OceanSide church of Christ

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DO YOU HAVE THE HEART TO PRAY? (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

            The heart of man is the driving force behind all he does.  In other words, all that we do begins first in the heart.  Proverbs 23:7 confirms our affirmations.  “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…”  Jesus also bears witness to this teaching in Matthew 12:34-35.  “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things?  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things:  and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.”

            Let’s now turn these thoughts toward prayer.  Prayer is an outward action, but it must, and does, originate in the heart of man.  In order for us to pray effectively, we must develop a heart of prayer.  There are many aspects to such heart.  First, an individual of prayer must have a DEPENDENT HEART.  We live in a society that teaches individuals to be independent.  In other words, we are told that we must learn to rely on ourselves and not on someone else.  Society has now evolved into an individualistic society.  It is affirmed that no two people are alike in any way.  In a society that holds such views, it is difficult for individuals to be dependent on others, including God.  To proclaim dependence manifests weakness and fragility.  Yet, this is precisely what the human heart must admit if a person is going to pray.  When we pray, we thank God for blessings He has provided to us (1 Thess. 5:18).  When we pray, we cast our care upon God (1 Pet. 5:7).  When we pray, we let our requests be made known to God (Phil. 4:6).  When we pray, we often offer up supplications for other individuals (1 Tim. 2:1-2).  All of these things evidence that we are dependent upon God.  If our heart isn’t dependent upon God, it will never cry out to Him.  In fact, the human being who isn’t dependent upon God will seldom, if ever, mention the name of God. 

            Second, the person who has a heart to pray must also have a SEEKING HEART.  He knows God exists, and he knows that God wants him to make the effort to come into the presence of deity.  Psalm 14:12 is an interesting verse in this discussion.  The psalmist writes:  “The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.”  The promise to those who seek God is that they will find Him.  “…seek, and ye shall find…” (Matt. 7:7).  In fact, they will find that He will reward them abundantly for seeking Him out. “…but they that seek the Lord shall not want of any good thing” (Ps. 34:10b).  The Hebrew writer informs us that God “is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6).

            Third, the heart of the one who prays to God must be a HUMBLE HEART.  A humble heart realizes it does not deserve to be in the presence of the Almighty God.  The humble understand that coming before God is a privilege that has been granted to him and not a right.  In 1 Peter 5:5, Peter exhorts his readers to “be clothed with humility:  for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”  The publican who went up to the temple to pray understood the need for humility.  Jesus describes him in Luke 18:13.  “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”  The humble are aware of their littleness and their sinfulness before God.  God welcomes them, but they know they are not worthy.  They draw near with a deep sense of awe and reverence for their heavenly Father.  At one time Nebuchadnezzar was a man filled with pride.  God, however, humbled this Babylonian ruler.  After his affliction, he was a changed man.  “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.  And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing:  and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth:  and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” (Dan. 4:34-35).  Notice the words:  “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing…”  Nebuchadnezzar learned who was high and lifted up.  He was not one who could be placed in that category.  He now approached God with heart of humility.

            Fourth, one who prays to God must have a TRUSTING HEART.  Men come to God because He has made promises to them.  One of the promises God has made to those who seek Him in prayer is that He will hear them.  “The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth…” (Ps. 34:17).  “The Lord is far from the wicked:  but he heareth the prayer of the righteous” (Prov. 15:29).  “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us” (I John 5:14).  When we bow in prayer before God, we are not praying to the wind.  Our words are not spoken in vain.  We have immense faith that the ears of God bend to hear every word that we utter.  Not only do we believe that He will hear, but we also put our trust in His promise to answer our prayers.  “Ask, and it shall be given you…” (Matt. 7:7).  Listen to these promise-filled words spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:  “Thus saith the Lord the maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it; the Lord is his name; call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jer. 33:2-3).  God answered Hannah’s prayer.  God answered Hezekiah’s prayer.  God answered Nehemiah’s prayers.  All of these individuals prayed with trusting hearts.  If we do the same, God will hear and answer our prayers as well.

            Prayer takes heart.  Thus far, we have seen that it takes a dependent heart.  It takes a seeking heart.  It takes a humble heart.  And, it takes a trusting heart.  Prayer is not for the faint of heart for sure.  The heart must manifest many positive qualities in order for prayer to enter the throne room of God and have an impact upon the King of the Universe.