVisser on the topic of prayer and I just want to share it (it was that good).

Her main theme was that prayer changes people. I personally had never really thought so much on the power of prayer.

In her speech she had 5 main focus points which she discussed in relation to our own bible study. I will share:

1. What does this passage tell me about Jesus Christ?

Jesus not only worked in the New Testament, while He was on earth, however, we see Him through people or things that happened in the Old Testament. The prophecies tell so much about Him, and figures like David in the psalms often directed thoughts and praises too Him. Jesus is everywhere in the bible, and just thinking about this in the small passage which you can take for devotions one day helps you to understand and know that Jesus IS present everywhere. He ALWAYS hears our prayers! For me the fact of reaffirming that God is there when I pray was so reassuring. Sometimes, its like I'm just praying to my bedroom wall, at least that's the way it seems, but knowing that God is always there, and that He will always hear is so very comforting.

2. Is there a warning in the passage?

Every part of the bible has warnings for us Christians because we need those warnings. Our old nature needs that constant reprimand to keep us on track. Mrs deVisser also reminded us that hen you are too far away from God you can lose the signal and as a result you will not hear the warnings from God. And we must not ignore these warnings. The warnings must instead direct our lives; its God telling us where we should go and what we should or should not do. So we must listen to them.

3. Is there a promise in the passage?

Sometimes the Christian life appears to be a whole list of don't do this, and don't do that. When we look at life this way, there is little joy, and it can become a drag to be a Christian. But this does not need to be so because, the Christian life is not a list of dos and don'ts. Rather its about a whole lot of things which we can do to make our lives better. God's word is full of promises for us His people. Often we only think of a few promises: eternal life, that Christ will return again on the clouds of heaven ... However, start looking (I'm going to) and there are so, so many more, its just wonderful. And this brings so much more joy to the life of a Christian. We can live in the many promises of God.

And we must also use these promises in our prayers. Pray that God will fulfil the promises which He has made. For we can ask Him to do the things that He has promised. And when we know these promises our eyes are also opened to see their fulfilment.

4. What is so beautiful about this passage?

When you read your bible and prayer, your heart must always be in it. If your heart really loves the bible then prayer will be so much easier. And if your heart is present then it becomes much easier to see the beauty in the words of the bible. If you truly consider that which is the most beautiful to you in the passage you read, then your heart must be in it; then your heart will be overflowing with love for the bible and a desire to read it more and more.

She used an example from John 15 where Jesus talks about Himself being the true vine and we are the branches. The most beautiful part about all this is that we are allowed to be a branch. If you understand what God through Christ has done for you, then isn't it absolutely beautiful that you are grafted into Christ and that you can bear fruit for God (the vinedresser). When your heart understands this then it flows over in adoration and for me at least, prayer comes easily.

5. What can you use as encouragement for your prayers?

God does not require some sort of fancy speech when we pray to Him. Although He is Almighty and Holy it is not important to have big words and beautiful sentences. Rather the importance is that we have communication with God. You must not wait until you are 'professional' enough to prayer, for that time will never come. Instead just pray as you would naturally have a conversation (of course it needs to be reverent) and in this way prayer will become as a natural part of your life.

The climax of Mrs deVisser's speech was that prayer changes people.

If you prayer in connection with what you read in the bible, then you will know of the certain things that you ask and the sins you ask forgiveness for, and because you know these things you will be able to see the workings of the Lord when He tries to change you. For when you pray you become aware that you should or should not do something, and then when you move into your day you work with this new mindset to fight against a particular sin, or not do something, or do a positive thing for someone.

Its in this way that prayer has the power to change people. And it doesn't only change you, but when you pray for others, your attitude towards them also changes and you look forward to the moment when all is renewed through the ever continuing work of the Holy Spirit.

Isn't it just wonderful, that working of the Holy Spirit within you, and that God will indeed hear everything that you ask of Him. He knows what in our hearts and He delights when we call upon His holy name.

It's so Great! I feel so motivated!