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Eyes on the Prize
by Nicholas Lewis Eyes on the Prize! Eyes on the Prize! We've heard it countless times, but today in my blog I have another application for it, one that pertains to our prayer life. I'll keep it simple. What do you pray for? I'm not asking how you pray or how much you pray. No, I am asking what do pray for. Maybe itsyour job, your health, your money, your schedule, your latest activities, your education, your relationships, etc. It can even be prayer for others, but for myself I have noticed a detrimental, serious, terrible mistake in my prayer life I don't pray for God to change lives I ask God to give me strength, heal others, help others in their situations. I help others! I teach others! I encourage others! But I don't always actually ask Jesus Christ to change their lives from the inside out. I don't ask that He would change their hearts or enlighten their minds. Just stick to the superficial stuff is what I have technically done. A loved one in my life needed a heart change and after years of not seeing God come through, I stopped praying for God to change their heart. Instead I began praying about my ministry, my job, and my own self. I did not KEEP MY EYES ON THE PRIZE! Nonetheless I did pray a few times, but God as gracious as He is did change there heart despite my sloppy, nonchalant prayers. This is where I realized that as Christians, as followers of Christ we don't pray for the most important thing a lot of times. We don't pray for God to change others hearts and give them a heart of flesh and replace that stone hardened heart. Instead we say, "God, be with them." Maybe we have forgotten to keep our eyes on the prize. Maybe you're askingWhat prize!? I believe one of the greatest prizes in heaven is restoration of man between man, man between God, and man with himself. This is the reward, genuine fellowship with all three, yet we pray for that which will fade or is merely a mean to bring glory to God. We don't pray for what matters! People become faces and just people! The truth is that God didn't come to this world to save your schedule, your education, you job, your comfort, your things, or your church activities. He came to save that which mattered, people. He had His eyes on the prize! What about us? Start praying for people and for God to restore all three relationships in their life. First and foremost pray they come to know God and commune with Him. Jesus does not pray for the things attributed to you. He prays for you! Jesus does not love the things that surround you (I am not referring to people in this sentence but rather inanimate things), he loves you! The same is for everyone in this universe. Pray but pray for the people's hearts. Maybe then we'll start seeing a difference in this generation. RememberKeep your eyes on the prize! Ephesians 1:18 "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people" (NIV). My name is Nicholas Lewis and am currently studying to be a biblical counselor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and am also helping jumpstart a youth group at a local church. My hope is to also someday become a published Christian writer. Email: five [email protected] Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |