September 17

Many are forfeiting the condition of acceptance with the Father. We need to examine closely the deed of trust wherewith we approach God. If we are disobedient, we bring to the Lord a note to be cashed when we have not fulfilled the conditions that would make it payable to us. We present to God His promises, and ask Him to fulfil them, when by so doing He would dishonour His own name.

Take this short passage and relate that to prayer, if we pray while disobedient we are asking God to bless us while we fail to honour His trust in us. While He trusts us we fail to show our trust in Him.

People do pray. I took a survey in Coventry town centre years ago. The question was, “do you pray?” The follow-up question was, “do you believe in God?” We found that non-believers prayed as much as believers. Praise God for people praying.

People pray for healing. When times get bad people pray and seek God’s help. Many ask for an answer to prayer but don’t change the health habits that may have brought the illness on in the first place. That attitude is hardly likely to honour the God who heals. Many respond to the healing that is offered and change their habits around, and find themselves honouring God.

When we pray we have it in the back of our minds that we should come to God with a clean heart, we should not be living a disobedient lifestyle. Our short passage explains why it is that we should seek to follow a godly lifestyle.

By continuing in sin, by continuing to live a lifestyle out of relationship with God and yet still praying we are telling God that we don’t truly trust Him and that we wish to continue in our own ways.

During the 40 days of prayer we are recognising that we need to keep asking for the Holy Spirit to fill us, we are seeing that living in a prayerful community is important. We are recognising that we have a call to share our faith with friends, relatives and neighbours.

We are also called to live the life by God’s grace. Too hard we say? “God gives us everything that we need for life and godliness”, 2 Peter 1:3

Before you speak to your prayer partner this morning look deeply into your own heart and consider what areas you need to have God change you. Ask for forgiveness, ask for strength – then trust that God will not only forgive you (He will) but trust that God will give you strength for each day to overcome.

Then go to your prayer partner and together ask for the Holy Spirit to dwell in you – and you in Him.