Praying as if your life depends on it
Praying Boldly, part 2
Last time I wrote about being child-like in our prayers. This week, I am reminding us that being child-like disciples should mean that we are a dependent people.
When childlike disciples are desperately dependent, it means that we have no one else to rely except God the Father of our Lord Jesus. Like Jesus the Son of God, we are to rely on our heavenly Father for everything that goes on in our lives, praying as if our life depends on it, because it does! We seek God’s will (not our own) even in our daily petitions for practical help (John 5:30).
Paul Miller wrote of this in his classic book on prayer:
“This is the gospel, the welcoming heart of God. God also cheers when we come to him with our wobbling, unsteady prayers. Jesus does not say, “Come to me, all you who have learned how to concentrate in prayer, whose minds no longer wander, and I will give you rest.” No, Jesus opens his arms to his needy children and says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28, NASB). The criteria for coming to Jesus is weariness. Come overwhelmed with life. Come with your wandering mind. Come messy.” (Paul E. Miller, A Praying Life, NavPress, 19)
Come to Jesus weary, and messy.
Come dependent on him!
When we are child-like in our posture of prayer, we will go to God constantly, everyday, in dependence on God. We go to him just as we are, with all our needs. Dependency on God will be noticeable and evident to those around us, and our Heavenly Father will certainly know if that is true of our internal hearts.
So then, how are you living as a dependent disciple this week?
If you’re dependent, you will certainly pray more. And the prayers you pray will be more and more godward prayers, Christ-centered prayers, Spirit-filled childlike prayers.
Church, let us grow together in dependence this week!
Grace to you,
—Pastor Alex