October 12, 2010











More Than a Wish List





By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.





Dr. R.A. Torrey, a great man of God, wrote:



"Prayer is the key that unlocks all the storehouses of God's infinite grace and power. All that God is and all that God has is at the disposal of the one who prays."



If this is true, why do we spend so little time in prayer? There are several answers. First, some people simply do not know how to pray. They struggle in prayer and wonder if the Lord hears their words.



Second, many have the wrong idea about prayer. They believe that there is a specific formula to prayer--something they can repeat in order to have their prayers answered.



For three years, the disciples were with Jesus--morning, noon, and night. It was not long before they asked Him to teach them how to pray. They saw the benefits of prayer displayed in His life, and they quickly realized that prayer was a tremendous source of power.



Prayer is also our greatest form of communication with our heavenly Father. It is meant to be a place where we can bare our souls and be refreshed by His unconditional love and grace.



In contrast, prayer is not meant to be:



A repetition of mere words.



The result of our pulling together a "wish list" for God to answer.



An opportunity for us to demand a miracle.



An opportunity for us to try to manipulate God so that our wills become His will for our lives.



Well-phrased words or eloquently stated sentences will not usher you into the throne room of God. However, a humble heart and a deep desire to worship the Savior are the very keys that will open heaven's door to God's inner chamber.





When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you (Matthew 6:6).



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