As Christians most of us understand that prayer is not an optional part of our spiritual experience with the Lord, but an essential requirement if we want to have any type of relationship with Jesus. And not only is prayer a Christian duty, but it is something we should be doing throughout the day, for we read in (1 Thessalonians 5:17): “pray without ceasing.”
While most of us understand that we should pray more, often we fall way short. Our excuses are numerous, ranging from we are just too busy to pray, to it’s hard to concentrate as our minds often wander. In addition, we tire easily when we don’t get a quick yes to our requests. But imagine if prayer was not just a duty but a delight. If this could happen I bet all of us would eagerly look forward to our prayer time with Jesus. In the remainder of this devotion, I would like to share some thoughts on how to make our prayer time a delightful experience with Jesus.
First, we need to realize that prayer is all about Jesus and how can every aspect of our prayer life bring glory to His Name. I love what Andrew Murray says on this point: “The sooner I learn to forget myself in the desire that He may be glorified, the richer will be the blessing that prayer will bring to myself. No one ever loses by what he sacrifices to the Father.”1 I believe when we put Jesus first in our prayers that this sacrifice will come back in multiple blessings to us. For example, when we follow the advice in (Philippians 4:6-7) we will see worry subside and peace flood our souls. These wonderful two verses read: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Second, many Christians when they think of prayer only think of asking God for things. But prayer is so much richer than this. While making our supplications before the Lord is a key element of prayer I ask you to place this aspect last.
Instead, why not start with adoration which is simply spending time praising and worshipping God for who He is. I don’t know about you but just reflecting on just who Jesus is brings joy and delight to my soul and automatically elicits praise and worship – and is an important element of prayer. Then why not spend some time in confession, which is simply asking God to cleanse us from our sins. This aspect of prayer make one feel clean and excited to approach a holy God knowing that He delights when His children are honest about their shortcomings. And when we think about God delighting in us it should make us delight also in Jesus. And don’t forget the all important prayer aspect of thanksgiving, which is just telling God how much we appreciate His love and grace. I have found that having a thankful heart shows God how much we appreciate all He has done for us and once again puts a smile on His face and joy in our hearts.
And once we spend time in adoration, confession, and thanksgiving our hearts should be bubbling with joy and the delightful knowledge that our prayers will be well received by our Savior. Then we can boldly come to the throne of grace with our requests feeling confident that Jesus is intently listening to them and knowing that our desire is to conform every aspect of our prayer life to His will. Again, Andrew Murray adds insight here: “The Lord gave the wonderful promise of the free use of His Name with the Father in conjunction with doing His works. The disciple who lives only for Jesus’ work and Kingdom, for His will and honor, will be given the power to appropriate the promise. Anyone grasping the promise only when he wants something very special for himself will be disappointed, because he is making Jesus the servant of his own comfort. But whoever wants to pray the effective prayer of faith because he needs it for the work of the Master will learn it, because he has made himself the servant of his Lord’s interests.”2 In short, as you spend quality time in prayer, getting to know and adore Jesus more, get excited because the Lord will answer your prayers!
And third, and this may prove to be the key aspect to making prayer a delight rather than a duty, when you consider that your heavenly Father, when you come exercising all of the above aspects of prayer, delights when we approach Him with our requests. One final Andrew Murray quote I believe sums up this idea that God takes delight in His children: “Each time, before you intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His glory. Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things!”3
May I challenge you to make your prayers a multidimensional time of praise, worship, confession, thanksgiving, and petition. When you do this, I believe, you will get lost in the presence of the Lord. And just watch how duty will be transformed into delight!
1 Inspirational Quotes by Andrew Murray (bibleportal.com)