Prayer is something people say they will do for others, especially after a tragedy. Prayer is something certain individuals are really good at. We tend to instantly classify pastors, priests, nuns, missionaries and the like as really good in that category, but is title or position what qualifies us for prayer?
The interesting thing about prayer is every person prays at some point in their life. We all have a sense of the divine. Even self-proclaimed atheists make it clear they have thought enough about the Divine before they willingly reject the concept. Fruitful prayer may or may not look religious, and religion is not the object of prayer. Yes, I said religion is not the object of prayer.
The opening graphic today illustrates a bit of how prayer functions. Before I explain that more, I want to touch briefly on the question of, “why do we pray?” The Bible says, “Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” (Genesis 1:26 NLT) Our Creator made us in the image of God** and put us human beings in charge of everything on earth. That is where prayer becomes truly important.
Our Creator put us in charge, gave us instructions and ways to communicate with God. We also have access to the power to implement the will of God… all of this through prayer. The Arena of Prayer shows how we can do a good job of praying God’s will into existence.
At the top on the diagram, “Our Heavenly Father” initiates prayer saying, “Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.” (Jeremiah 33:3 NLT) Our Creator wants to be in intimate relationship with Him like a father to a child. God invites us into His secrets. From that place of safety we can affect His will on earth as it is in heaven through prayer.
As we progress clockwise around the circle we learn,”But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.” (1 Corinthians 2:10 NLT) Again, the eternal One in all their manifestations reveals to us what we need to be in relationship vertically with God and in charge horizontally.
Skipping to the left side of the diagram we see Jesus the Son. “Who then is left to condemn us? Certainly not Jesus, the Anointed One! For he gave his life for us, and even more than that, he has conquered death and is now risen, exalted, and enthroned by God at his right hand. So how could he possibly condemn us since he is continually praying for our triumph?” (Romans 8:34 TPT) I explain the Father, Son and Spirit first because they are THE Three in One who make up the plural of God in Genesis.
People do not rank as high as the three in one do, but we do and must, enter into the way our Creator has designed prayer and our ability to be in charge of the creation. “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” (Ephesians 6:18 NLT) Yes we are commanded to pray and we do so in dialogue with God. It is through prayer God’s plans are both revealed and implemented.
Basically, God has designed prayer in all its forms to help us get to know God as best friend, good father and faithful. God and His ways are better than ours. Yes, we are invited to be friends and children of God. Father speaks, Holy Spirit interprets, we pray God’s will, and Jesus our only mediator, is the only one legally qualified to bring our prayers before the Throne of Grace. And he does it 24/7/365. This circuit is what both Creator and we depend on.
I am still amazed that prayer is the plan Creator established before creation for us to rule and reign over creation. I feel the responsibility to pray and the honor it is to be entrusted with the relationship with Creator to bring good into this world. Have I arrived? Of course not, but His mercies are new every morning.
Is any of this new to you? I encourage you to pray about how you feel about it. The ask what Creator wants you to do with this information.
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*Ben Jennings was and is a father in Prayer to me. He graduated to Glory earlier this year. He wrote The Arena of Prayer and the link is to a free PDF download of the book. ** This verse, like others in Genesis, has the One God preferring to oneself in the plural. We understand that to include God the Father, Son & Holy Spirit, three of the four identified in the diagram.
