In last week’s blog, we discussed that Jesus is the focus of our praying, and when He is not our focus, our prayers can become exhausted. This week, we are nurturing the idea that we pray out of a loving relationship with our Lord and Savior, and not just because it’s a Christian discipline or duty.
Recently my wife called me about my desire for dinner plans. She said, “Do you want to go home and eat leftovers or go out somewhere?” I knew that each option had its advantages and disadvantages, so I said, “Lady’s choice—in either case I get to be with you and that’s all that matters to me.” I really meant it—se we saved money, ate leftovers and I got the privilege of being with Teresa!
We need to be that way with Jesus in our personal and group prayers — remembering the privilege it is to be with Jesus, and allowing that to nuture our hearts. In my experience over many years, if church leadership doesn’t keep up the idea of praying because of this love relationship with Christ, it will always migrate to the default mode of a dead work and monologue before a distant God over the aches and pains of the outer man—with no real expectancy from the ever-present, all-sufficient Christ!
Without this aspect of a loving relationship, families and churches can be doing everything right and still be in trouble.
“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: ‘I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
