Biblical Teaching on Prayer
Matthew 5:23-24
If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
~ Jesus
Pondering Point
Because outsiders watch, it is imperative that we take reconciliation seriously among ourselves – and in relation to outsiders. This is a major complaint from non-Christians about followers of Jesus. Check with the Lord about your willingness to reconcile with others.
Many Christians love the idea of bringing God gifts that would cause Him joy. The picture of God smiling over us is a warm one. Such gifts may vary from finances to sacrifices of one’s time or opportunity. They might include worshipping through music, meditation, or serving others and the like. But the offering of such gifts while letting a lack of reconciliation persist is NOT pleasing to God. We know this precisely because of Jesus’ teaching here in Matthew 5:23-24. We know that God already looks upon us with joy thanks to the forgiveness that comes through Jesus. Let’s further that joy as we live out the will of Father God by seeking to reconcile wherever rifts have developed among us. Seriously!
Prayer
Father God, just as it is Your will that we believe in Jesus as Lord, is it Your will that we reconcile with each other in Jesus’ name. Help me forgive as I have been forgiven. Where I have sinned, help me confess and ask forgiveness from those I have offended. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Prayer Thoughts
Chapter 52
The Future
The fear factor often comes up when thinking about the future. Jesus talked about fear more than any other topic. Fear is the perception that life is out of control. However, Jesus is the one who controls life. God does not give me a spirit of fear to face the future. I face the future by keeping my eyes on Jesus.
As I walk the last steps of my life’s journey with prayer, I am asking God to help me to do it with courage, excellence, poise, and perseverance. What do I mean?
Courage: Living with courage is resistance to fear. Overcoming fear has been one of the most difficult hurdles to overcome in my lifetime. Courage recognizes fear but I proceed in the face of it with calmness and firmness. My security is in God. The result can be a total performance that reaches one’s potential with excellence.
Excellence: I want to have the self-discipline to reach my full God-given potential by using all of my abilities of body, mind and spirit to the ultimate, for His glory and honor. I want the quality of my character to be one of excellence no matter what the situation.
Poise: I want my life to demonstrate confidence, self-esteem, composure, and self-control under any situation. Poise keeps me true to God and to myself. I won’t try to be someone I am not. I choose to be authentic as I project coolness, calmness and stability. Poise is a choice. I want to choose to be poised in every situation.
Perseverance: My baptism gives me hope and my Christian hope fuels the strength to bear the pressures of daily living, resulting in a life of significance.
Courage + Excellence + Poise + Perseverance = Significant Godly Life
Got his book? Read pages 230-234 in Keep Me and Keep All, Smith.
Also check out Pastor Bob’s answer to Prayer Question #10 on
p. 252: “Can God understand all languages?”