2/9/2010

“The preparation of the heart in a man, and the answer of the tongue, is from YHWH.  All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but YHWH weigheth the spirits.  Commit thy works unto YHWH and thy thoughts shall be established.” (Proverbs 16:1-3)

It is typical for us to imagine, to see, to desire, and to will for ourselves.  It is most common for us to form a thought, an idea, and a desire within us, and then to pray that the Sovereign Creator of the Universe will hear or discern our thoughts, imagining, and desires and grant us our wish.  Such prayer is not dissimilar to a child reporting to Santa Claus the hope of her heart, or a child making a wish while blowing out his birthday cake candles. To pray in such a way is to turn prayer into magic.  While it is indeed acceptable to make requests from the Father in intercession and supplication, we must recognize that when the prayer originates with us we are standing apart from, and in some instances, over and against, the Father.  When the prayer originates from our own thoughts, hearts, and experience, then we are like the child who makes his desires and hopes known but remains uncertain that the request will be granted.  I am not sure that this type of prayer is the most effective form of prayer.  Nor do I believe that this is what the Father is asking of us in prayer.

In the verses above we see a different form of prayer.  This form of prayer originates with the Father.  To pray in this way is to allow the Spirit of the Holy One to prepare our heart and grant our tongue utterance. When prayer originates with us, it is limited prayer.  We cannot see what the Father sees.  Our knowledge and experience is finite and very limited.  While we may think we see the whole picture, there is no way of knowing what lies beyond what we can see.  The Eternal One can see the past, the present, and the future all at once.  Because of what may yet be in the future, the Father may will some event or experience for a person’s life that will prepare them for what is yet to come.  In our near-sightedness we may see only the immediate challenge and begin to pray that the Father will deliver from the preparatory challenge.  If the Father granted our will, the person would be ill-prepared to face the events of their future.  In essence we would be praying contrary to the will of the Father.  And though our prayer may have been offered most sincerely, and with the person’s best interest at heart, we none the less would have been praying something that would ultimately prove harmful for the person.  This cannot be an affective prayer.  If, however, we are truly crucified in Messiah, then we are completely surrendered to being used of YHWH. 

When we are completely surrendered to the Father, then we allow the Spirit of the Holy One to prepare our heart and mind to receive his will.  In other words, we submit our heart and mind to the Father that he may put his thoughts, will and desires in us.  In this regard, it is the Father that directs even our prayers. The Apostle Shaul alluded to this form of prayer in his letter to the Romans.

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:26 KJV)  

Even in our prayer life we must remember that we are submitted disciples who do everything, including prayer, in the name of our Master Yeshua the Messiah.  When we do anything “in the name of” another, it means that what we do is done by their authority and is representative of their will.  We cannot originate a prayer in our own heart, mind and will, and simply slap the magic formula “in Yeshua’s name” on the end of it and consider it a done deal.  Prayer is not magic it is inspired.  True prayer “in the name of Yeshua” must originate within Yeshua.  In other words, it must be what he is telling us to pray. If we have embraced the cross then it is not we who live and pray but Messiah who lives and prayers within us.

I am crucified with Messiah: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Messiah liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 KJV)

The Spirit that filled Yeshua is the Spirit of YHWH.  Yeshua did all that he did in his Father’s name.  This same Spirit of Messiah has been poured out upon the disciples of Yeshua who are the body of Messiah.  When we pray, we must wait upon the Spirit of Messiah (our head) to inform our hearts, minds, and will what they are to ask for, who we are to pray for, and what we are to pray.  The Spirit that guided our Master in prayer must now guide us. 

When we pray in such a manner we may be assured that our prayers will not only be heard but that they will be answered, for we are praying consistent with the Father’s will.  We should also recognize that when we pray in this manner we are no longer praying separate from the Father, but the Father is, praying (expressing his will) through us.  By using us in such a fashion the will of the Father becomes known in an edifying fashion, and others are likewise encouraged to pray.  When we commit our prayer life to YHWH we may be assured that he will establish our works.