Prayer

How can we stake a claim in anything without asking? In the gold rush days men would go stake a claim to the piece of land by registering it with the local authorities. They had to ask and file their petition to stake a claim in the land the wanted to mine.

Prayer by definition is:

A noun

  1. a devout petition to God or an object of worship.
  2. a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession.
  3. the act or practice of praying to God or an object of worship.
  4. a formula or sequence of words used in or appointed for praying :

the Lord’s Prayer.

  1. prayers, a religious observance, either public or private, consisting wholly or mainly of prayer.
  2. that which is prayed for.
  3. a petition; entreaty

 

When we pray we are making a petition. A petition is a formal request, in this case we are making a petition to God. We can ask for anything but have you ever tried to hold the wind in your hands. We cannot expect to stake a claim in a prayer that is amiss or out of place. But we can look for God’s promises in His word and claim them. How about “The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you” (2 Chronicles 15:2 KJV). And “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (James 4:8 KJV).

This is a good start as we draw near to God He will draw near to us. We will start to hear His voice and commune with Him. This is the second definition. Prayer is spiritual communion with God. This leads to understanding God’s will and when we come to the understanding of what God desires, loves and hates we can line up with them and ask God to walk with us.

 

We need to pray Lord Your word says, Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. So I am asking You to draw near to me and help me in our time of need. I know Lord You are omnipresent. You are always near us and now I pray that You will also be with us. Help me Lord draw near to You, to walk with You always and be in the center of Your will. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

May this also be your prayer.

In Christ,

Greg