Thoughts and Prayers

Heart in the Clouds above Kilberry, Knapdale

Have you noticed that nowadays, when a distressing event occurs, politicians or concerned individuals say that so-and-so is in their thoughts, only rarely is prayer mentioned?
Even the word ‘prayer’ has become pushed out of common usage. Of course, this is part of our increasingly secularised society, which does not like to acknowledge that Christian faith has a meaningful part to play in the lives of many, even although this is far from the truth. Faith seems to be treated as an add-on commodity, with a range of spiritual options available.

Many years ago, I was in that same camp. I see now that deep down I had an embryo faith, but refused to let it grow. I treated faith as an optional extra and it wasn’t ‘cool’ in my peer group.

“The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.”
(Psalm 94:11)

The Bible makes clear that there are 2 types of thoughts. Those of man and those of God.

“Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
(Isaiah 55:7-10)

We can see from this well-known passage that only the thoughts of the righteous man (a man or woman rightly related to Father God) will be heard, because they will chime with The Lord’s nature; with who He is.

“He who would love life and see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.
Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.”
(1 Peter 3:10-12 quoting Psalm 34:12-16)

Oswald Chambers said that prayer is the work to which the Lord called us, “but remember, it is prayer based on His agony, not on our agony”. He also said “Never say you will pray about a thing; pray about it.”

“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
(John 14:13-14)

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PRAYER
I thank You Lord and praise You for delivering me day by day from living life my way to choosing to living life Your way; in Your life.
Hallelujah!