Pray Passionately

This morning at church Dr. Dean reminded us of how much we need to pray fervently and passionately during the dark times of our life.  He used the story from Luke 22:39-46 when Jesus prayed passionately during a dark time in his life.  When he prayed, sweat dropped from his brows.  This showed how passionately he was praying to the Father during this time.   Dr. Dean also reminded us of how Jesus prayed for his companions/disciples during this time.  In our dark times, we are to have prayer partners who are with us during these times in our life.  In this same respect, Dr. Dean painted a picture of how we need to pray with passion, diligence, fervency, and desire during dark times in our life.  All in all, God revealed to me today that I need to have a passionate dependency on him this coming week for him to lead me in some important areas in my life.  I know that he is in control and he is working in my life.  The main thing is that I need to cry out to him more to lead me to the right job for me.  We are desperately dependent on Jesus for everything we need in life and he is all we need.  God reminded me of how much I need to daily depend and abide in him: John 15:5. 

Surrender your plans to : Psalm 37

This next step of prayer that I am discussing today is the surrendering of our plans to God.  When we surrender our plans to God, then he will provide for us in his timing in our life.  Also, we are to wait on God when seeking his leading in our life. 
First, committing our ways and surrendering to God in Psalm 37:5 shows our trust in him.  Our ability to surrender helps God see that we trust him and his ways.  When we surrender all our plans and desires to God, then he will act upon our behalf through Jesus.    Jesus hears our cries and requests when we go to him.  Lastly, in 37:4 when we delight in who God is then he will provide for us in his timing. 
Second, it is important that we wait patient on God for all things in life.  The Psalmist first mentions this important concept in first seven when discussing waiting on God to save the saints from trouble.  The Psalmist also mentions waiting on God in verse 34 when discussing waiting on God to inherit the land. This shows us the when we exalt God and wait on him he will provide for us.  Overall, this theme of waiting on God shows the importance of waiting on God and he will provide and protect us. 
Thirdly, this Psalm shows us that God leads us when we rest in him.  When we are abiding in him daily, God leads us in his will and ways.  God then gives us the ability to surrender our plans to him.  Also, when we abide in God and see his leading in our life, he will protect us.  Lastly,  when God leads and when we rest in him, God reminds of his law and his ways. 

Ask Specifically

Dr. Dean's sermon today reminded me that is important for us to be specific in our asking.  When we ask specifically, God hears our prayers and cries.  Also, it is important that we are bold in our asking.  When we are bold in our asking he hears us through Jesus.   He also helped me see that we are to be confident in our asking in boldness.  In this confidence, we are to be persistent in our prayer to God.  This implies an asking, seeking, knocking, then we will find an answer.
It is also important we pray specifically.  In the verse that are used for this asking in prayer it specified a specific number.  It is important we keep a prayer journal. He reminded us that God never gives us on his children or does anything that is harmful to them.  When we ask specifically God may say yes or no. 
Lastly, we are to ask expectantly of God. In this manner, we are to pray with a hope that God will provide for us.  God knows what we need before we even ask of him.