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PRAYER: stronger with understanding


We stay connected to God in many ways.  After we know we are Christians and have accepted Jesus as our Savior, there are several ways to stay connected to God.  One of those is by being part of a church that lives and speaks the truth of the Bible.  Another way is to be in relationships with others Christians who are seeking God.

Prayer is a way we stay close to God, hear from Him and share our hearts with God.  It is something often overlooked and misunderstood.  Yet when we have a stronger understanding of prayer we will use it each day and more.

A simple conversation is an easy way to understand prayer.  Just like you are talking to a friend that you care about, it is a conversation that goes both directions, listening and speaking.  Prayer connects us to God, and we don’t have to use all those old Bible words like Thee and Thou or have to be able to pronounce Bible names and places.

Ephesians 1:18-22 (NLT)
I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.  I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.  Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.  God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.

This prayer came from Paul and has powerful pieces that will give us a stronger understanding.

Paul prayed “that your hearts will be flooded with light” which is something that can only come from God.  Again, light is the opposite of darkness and brings insight we can’t gain a part from God.

Continued in the prayer was “you can understand the confident hope he has given” to us who know and follow God.  We can be confident in who God is and who we are in Him.

We can “understand the incredible greatness of God’s power” because we miss what God does when we are not expecting and looking for His greatness.

Paul confesses that “God has put all things under the authority of Christ” who is our connection and path to God.  We are lost without Jesus Christ.  Jesus is our confidence.

Our prayer lives will change with we allow them to grow stronger with understanding that comes from God.  I long for greater confidence and strength.  The connection I have with God I wouldn’t trade for anything.  That is why I want to make it stronger. 

Prayer is our great connection to God.  A stronger connection comes with understanding.  I did not say that you and I will get more of God or be better Christians with stronger prayer lives.  Prayer connects us to a better understanding and stronger connection to God.  I want that!  How about your?

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