05/12/2022
As part of our Battle Plan for Prayer study in our Men's Growth Group, we've been focusing on this Prayer Target each week. We wanted to catch everyone up to what we've been learning about this over the last few weeks.
The vertical and horizontal lines on the target represent the cross. Prayer begins with the cross of Jesus Christ. The cross allows us access to the Father.
John 14:6 says: "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.' " Our relationship to God through Jesus is the key to healthy and effective prayers. We need to be vertically aligned with God through the cross before we can do anything else.
The horizontal line across the middle of the target represents being aligned well with others in order for prayer to be most effective. God wants us to walk in love and in unity with others. Bitterness toward others can hinder our prayer lives. Also, if we have wronged others and not made it right, God wants us to stop delaying and to make things right. In His word, God Himself has noted that when people are unified, they are able to exert tremendous power and momentum. Even ungodly people! So imagine how powerful unity can be for people who worship and obey the God of the universe. If they seek the Lord and act in unity, nothing can stop them. That's why the Enemy does everything possible to keep God's people divided. Because once we come together in unity, we gain momentum and take ground for the kingdom. United prayer is powerful. But prayer from a divided people ... well, not so much. This is why removing bitterness toward others and choosing to forgive is so crucial.
Lastly for this week, the circle in the middle will be where you eventually write the names of the people you are praying for, but today we want to talk about that circle itself. On the chart the circle in the middle represents the heart of the person praying. The condition of your heart affects your prayers. Consider the following verses:
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. JAMES 5:16, NIV
If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear. PSALM 66:18 NIV
No one is saying you have to be perfect, but what these verses are saying is that the condition of your heart does matter when you pray. James said the reason for a delay in God's answer is not always simp1y a timing issue. Sometimes "you ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures" (James 4:3). If lust, greed, bitterness, or pride is at the heart of a request, God may veto an answer in order to guard us from the hurt or idolatry that could result from the toxic request.
Hopefully this encourages your prayer life this week!
