Flashlights, Lasers and the Scope of Prayer
Talked at Surrender about PRAYER tonight. In reading Jesus' prayer before going to the cross in John 17, it struck me how prayer is like a flashlight AND a laser pointer. (My son was actually just given a laser pointer with a flashlight built into it. Very appropriate to this analogy.) Here's what hit me.
In John 17:9, Jesus says, "I am praying for them. (the disciples) I am not praying for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours." That's laser-like focus ... very specific and very focused. I wonder if often God doesn't respond to our prayers because they're just not specific enough. What if the Lord is waiting for us to get so focused in our prayer life that we hear what's on His heart and pray along with Him. Often my prayer life can be so scattered and so broad that it lacks any specific focus. Jesus' focus ... faithfulness with the relationships God had given Him.
Later in John 17:20, Jesus prays, "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word ..." (that prayer was for us ... for believers today.) That is a flashlight prayer. A prayer that reaches beyond the immediate and casts a broad, wide light. Jesus is praying for all believers throughout time who would respond to the Good News. That's generational praying! And it challenges me to pray bigger, wider and farther. Bigger in scope, wider in reach and farther in time.
And we are called to follow His example. So, in what areas is God challenging you to get specific and focused? In what areas is God challenging you to think broader and wider? Let's pray like Jesus and connect with the heart of the Father.
In John 17:9, Jesus says, "I am praying for them. (the disciples) I am not praying for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours." That's laser-like focus ... very specific and very focused. I wonder if often God doesn't respond to our prayers because they're just not specific enough. What if the Lord is waiting for us to get so focused in our prayer life that we hear what's on His heart and pray along with Him. Often my prayer life can be so scattered and so broad that it lacks any specific focus. Jesus' focus ... faithfulness with the relationships God had given Him.
Later in John 17:20, Jesus prays, "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word ..." (that prayer was for us ... for believers today.) That is a flashlight prayer. A prayer that reaches beyond the immediate and casts a broad, wide light. Jesus is praying for all believers throughout time who would respond to the Good News. That's generational praying! And it challenges me to pray bigger, wider and farther. Bigger in scope, wider in reach and farther in time.
And we are called to follow His example. So, in what areas is God challenging you to get specific and focused? In what areas is God challenging you to think broader and wider? Let's pray like Jesus and connect with the heart of the Father.
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