"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9 (New Living Translation).
When we pray, we approach the Maker of the universe, who simply thought about the creation of the universe, spoke it, and it was there! He obviously operates at a much higher level of power and efficiency than we can even begin to grasp with our finite minds! Therefore, when we come before Him, we have to recalibrate our expectations to a higher level. We have to reach beyond our "normal" to access His infinite capabilities.
We honor God when we ask Him for miraculous provisions and interventions. We dishonor Him when we limit Him by acting like He is not able to take care of us. Most of us will agree that God is able to help us generally, but most of the time we doubt His willingness to help us specifically. We fuss and worry, often thinking that others must be more deserving of His provision than us. As a result, we simply don't ask and don't receive from His infinite resourcefulness what we desperately need.
We must elevate our thinking to remind ourselves that God is able to change any situation with a whisper. His words never fall to the ground powerless and limp:
"The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it." Isaiah 55:10-11 (New Living Translation).
Do you comprehend just how powerful this is? One word from God creates brand new realities and abundant resources! All He requires of us is to acknowledge His omnipotence. We must approach His throne with the confident knowledge that nothing is impossible for Him:
"For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37 (New Living Translation).
We must all think at a much higher level when we pray because God is much greater than we can even imagine!
Action Step:
- Can you remember times, when you were so overwhelmed by the perceived immensity of your problems, that you almost felt bad to ask God for help?
- Make a commitment to never again talk about your "mountains of problems" as if they are a challenge for God. God looks down on mountains, not up! Get His perspective on things.
- Make a choice to always elevate your thinking to the realm where nothing is impossible for God!
- Honor God by inviting Him into your challenges. Invite Him to speak a word ... and everything will change for the better!
- Honor God by inviting Him into your challenges. Invite Him to speak a word ... and everything will change for the better!
Review:
1. Prayer Is Simply Talking And Listening To God.
2. Prayer Should Flow From A Contrite Heart.
3. Your Prayers Should Be Confident.
4. Your Prayers Should Be Concise And To The Point.
5. Your Prayers Should Be Consistent And Constant.
6. Pray In Jesus' Name.
7. Pray About Everything!
8. You Do Not Have Because You Don't Ask God.
9. Asking God With The Wrong Motive Doesn't Work.
10. Ask Expecting To Receive From God.
11. Ask God To Bless Your Enemies As You Pray.
12. Ask The Lord To Make You More Loving As You Pray.
13. Make Talking To God A Priority Every Day.
14. Pray According To God's Will.
15. Prayer Frames Help Shape Our Prayers.
16. Ask God To Change The Way You Think.
17. Think At A Higher Level When You Pray.
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