Matthew 6:25-34 (NASB)
25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
26 “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
27 “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?
28 “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,
29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
30 “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
31 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’
32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

There are two major categories of prayer. The first is Kingdom focused prayer and the other is Intercessory focused prayer. Both can be BIG prayers. Both can (should) be focused on God’s glory. The first are prayers that focus on God’s church, on the redemption of God’s people and the nations, that revival would break out, that people groups would repent and come to faith in Christ, that the powers of darkness would be restrained. Intercessory prayer is focused on an individual, most often the needs of another person, but it can be for ourselves.

Jesus in Matthew seems to be telling us that we should put our primary focus on God’s kingdom first and foremost and that the other things that He knows we need will be taken care of.

How does that impact our prayer life?  Does this give you something to think about regarding how you approach your personal prayer life?

The model prayer that Jesus provided in Matthew 6, ends with ‘For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen’. The best Greek manuscripts omit that closing sentence, but there is abundant evidence that these words were used universally in the early church. Some congregations added this sentence in unison after each petition prayed. The focus on God’s kingdom was important in the early church.

I’ve also been thinking a lot about how I approach intercessory prayer requests that come into the prayer chain and that are requested during our prayer meetings. As I read or hear the prayer requests, I catch myself immediately considering how I should pray for the person. I’m not listening to the request, but formulating what I think they need. Here are some things that I am starting to do when I get a request.

1. Praise God that I have the opportunity to pray for another person.
2. Repent of my sins before I try to address the request.
3. Consider the specific request, not what I might think the other person needs.
4. Quiet my heart and allow the Holy Spirit to fill me and provide His help.
5. Then, and only then, am I able to pray for the other person.
6. Pray boldly, as led by the Holy Spirit. Pray believing, pray in the powerful name of Jesus, pray BIG.

I am periodically reminded of training that elders received at our church in Atlanta prior to meeting with people that requested prayer. Our leader encouraged us, after a time of confession, to pray boldly in faith. We focused on the request of the person. We didn’t say things like “if it is God’s will”. God will always do His will, we don’t need to give Him permission. Miracles will happen when we pray boldly and in faith, allowing the Holy Spirit to direct us.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Romans 15:4-6 (NASB)
4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,
6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul encourages the Romans to persevere. It is a call to prayer – calling us to be of one accord with all who are in Christ Jesus.

I have to admit that my mind wanders when I am trying to concentrate on prayer. I find that after a period of time, I am thinking about things unrelated.

In Fenelon’s book, “A Guide to True Peace”, he speaks of the wanderings of the imagination during prayer. He suggests that it is permitted by God in order to “prove our faith, exercise our patience, and know just how little we can perform by ourselves. It teaches us to depend on God alone as we faithfully persevere to a point where that inward silence comes with little difficulty, creating times that are sweet, easy, and delightful.”

One way to persevere in prayer is to pray out loud. When we are praying this way, it is very difficult for our minds to wander as we concentrate on communicating with our Father.

Join us this Tuesday at 7pm as we pray with perseverance, praying in one accord with our fellow believers, to the glory of God the Father.

Always praying for the glory of God,

These are troubling times. We have threats from many sides. Our country is preparing to go through another election of our President. What does the Bible have to say? How should we approach our prayer time?

God was very clear through the prophets…

Isaiah 26:3-4 (NLT)
3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
4 Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NLT)
7 “But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.
8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

Jeremiah 17:14 (NLT)
14 O LORD, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone!

Jesus taught us how we should pray…

Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV)
9 Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Isaiah 50:11 (TLB)
11 But see here, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves from your own fires and not from God’s; you will live among sorrows.

Psalm 46:10 (NLT)
10 “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

Even for His children, we struggle in this broken world to make a name for ourselves rather than exalting His name above all. I know I do. Even in the ministries that we are called to serve Him, we can catch ourselves caring about what others think of us rather than completely focusing on exalting Him.

Fenelon said this way in his book, “A Guide to True Peace: Or a Method of Attaining to Inward and Spiritual Prayer”.

“Let us therefore no longer fear to commit ourselves wholly to God. What risk do we run, in depending solely on Him! Ah! He will not deceive us, unless by bestowing an abundance beyond our highest hopes; but those who expect all from themselves, will inevitably be deceived.”

I find that if I neglect prayer, especially the kind that earnestly calls on God to change me into His image, I revert back to trying to live in my own light.

Praises to God for His Holy Spirit that continues to work in our lives, sanctifying us a little more each day as we learn to trust Him more and more.

Do you also struggle trying to live in your own light? Then join us on Tuesday as we pray to God to change us.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Matthew 6:31-33 (NASB)
31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’
32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33 (TLB)
33 and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to.
Matthew 6:33 (NLT)
33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

As I read, thought about, and meditated on these verses, I had to ask myself these questions.

1. Do I seek the kingdom of God above all else?
2. Do I seek the kingdom of God above all else in my prayers?
3. What does it really mean to seek the kingdom of God?
4. Do I truly trust that God will give me everything I need, if I seek His kingdom above all else?
5. Is He always first place in everything that I do?
6. Is everything that I do always living as He wants me to?

As I thought about my prayer life, I asked myself these questions.

1. What gives me the most joy when I pray?
2. Do I struggle with certain aspects of prayer? (listening, praise, repentance, thanksgiving, waiting on God)
3. Do I always believe that God will answer my prayers of supplication and am I always okay with His answers?
4. Do I pray with faith in or out of frustration with God regarding my circumstances?
5. Am I satisfied with my relationship with God through prayer?
6. Am I afraid to ask God to change me?

Take some time this week to meditate on these verses and ask yourself these questions or others that come to mind.

John 5:19 (NASB)
“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself…
John 5:30 (NASB)
“I can do nothing on My own initiative…
John 5:41 (NASB)
“I do not receive glory from men;
John 6:38 (NASB)
“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
John 7:16 (NASB)
“My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.
John 7:28 (NASB)
Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself…
John 8:28 (NASB)
… and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.
John 8:42 (NASB)
… for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.
John 8:50 (NASB)
But I do not seek My glory…
John 14:10 (NASB)
The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.
John 14:24 (NASB)
the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.

It has been said that Humility is the root of all holiness and Pride is the root of all sin.

Jesus was the perfect example of humility. God humbled Himself and became a man. He gave up everything and became nothing for us. We are nothing and yet we desire glory for ourselves.

Quote by Andrew Murray from his book, “Humility: The glory of the creature.”
“Humility, the place of entire dependence on God, is, from the very nature of things, the first duty and highest virtue of the creature, and the root of every virtue. Humility is simply acknowledging the truth of our position as creature, and yielding to God His Place. Humility is not a temporary sentiment, awakened only when we think of God, but the very spirit of life.”

Are you humble? Ask yourself, assess yourself each day. Ask your mentor, your accountability partner, your prayer partner. What we say and do gives others a clue about our state of humility. Others can see pride in us and they can see false humility too. Ask God and be ready for His answer.

Humility is a state of self that relies completely on God, allowing nothing of ourselves to desire renown for ourselves.  Our glory dies and His glory is exalted.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Psalm 45:6-7 (NASB)
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
7 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your fellows.

We do not truly honor God by merely obeying Him. We glorify Him the most when we enjoy Him fully.

How do we enjoy Him fully?

It begins by developing a relationship with Him that He started within us. It comes in sacred moments, where we are aware of our deep need for God. Without constant communication, we become unconscious of our deepest needs, we become accustomed to things the way they are and resistant to the holy path that He wants us to follow. When we become aware, that is when answers come and guidance is given.

It is easy to fall into a rote cycle of prayer. We pray for that which we already own through Christ, yet it is neglected and unused. Sometimes we resist the Spirit and pray for things that can never be ours. And sometimes we pray for that which we must do ourselves through faith.

Praise God that He wants us to enjoy Him forever. As you pray this week, remember the joy that is yours through Christ Jesus.

Come and pray with us on Tuesday night at 7pm. It will bring you joy and it will honor God.

Always praying for the glory of God,
Chris McKean

Psalm 100:3 (NASB)
3 Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

All of scripture and all the laws and commands contained within it are pointing towards this verse. God wants us to know Him and who He is, to worship Him knowing that we are His.

Everything we do and all that we are, reflects our knowledge and worship of Him. I often get that backwards, though. Service becomes the focus, doing becomes the measurement.

Even the commands of God become the focus. Take the great commandment. When we begin to think, even a little bit, that sharing our faith is something that is God needs us to do, we’ve fallen into that trap. We share our faith with others because of our love for God. It demonstrates that because we know Him and who He is, we can in a small way, thank Him for what He has done.

We can’t do that unless we know Him and we can’t know Him unless we spend time developing that relationship. Our faith can’t grow unless we fellowship with God. It’s out of that fellowship that our love for Him can overflow into others in our life.

It all comes back to God, which is where He wants it.

Come and pray with us on Tuesday night at 7pm. God is calling you, will you answer?

Always praying for the glory of God,
Chris McKean

In the book, “The Prayers of Peter Marshall”, I read a prayer that he delivered on November 24th, 1947. In that prayer, he prayed,

“We pray for the bifocals of faith – that see the despair and the need of the hour but also see, further on, the patience of our God working out His plan in the world He has made.”

The imagery of faith described caught my attention. The bifocals of faith.
I know I am often remiss in praying with both visions in sight. Our prayers are often focused on the here and now, the issue that has our attention, the need that is present in our thoughts.

Jesus taught us to pray with our sights on both the here and now and the future in the prayer that He taught His disciples.

He tells us to focus on the immediate – “Give us this day our daily bread”.
And he asks us to focus on the God working out His plan – “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

It is a good image to keep in our minds as we pray. May we always look through both lenses of the bifocals as we pray each day to our heavenly Father.