What is Christian Prayer? (1/3)
It has been said "How lavish is God's love and grace, that he should desire that we be united with him in a personal relationship, in which he listens and answers our prayers."
Through Jesus we can approach God "with freedom and confidence" (Ephesians 3:12) knowing that he listens and answers all our prayers and requests, no matter how great or how small.
Yet, God has a much greater purpose for our prayer lives.
That is to spend time with our Heavenly Father and to be transformed into Christ's likeness.
Throughout his life Jesus regularly withdrew to spend time alone in prayer, not as a religious act, but to spend time in the Father's presence, to seek His will, and to be strengthened, refreshed and to cast all his anxieties onto God.
The disciples witnessed the importance of prayer in Jesus' life, and asked Him to teach them how to pray. Jesus taught them to pray in the knowledge that God is a gracious and loving Father, who gives to those who ask and seek. |
