PRAYING BOLDLY
When something happens that is out of the normal routine I will perk up my ears. Why did that just happen? Am I supposed to be doing something different? That very thing happened to me this past week, not just once, but twice.
Every morning after I get my cup of coffee and feed the dogs I settle down and read my morning devotion from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. By the time I finish with the day’s devotion and read all the corresponding bible verses, it is time to take the dogs out to potty. I will grab my phone and go and sit in one of the rocking chairs to watch them roam around in the yard. I normally check my emails and then read one of the Proverbs:31 ministries devotional that has been emailed to me. When I read a devotional that I really like I will save it so that I can go back and look at it again.
This morning I took out my phone and hit the email button. It came up on an old devotional from back in February that I had saved. I thought, “how strange” so I re-read the devotional and closed it out and then continued to read the rest of my emails. I went back in the house and gave the dogs their treats and gave Beckley his morning shot. Then I sat down to work on the computer for a few minutes before I started getting ready for work. My phone dinged to let me know I had a notification so I picked it up and opened it. When I clicked on my email the same devotional came up again!!! I had closed it out earlier and had read other emails. This devotional was probably 50 or more emails down the line so there was NO reason for this to ever open up again. It could only have been God trying to tell me something.
Praying Boldly. That was what the devotion was on. I admit that I struggle in this area and since the Lord keeps bringing this up to me, I figured that he was telling me to work on this. The first thing I thought was, why do I have trouble praying boldly?
Rejection.
I hate being told no. I assume everybody is the same way. What if I ask for healing and the answer is no? What if I ask for a job and the answer is no? What if I ask for a baby and the answer is no? When I am told “NO” I think that you don’t like me. If I don’t ask then I can’t be told no, problem solved. NOT! What if I ask but I ask timidly? Maybe I will just ask by saying, “If it is your will.” Of course, it is only if it is His will, but by adding that little caveat I save my feelings.
Pestering.
Am I pestering the Lord? Doesn’t he have enough requests on his plate without me adding mine to the pile? I’ll just ask for the really “important” things, like healing my friend. I’ll not bother him with petty things that I would like. I will just work hard and try to do it on my own.
Bossy.
Heal this, bring that, give me, give others, etc. I do “ask” but there are times when I feel like my asking is almost demanding. I might ask my children to clean their rooms but I really am telling them to clean their rooms. Is this the same attitude that I am taking in my prayers?
The bottom line is this, the Lord is not going to reject “me,” I am not pestering “Him,” and asking is not “bossing.” The Lord “wants” to give to us but He also “wants” us to ask. When He says no we just have to remember that it does not mean that He doesn’t love us, it means He has something different in mind. His ways are so much bigger and better than mine could ever be and I need to remember that I am not seeing the entire picture.
I am now practicing praying boldly. I am asking with no fear of rejection because I know that He is not rejecting ME. He just has a different agenda that I don’t know about. Today, take the next 15 minutes and pray boldly for whatever is in your heart. Let the Lord hear you ask so that He can answer.
Have a Blessed Sunday!!!
I truly love Jesus Calling! I belong to a Facebook group by the same name and many women from around the world comment on daily Jesus Calling readings. Have a beautiful day!
Tania, can you please share with us the verses we can reference about praying boldly? I have the same problems feeling like I am bothering God, or being pushy or bossy. I always say, “If its your will”, and to be honest with you, I had heard that we should ask for what we want, but I just feel so nervous to. I thought maybe reading the verses that encourage this would help. I would SO appreciate any guidance you can offer. THANK YOU for sharing this post!!
Matthew 6, verses 6-8, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (NIV).
Also, James 1: 6-16 might help.
Thank you so much! I appreciate it, Tania. <3
I accepted your challenge, thank you for the reminder. I appreciate your boldness!
So thankful for this post!
Thank you Tania, for that message. It spoke to my heart. I definitely have a hard time asking for what I want because my life has been so blessed it seems greedy to ask for more. When my children were young I knew what they wanted and needed but sometimes I just waited to hear from them how important it was to them rather than automatically providing them. I suspect my Heavenly Father is the same way so it’s up to me to pray so He can hear me!
Great post, thank you! We will never truly understand the power of prayer while on this planet but we do need to model our prayers after the heros and heroines in the bible. They were never afraid to directly ask God for what they wanted, for protection, for direction and God was always faithful.
Another great Sunday post that inspires me. Ever since I saw The War Room, it has remained on my mind this is the time to become a serious prayer warrior. So many people need prayers…. my best friend had a diagnosis of kidney failure for her youngest cat just after saying good-bye to the oldest kitty she loved. Then a dear friend whose 12 year old nephew diagnosed in October with leukemia went into remission after massive prayers but was just told it is back. I need to boldly go to the throne on their behalf, plus so many more I know.
I am forever grateful you recommended the War Room in earlier posts. The movie made a huge impact and gave me the kick in the backside to move faith to a deeper level. Thanks, Tania! You touch people in ways you can’t imagine and your blog is being used by God big time.
Your post is so timely! My elderly father has been in the hospital 4 times this year. I told myself that I just couldn’t take another trip to the ER. Well guess what? There I was on Friday. My company move means I am going to have to drive the highway in rush hour. I told myself that I just couldn’t do that. Well guess what? I keep telling myself “no I can’t do that” but God keeps telling me “yes you can.” And, you know what? He is right. It’s not always easy, but he has more faith in me than I do!!! Thanks, Tania! I am praying boldly!!
I can do all things through He who strengthens me, and so can you!
Oh well Tanya that spoke so strongly to me too. There is something I have been praying for for many years and have never received. Lately I have been afraid to ask for it. But your devotional was so helpful and thank you for teaching me that God asks us to pray boldly believing.!
Charlcy, it is weird but some of the worst things that ever happened to me have turned out to be HUGE blessings. Maybe you should start looking at this prayer from a different angle.
I love all your posts and receive them via email every single day; however, it is your Sunday posts that I enjoy the most!!!