Written by: John Sernaque
Dear Reader,
Books / Pr - Prayer (2002) / Chapter 1—God Invites Us To Pray Chapter 1—God Invites Us To Pray
Opening the Heart to a Friend—Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him. {Pr 8.4}
When Jesus was upon the earth, He taught His disciples how to pray. He directed them to present their daily needs before God, and to cast all their care upon Him. And the assurance He gave them that their petitions should be heard, is assurance also to us.—(Steps to Christ, 93.) {Pr 8.5}
God Welcomes Us to His Audience Chamber—We come to God by special invitation, and He waits to welcome us to His audience chamber. The first disciples who followed Jesus were not satisfied with a hurried conversation with Him by the way; they said, “Rabbi, ... where dwellest Thou? ... They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day.” John 1:38, 39. So we may be admitted into closest intimacy and communion with God. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1. Let those who desire the blessing of God knock and wait at the door of mercy with firm assurance, saying, For Thou, O Lord, hast said, “Everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”(Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 131.) {Pr 9.1}
Jesus knocks on the door of our hearts. Even though He knows our hearts, He asks us to open our hearts to Him that He may come in. He yearns to abide in us that we may abide in Him. He is the vine and we are the branch, and it is through Him that we receive life. He is the way, the truth, and the life, and it is prayer that connects us to God in heaven. God waits for us to come to Him, and it is through prayer that we enter into His presence. His invitation is for you to come to Him, those that are weary and heavy laden, and He shall give you rest. We have the assurance that if we ask, we shall receive, if we seek, we find, and if we knock, it shall be opened. God’s blessing awaits those who desire it. This is an invitation you do not want to miss.
Dear God in heaven,
We thank You for giving us this day, and every day that You give us. We thank You for giving us Your breath of life. It is our privilege to answer the knock to the door of our hearts and enter into Your presence, that we may receive life, and receive it in abundance. We thank You for all the blessings You have bestowed upon us and for all the blessings You have in store for us in the future. We do not presume on Your grace, but You have told us to expect great things from You, so we thank You in advance for all the blessings to come. We are so ever grateful that we
have a friend in You. We thank You for the assurance that if we ask, we will receive, if we seek, we shall find, and if we knock, it shall be opened unto us. We claim Your promise and assurance that we will receive Your blessing. We cast all our cares upon You and pray that we may abide under Your shadow. You know our hearts, dear Lord, and if they are not clean, we pray that You will remove our stony hearts from us. Create a clean heart in us, oh God, and renew a right spirit within us. Let this mind be in us, which is also in Christ Jesus. Save us Lord, and help us to overcome, even as You also overcame, that we would sin no more. Forgive us of our sins. Let nothing come between us, and what You have joined together, let not man put asunder. We thank You for hearing and answering all our petitions. This prayer we lift up to You as sweet incense to the Most Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary, where You are seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding and praying on our behalf. It is in Your name, Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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