PRAYERLESSNESS - INWARD FOCUSED
In our last Truth, Prayerlessness – Teach Us, we were introduced to Not Having, Not Doing, or Not Being, because of Not Praying. PRAYERLESSNESS - TEACH US — Benton T. Thompson III (bentonthompsoniii.com)
Let’s go a little deeper into that definition of Prayerlessness. It will help us to better understand the magnitude of this Truth.
Prayerlessness is not about, not believing in prayer. Many believe.
Prayerlessness is not even about not praying. Many pray.
Prayerlessness is about something far greater and deeper than either of these things.
We can all understand what Praying Less means, we get that part. But Praying Less and then adding “Ness”, is a much bigger deal.
The suffix “ness” refers to a resulting condition. What happens When!
Prayerlessness is about the condition that happens to me when I don’t pray, a.k.a. the side effects of less prayer.
Cause and Affect! Cause I don’t pray regularly, its Affecting me.
We have all likely heard teachings or perhaps read a book about the many habits of highly effective people, or some version of that.
Well, regular and continual prayer is a habit that joyous, peaceful, and strong believers in God should adapt. Pray Continually. 1Thes. 5:16
In these next few talks we will examine, prescribe, and treat Prayerlessness in the areas of Not Having, Not Doing, and Not Being.
Prayer is not something to be measured and mastered by efficiency like algebra or using an excel sheet program. Prayer is not a pivot table.
Prayer should be natural and simple. No religiosity. No theatrics. No grandstanding. Just real honest heartfelt conversation with God. (Abba)
Prayer is Gods love language for our relationship with Him.
In good relationships you can discuss anything. That’s what God desires.
God is both strong enough to hear us and yet sensitive enough to feel us.
He is well equipped to handle our mix of Righteousness & Ratchetness.
He only requires we speak truth. No lies. Be vulnerable and naive.
Today we’ll focus on Prayerlessness and the aspect of Not Having.
Our treatment plan for Not Having is Inward Focused Prayers. This will address those areas of not having.
What’s an Inward Focused Prayer? Where you talk to God about you. Bringing your needs, wants, comments, and concerns directly to Him.
The lie on Inward Focused prayers is they are carnal and selfish.
Many believe that our motives must be holy & heavenly when approaching God. That’s not realistic. From dust we came. Gen 3:19
God wants to hear about us, our day, our week, our struggles, our victories. Just like any good parent wants to hear about their child’s day.
We should feel free to yell, complain, cry, argue, just be honest about how we are feeling. That’s what intimacy is all about.
God wants us to share personal details with him. The more we share with Him, the closer we get to Him, and he to us.
“Lord bless me and keep me, smile on me.” Numbers 6:24
Its okay to ask God to bless you. You’re just being honest.
Some believe that an Inward Focused Prayer is sinful.
Look at the honesty in which Moses prayed to God.
“Why have you brought this trouble on me? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive any of them? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms like I’m a nurse?” Numbers 11:11
Can’t say for sure, but I picture his fist raised while uttering these words.
Or the Psalmist who had this to say.
“Wake up Lord, Are you asleep? Why do you look the other way? Why do you ignore our suffering?” Psalm 44:23
Look at what the great prophet Jeremiah had to say.
You tricked me Lord, and I was really fooled by you. Jeremiah 20:7
Abba wants to hear about all our brokenness. Even if we blame him!
Even Jesus had to keep it 100, when he was on the cross.
“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46
Crying out honestly to Abba is transformative and therapeutic.
When we pray inward focused, we acknowledge our weakness and admit that we need God.
Inward focused prayers are essential to our growth and maturity. We must start where we are, not where we wish to be.
You O Lord desire truth in our inward parts. Psalm 51:6
We will be saved by grace, and we must also live by it.
The only way to move beyond “self-centered” prayers is to pray through them and not avoid them. When it’s time God will shift us to greater.
Like the flight attendant says, Put your mask on first, then help others.
How to Pray. SHOP — Benton T. Thompson III (squarespace.com)
In our next talk we’ll look at Prayerlessness and Not Doing.
This is a Thompson Truth
