Day 144
If there is a part of praying that comes more natural to us, it is asking for things. When we think about prayer, seeking the hand of the Almighty to help us get what we want is what we are probably most comfortable with. Even non believers understand to call on God in times of extreme distress. Petitioning God can fall into two categories:
1. Deprecation: a desire for deliverance from evil;
2. Comprecation: to request good things to be given to us.
Both of these categories have a temporal, spiritual or eternal focus. We have temporal needs, e.g. our daily bread. We have spiritual needs, e.g. salvation, sanctification and deliverance from sin. Our focus on the eternal will cause us to think and pray about the glories of heaven. Examples of petitioning include: "O Thou that hast the hearts of all men in thine hand, form our hearts according to thine own will and according to the image of Thine own Son. Be our light and our strength; cause us to walk in holiness. Let Thy mercy draw us closer to Thee. Guide us by Your precious Holy Spirit. Give us triumph over death and a rich and abundant entrance into the kingdom of Thy Son."
We are to petition for ourselves and all men (Eph. 6:18; 1 Tim. 2:1). We are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), for laborers to spread the Gospel (Luke 10:2) and for those in authority (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We have been provided with clear direction in the Word about prayer. Let us continue to build our prayer model without forms. God wants us to be a praying people and He wants you to talk to Him today.
1. Deprecation: a desire for deliverance from evil;
2. Comprecation: to request good things to be given to us.
Both of these categories have a temporal, spiritual or eternal focus. We have temporal needs, e.g. our daily bread. We have spiritual needs, e.g. salvation, sanctification and deliverance from sin. Our focus on the eternal will cause us to think and pray about the glories of heaven. Examples of petitioning include: "O Thou that hast the hearts of all men in thine hand, form our hearts according to thine own will and according to the image of Thine own Son. Be our light and our strength; cause us to walk in holiness. Let Thy mercy draw us closer to Thee. Guide us by Your precious Holy Spirit. Give us triumph over death and a rich and abundant entrance into the kingdom of Thy Son."
We are to petition for ourselves and all men (Eph. 6:18; 1 Tim. 2:1). We are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), for laborers to spread the Gospel (Luke 10:2) and for those in authority (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We have been provided with clear direction in the Word about prayer. Let us continue to build our prayer model without forms. God wants us to be a praying people and He wants you to talk to Him today.
