Prayer

^{Matthew 4:17}From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

We all agree.

Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:9-10:

Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.If this is true, if the Kingdom is really at hand and we are praying God’s will, we should see signs of the Kingdom breaking into our present age. If we are not seeing regular evidence of the Kingdom breaking in to this present age we should be asking the Holy Spirit “What is wrong?”

We choose to spend significant unhurried time with God so that we can be transformed into His image. We become like the people we hang out with. The same is true with God. The more we intentionally spend time with Him, the more we will think and see as He does. Our minds get transformed. Our spiritual senses get tuned in to His channel. A natural outcome is that we experience regular signs that God’s Kingdom is breaking in to this present age. This is attractive to people who are being saved.

Last week I met a lumber-seller who was ready to experience God. I prayed for him on the street and he felt God’s presence. We were both surprised. Sunday I went to his house and we did a Discovery Bible study. Four of us. The lumber-seller. His wife. And a worker. We started with The question “What is going good in your life?”

Blank looks. I repeat the question differently. “What made you smile this week?”

More blank looks. Finally, “Nothing.”

“There must be something. What about mango season? Do you have any grandchildren? What about the air you breathe?” They started to get the picture.

By the time we were done there were large smiles all around. Gods felt presence was among us. They were all so grateful to have done this study. The worker who dropped in shared how he was impressed to come over. He was on his way somewhere else. I told them I would come back in 15 days, and we would see how God was moving on their situations.

I write this as an encouragement from a fellow traveller on the road to heaven.  While I sometimes see signs of God’s Kingdom I long to see it way more often. I realize Apostle Paul felt the same way.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.Philippians 3:12-14I am curious.

Why do you pray?
What changes when you do not pray?
What is your evidence?