behind closed doors

lord i don't even know how to talk to you. i want things to happen and your word to prevail in my life and my heart. i want revelation to result in action, in a change of mind and a change of heart. i want you to take over. i need you to. i can't live without you. what does it really mean to pray? how is it that i truly think that i can stroll along without a deeper and wider prayer life? im drowning without it. the enemy is attacking in full force.

in the word we see a picture of Jesus clearing the temple. we talk a lot about how this shows Jesus acting on anger. what He says is key: "how dare you turn my father's house into a market!" jn. 2.16 and "my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. but you have made it a den of robbers." mk. 11.17. Jesus intends for us to pray. he intends for the church to pray. what are our churches doing? if Jesus was angry about these people making up their own rules about what they could do in God's house, what does he think about people making up their own rules about what they SHOULD do in God's house? how is it that we spend 4 hours in church on sunday with somewhat less than 10 minutes of prayer. this is just hitting me. maybe thats why i have been so unsettled in my spirit lately. i don't talk to the Father enough. WE don't talk to the father enough. bless the Lord that Jimmy and Ann want to make their house a house of prayer. prayer moves the heart of God. God answers prayer. God uses prayer. He shows up when we pray. He rewards prayer. He equips us through prayer. i love mt. 10.27: "what i tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim it from the roofs." if we want anything to happen, if we want change, if we need anything, we ought to pray. but probably most importantly, prayer means that we get to talk to our Father! we get to adore him and praise him. woah! another minor point is that prayer changes what others see. even non-believers can tell a difference in a believer who truly prays. laying on of hands and intercession is amazing and prayer teams are essential; but what is going on in secret, behind the closed door of each believer?

*part of this blog was inspired by a Jim Cymbala sermon.*