A Man After God’s Heart: A Man of Prayer
I have found my prayer life strengthened by John Eldredge’s book “Moving Mountains”, and Paul David Tripp’s book of daily devotionals. As I have delved into praying with passion, confidence, and authority, I have learned the following:
Begin Prayer by Centering Your Heart.
An effective life of prayer is centered by an acknowledgment of who God is. Prayer places emphasis firmly on the first four words of the Bible: “In the beginning, God…” Prayer acknowledges God as creator and sovereign. Prayer is rooted in His power, wisdom, and rule. It would make no sense to pray if you thought God was your equal.
We must also be convicted in our own identity.
Yes, we have all heard that we are God’s children; we are sons and daughters. Romans 8:15 says, “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves so that you live in fear. Rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption into sonship, and by Him we cry Abba, Father. Furthermore, Galatians 4:7 says, “So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child, and since you are His child, God has made you an heir.”
Slaves ask for scraps; they expect scraps. Sons know who they are…You must therefore pray with confident expectation to a loving Heavenly Father. Know you are heir to your Father’s Kingdom.
With God’s identity and our identity firmly rooted in our hearts, we consecrate ourselves…the fresh act of dedicating ourselves in every aspect of life, deliberately and intentionally to Jesus.
Prayer Forsakes the “Kingdom of Self” for the Kingdom of God.
Prayer always forsakes the “Kingdom of Self” for the Kingdom of God. Prayer is an act of admission, a confession in which we own our condition and embrace our need. Isaiah 64:6 says, “All of us have become like one who is unclean- infected and impure with sin, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all fade and shrivel up like a leaf, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.” See Matthew 6:9-15. Prayer therefore is abandoning our righteousness and affirming our need for God and His forgiveness. See Luke 18:9-14.
Men, God’s work in you is a process, not an event. It progresses not in three or four moments, but in ten thousand little moments of change. Partner with God in bringing His Kingdom to earth with your life of prayer.
Devotional written by: Lee Carter, Triumph of Hope Partner
Whether you sit atop the glorious mountaintop or in the depths of the valley of long-suffering, we know this: there is a time for everything. When you sense a shifting of the season, no matter your vantage point, it can feel scary. We become comfortable and make our proverbial homes, despite the lifelong reality that not one season is created to be forever in the Lord.