It’s been a full year of examining prayer, namely why we don’t pray and what hinders us. But the last couple of months we’ve turned a page, stepping into an increased life of prayer. We’ve looked at how we have to come to God just as we are–messy. We’ve looked at the Father-heart of God and talked about coming to Him like children. And last month we looked at how Jesus prayed: regularly, intentionally, and simply. This month I’d like to look at two qualities which need cultivating in our lives before prayer can spring forth naturally–hope and gratitude.
I’ve been taking a class this semester on understanding and walking in the gifts of the Holy Spirit (even the ones we’re often wary of). The semester is coming to an end, and last night during class time my small group leader asked us if there was anything we’d been asking God to develop in us that we wanted to be held accountable to. I told the group that for some time now I’ve felt God leading me toward more ministry in healing and deliverance. Though I’ve had some opportunities to pray for healing for people this semester, I haven’t always been bold in my asking. Having ongoing health issues for the past twenty-four years has eroded my faith a bit in God as our Healer.
Not that I don’t believe God heals. I absolutely believe He does! I just haven’t seen that healing in my own body–despite praying for it and having others pray for me. It’s been discouraging. And even as God calls me to do more praying for people for their healing, I hear a niggly voice in the back of my head saying, “What if it doesn’t happen?” It breeds a low-grade fear and doubt in my mind, hindering my prayers. So imagine the irony I felt today when I opened up A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller (the book on which I’ve been basing these letters) and read this: “Cynicism kills hope. . . .Prayer feels pointless. . . .Why set ourselves and God up for failure?”
There it was, staring me in the face–my greatest challenge to praying boldly. Maybe it’s your greatest challenge too.
But Miller goes on to say, “. . .Jesus brings hope before he heals. He is not a healing machine–he touches people’s hearts, healing their souls before he heals their bodies.”
What a kind and gentle Savior we have. He knows we can’t walk in the full and abundant life He’s purchased for us until we truly believe in who He is and what He’s done for us. He knows we’ll never ask for things we don’t believe we’ll get.
BUT HOPE. . .
When we know something is possible, and when we know God’s heart is good–that He desires to give us good things–hope springs up in our hearts; we dare to ask.
James 4:2 (ESV) says, “You do not have because you do not ask.” And Ephesians 3:11b-12 (ESV) tells us that God’s eternal purposes are “realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access [to God] with confidence through our faith in Him.” Brothers and sisters, we can ask boldly because we have hope!
“But what if I don’t have hope?” you might ask. “What then?”
Cultivate it! Much like cultivating the soil in a garden causes the seeds planted to grow in abundance, so too it is possible to cultivate hope in our hearts so that it grows and flourishes.
There are three ways I know to cultivate this kind of hope:
- Read stories of God’s faithfulness and intervention. These could be from God’s Word, or they could be testimonies of people God has helped and rescued throughout history. Either way, reading about God’s goodness in the lives of others grows hope in our hearts that He will do the same for us.
- Worship. It’s hard to not hope in God when your focus is on His greatness, His faithfulness, His lovingkindness, His mercy and grace, and His love. Put on some worship music and let your spirit go! It may take awhile, but I’ll venture to guess your mind will follow by and by.
- Start small. Pray in measure with the faith you do have. And don’t forget to keep track of how God answers those prayers! There’s nothing like answered prayer to cultivate hope and faith. As your faith grows, so will your boldness and your confidence to ask greater things for the Kingdom and the glory of God.
Which brings me to my next quality–gratitude. Philippians 4:6 (NIV) says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Thankfulness changes our perception. It changes our posture. It changes how we ask and what we expect in return. It takes the focus off of the need and puts it onto the God who has been there all along, meeting us, comforting us, and providing for our needs, sometimes in ways we didn’t expect, but always in love and kindness.
Sisters and brothers, we serve a good God. He is worthy of our thanks and praise.
As you step into praying bold prayers, remember to cultivate a heart of gratitude–look up and be thankful for the God who sees and the Shepherd who leads even in the valley of the shadow of death.
Pray with me:
God, I haven’t always asked boldly. But I want to. Holy Spirit, heal my heart so that I hope again. Jesus, thank You for all You’ve done for me, all You purchased for me on the cross. Father, thank You for faithfully providing for me in ways I may not even be aware of. Help me to fix my eyes on You, not on my problems, bringing every concern before your throne. Teach me to pray with thankfulness and boldness as I hope in You.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
