Here is a post I have on my Facebook page – and what follows is a
commentary that I often share, to help open eyes and move past religion and
ritual, and move into life, and fullness, and more…
“At the basic level prayer is not a ritual or exercise or even a list of requests –
Rather, it is a matter of heart which flows out of our relationship with Jesus.
It is an ongoing conversation.”
But in reality – it would be best to simply say, “prayer is not a ritual or…” The
point here is the relationship we have IN CHRIST and the full time 24/7
abiding of the Holy Spirit.
As believers we need to see and practice the understanding that Christianity
is not a set of rules, expectations, or behaviors – it is being in Christ and it is
also Christ in you.
If we look at all of the OT and NT examples of relationship, of abiding, of
letting roots go down deep, of being caught up in the Spirit, etc.. we have to
recognize the reality of being one with God.
It’s a similar discussion regarding church – for we do not go to church, we
are the church.
A few more comments on prayer and praying;
It is not about works or attainment, it is not about standing outside at
midnight pounding on the door crying out for bread. It is recognizing we are
IN relationship, we are in the family, we are heirs together with Him, that it is
He good pleasure to give to us and to be with us and to inspire us and to
work through us.
So many struggle with prayer and work at prayer – all you need to do is listen
to others (and listen to yourself at times too) to see that many times what is
being asked for HAS ALREADY been given in Christ.
We do not need to be so fixated on the devil. So many live in fear, and the
fear of retaliation, when in fact we have victory and dominion in Christ. You
do not need to fight the darkness, you only need to turn on the light – and
the darkness flees. You to not need to live in fear, for in perfect love, fear is
cast out.
There is already, in the earth today a fullness and an abiding and a richness
in Him – we already have it. We do not need to pray and work for what has
already been freely given. I am not discounting special and powerful events
and heavenly visitations – what I am saying is that we are IN CHRIST – and we
need to live like it and help other believers to do so too.
We are not beggars crying out for a morsel of bread, we have all things in
Christ.
Making a Difference 