"I am setting My house in order.
You set your house in order.
My house is a house of prayer.
I want your house to be a house of prayer."
I received this word from the Lord in a still small voice, while worshipping at church Sunday morning. Now, I always want to weigh carefully such words to be certain they are truly biblical, and not my own random thoughts. This word has a real Bible basis!
Isa 56:7 "Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices [shall be] accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all people."
Mar 11:17 "And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves."
Personally, I pray alot. I have journaled for years, and I strive to "pray without ceasing" (I Thes. 5:17), that is to live in a state of devoting my thought life to the Lord in prayerful conversation. But I have to honestly admit, I can see where issues have come up, and I have been more inclined to act on my own understanding, rather than seek spiritual guidance. "Everything by prayer" (Phil. 4:6) was the Apostle Paul's instruction. Everything means EVERYTHING! There is nothing in the Christian life too trivial to pray about.
I learned a long time ago, about the sin of prayerlessness, and sinning in my prayer. Let me explain. James said “Ye have not, because ye ask not” (Jam. 4:2). I understood that when I fail to pray about a matter, in my prayerlessness, I am saying to God with my silence, “I don’t need Your help. I can handle this situation myself.” I don’t ever want to send this message to God. I want to trust and believe Him for everything. I need God’s intervention even if I don’t think I need help. John Wesley said, “God does nothing, except in response to answering prayer.” We all know God can intervene, but I believe he chooses not to until we invite him into our circumstances.
The other issue James addresses is regarding sin in our prayers. How can you sin when you are praying? “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss” (Jam. 4:3). This has to do with asking out of selfish motives. We must hold the will of God before us at all times. “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (Joh. 14:13). Our proper motivation in whatever we ask is to glorify God – nothing more or less. The word “amiss” reminds me of the original meaning of the word “sin”, which is to miss the mark. What is the mark? The bull’s eye is God’s will. If we will pray in accordance with the Word and the Spirit, in the love of Christ, to Glorify God, how could we miss?
Today begins a week of prayer in our fellowship (http://www.lakeviewassembly.com/), and the National Day of Prayer (http://www.ndptf.org/) on Thursday. Let us attend the House of Prayer in intercession, and let us make each of our homes places where prayer is the standard of life and living!
