This is from Daniel Lim, who is from the International House of Prayer in Kansas City (IHOP-KC), which is famous for their prayer and focus on intimacy with Jesus. He was talking about prayer, and he asked us all a question, why so we pray?
He listed a few different reasons of why we pray:
- We have a need (someone is sick, we need a car, house, food)
- We have work/ministry to do
- The enemy is fighting against us, and we have to do spiritual warfare
- We want to see the lost saved
- We want revival to come in our area
However, one day there will no more need, no more work, no more spiritual warfare! Do we still need to come before Jesus? What then is the reason to come to Jesus?
And this is simple, yet profound: when every demon is bound, there is no more work to be done, no more sickness or pain, Jesus is the reason to come to Jesus.
Jesus is the reason to come to Jesus!
He said that prayer is not a means to an end, prayer is the end. The final destination of every christian is going to be an ongoing worship meeting in heaven. What a glorious day that will be!
So in a world that is so driven by works and getting things done, what do we need practically to truly be with Jesus just to be with Him? What can we have so that we're not always thinking about what we need to do, but just loving being Jesus?
We need the knowledge of God. We need to know that Jesus desires to be with us. Jesus prayed in John 17 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. (NIV, emphasis added)
And I really believe that if we see God not as someone who just wants us to serve Him, but also to be with Him, it will radically transform our view of prayer! When we truly realize that God loves us not because of what we do, but because of the way He is, we will WANT TO PRAY instead of having to pray.
If you're having trouble loving your prayer times, and feeling more like its more of a duty, than anything something you like to do, here is something you could pray that I believe could be a spark to your prayer life.
Father who loves me, thank you so much that you loved me so much that you sent your son on a mission out of glorious heaven down to earth. Thank you that you love me even before I love you. And Jesus, even before I did anything for you, you died for me. Thank you Jesus that like a shepherd after a lost sheep you're pursuing me with your love, like a bridegroom chases after His bride. Holy Spirit, thank you that you, the infinite, all powerful God, are dwelling inside of me, and I am your temple. God, thank you for love, and you want to be with me where I am. I ask that you would help me to know your love and your delight in me even more. Thank you Jesus, in your name amen.
