A Plan for Your Prayer Life

April 18, 1993

Psalm 40

Anyone who claims to be an expert on prayer rouses my suspicion. We are all, as Christians, enrolled in the school of prayer. But at the same time, not one of us will ever really amount to a hill of beans unless and until we learn some measure of effective prayer.

The best pattern or outline I know is what we call "The Lord's Prayer." It is a beautiful outline for prayer.

But just now I look at this Psalm (40) of David; here I see a fantastic plan for an effective prayer life.

I. WE NEED TO FIND GOD'S TIMING.

AND WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK ALL THE TIME. SOMETIMES WE CALL IT 'OUR QUIET TIME' WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO "WAIT"?

One aspect of prayer that some people never do learn is waiting before the Lord. It takes time, sometimes, to be filled. (Thoughts at the gas station.) Two or three times a week, perhaps, we need to simply "get quiet" before the Lord. Henri Nouwen calls it "being useless." It may seem like a waste; your mind will not be used to silence.

Don't try to do too much here. Don't worry too much about intrusion. Just tell the Lord at the beginning you are going to sit in His Presence. Use a passage like Isaiah 40: "They that wait upon the Lord ..."

Every day have a token silence before you pray the Lord's Prayer.

II. WE NEED A PLACE TO STAND.

WE DON'T NEED TO REINVENT THE WHEEL EVERY TIME WE PRAY! WHAT ARE SOME FOUNDATIONS FOR FAITH?

It certainly helps to have a firm place to stand. We can trust the Word. In it God speaks to us; and by it we learn to speak to God.

Every day affirm your own personal "focus verses." My focus verses are:

HEBREWS 11:6 / JOHN 15:8 / EPHESIANS 4:32 and in recent years LUKE 11:13— I ask to be filled again with the Spirit!

III. WE NEED A SONG TO SING!

TOO OFTEN WE THINK WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE SUN SHINES TO PRAISE THE LORD AND REJOICE!

PRAISE AND JOY

Praise God FOR His blessings! Praise God FOR His LOVE! And praise God for His Promise, His Presence— when there doesn't seem to be any reason to praise!

The "sacrifice of praise" can be just that! An offering that almost hurts as we give it— but that pleases God! We affirm, "GOD IS GOOD!"

IV. WE NEED A JOB TO DO

God's people can be assured that they do not live in vain! You may have the most boring JOB in the world— but God's will for you includes something that matters for eternity!

I DELIGHT TO DO THY WILL, O LORD!

The last half of the Lord's Prayer is petition. We can ask boldly in terms of getting God's will done. And even though there will be storms, it is a wonderful thing to know that God's will cannot be frustrated. His will becomes our absolute delight!

Conclusion:

WE ARE ALL SEEKERS AFTER GOD'S HEART! AND THIS PSALM CLOSES WITH THE PETITION/PROMISE.

MAY ALL WHO SEEK YOU REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN YOU!

Prayer: Lord, Thank You for the access we have to You in prayer. Help us this very week as we wait before You. Amen.

#83 EH He Touched Me