And pray for us, too …
Summary: Understanding prayer is difficult because it is at the same time both incredibly simple and ultimately profound.
If prayer is a state of keeping our mental focus on God, then everything else we think about comes before God, too.
It is not as if God is not aware of what we think if we put ourselves first. The difference is that God knows we are not thinking about him as we should.
Hmmm…
Let’s back up the truck for a moment. (BEEP, BEEP, BEEP …)
Jesus summarized everything God said in the Old Testament this way:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22: 37-39)
I find myself continually coming back to this passage because of its unusual clarity. Reading the Old Testament is fine. Understanding it is something else. In this passage, Jesus makes understanding the Old Testament easy.
When he says we are to love God with “all our mind,” that doesn’t leave room for anything else. If you love someone with the love Jesus is talking about, they are all you think about.
When Paul says, “And pray for us, too …” I hear him saying, “While you have your mind focused on God …”, in a sense, he is saying, “While you are spending time with God… mention us to our Father.”
Isn’t that interesting?
Paul, the one who received the revelation of Jesus Christ directly from Jesus, is asking for prayer.
Why?
This is one of the deep mysteries of our relationship with God.
The prophet Elisha was considered a powerful man of God. When his mentor, Elijah, was taken up to heaven, his only request was, “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit” (2 Kings 2:9). Elisha’s request was granted, and as a result, he was able to perform extraordinary miracles, including raising the dead (2 Kings 4:35).
If Elisha was so powerful, why couldn’t he heal himself when he became sick? (2 Kings 13:14)
In the same way, Paul had healed many people and even raised the dead to life (Acts 20:9-12). Why did God allow him to suffer in prison?
It appears we need each other’s prayers.
Pray for us, too.
Application: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” (Ephesians 6:18)
Food for Thought: What difference does it make whether we spend all day thinking about God or just come to him when we need something?
What difference does it make whether we spend all day thinking about God or just come to him when we need something?
We should include God in our everyday decisions. That’s part of being in a relationship with someone. We aren’t like a child that just needs help with everything and are still nursing on milk. God wants a relationship with us we know that, so shouldn’t we be thankful and bring everything to our Lord not just I want or I need.
Well said brother
Thank you, Tim!
I like the “milk” analogy! As we move beyond that, our relationship matures.
What difference does it make whether we spend all day thinking about God or just come to him when we need something?
As Tim so eloquently said, we are in a relationship with God. I like the baby analogy because that’s what babies do, cry out when they need something. Maturity grows as babies learn and learn to communicate not just their needs but everything about themselves. I know just personally, and from a human standpoint, if I were in a relationship with someone and the only time I heard from them was when they needed something from me, it would make me question the true nature of our relationship. I would also wonder if they are growing as a person, learning to overcome, or if they are content to just be fed.
Also, when I think of thinking about God, I think about thinking about the goodness of God, and what His presence means in my life. The application of His presence in my own thoughts and actions. More than sitting around thinking about God, more to thinking about who He is, and how He acts and trying to emulate the example Christ has given us.
I think, when we think about thinking, we should think about thinking on these things:
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
These are things to think about that align with God’s purpose in our life, fortify our relationship with Him, prepare us for His service, and help us refrain from sin.
Thanks, Chris!
I like the idea of being “fortified” for God’s service. 🙂
Thanks CH. Well stated and supported
I agree with the sentiments stated in the other comments. No one wants to be in a relationship when the other person only makes contact when they need something from you (unless they are a baby or small child). We don’t like it because we know we are being used and there is no love or meaningful fellowship involved.
Plain and simple: God deserves more. He is worthy of our admiration, adoration, attention. Etc.
Revelation 5: 9 – 14: And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign b on the earth.”
11Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
14The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Thanks, Rich!
“He is worthy!” — That is a statement that is worthy of deep thought. In fact, we could probably write a book about it! 🙂
Great responses this AM!
What difference does it make whether we spend all day thinking about God or just come to him when we need something?
Believers are a new creation, Gods workmanship, predestined for adoption through Jesus Christ, to become members of His household. Blessed beyond our ability to ever comprehend. We now have the ability to seek full-time life in God. Knowing this, we must choose to live in, controlled by our housing of flesh, or to enjoy this spiritual life given to us by God.
2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here.
Ephesians 1:5, He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.
Ephesians 2:10, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:19, Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.
To fully receive Gods blessing now, we must starve our flesh and daily, moment by moment feed our spirits. Galatians 5:16-26
Thank you, Ron!
“full-time life in God … ”
That is the goal, isn’t it? Transitioning from being “me” centered to being God centered. The first one is the lie, the second one, being “God centered” is the way we were designed to be.