Praying it Through!

Have you ever read this passage and thought about prayer? Let’s read this passage and keep prayer in mind.
For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. (Romans 4:13-25)
We often pray selfish prayers asking Jesus to do something or claiming something in Jesus’ name and we often recite some familiar passages to justify our prayer request. After praying such prayers we may try to manufacture the miracle. I’m guilty of this myself. After reading passages like this and the one in Genesis we need to gain a proper perspective on prayer. Like Abraham we need to enjoy the Lord’s presence, his friendship taking delight in him. Secondly let the Lord give you a promise of what he wants to do in and through your life. Then after the Lord gives you a promise, pray through what the Lord has promised, and obey his instructions that he has given you. Sometimes his instructions are wait! This is when the Lord prepares us to be ready to receive the promise. Remember, God is able to call into existence what he has promised you. I invite you to read the Bible and have a conversation with the Lord.