FIVE KEYS TO POWERFUL PRAYER
Terry R. Baughman
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
This generation seeks answers instantly on the internet. Our vocabulary has expanded to accommodate contemporary usage. While Google is an expansive tech company, they are well known for their search engine which can instantly find answers to frequently asked questions. The entry of keywords will produce thousands of websites in response to a query. The name of the company has become a verb to identify the search action. One might hear someone say, “I googled to find the answer.”
Unfortunately, Google cannot help us find all the answers. In our search for the “Will of God” we will not see it materialize on our device screen as a result of our questions. Google cannot return answers or resources for the weighty questions of eternity or the moral dilemmas of ethical situations. We can use internet resources to define words and perhaps bring up articles of what others have found in their search for answers, but it will not result in the answers to the most perplexing questions in our quest for God.
Even though the Apostle Paul did not have the internet he was aware that there are some things that cannot be seen or understood with natural wisdom. The things of eternity and the wonders of God’s preparation cannot be viewed with human eyes or comprehended with natural ears. But, Paul said, “God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10).
Some answers will only be found through the Spirit of God as we seek Him through prayer and meditating on His Word. He desires us to know His Word and His will for us. He has given us His Word and His Spirit so that we might seek after Him and find Him. “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us” (Acts 17:27 NIV).
Without the Spirit of Christ we are unable to understand some spiritual concepts. Paul said, “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV). However, the Holy Spirit is a free gift available to all. As we seek God we must first seek to be filled with His Spirit. It is a promised gift from our good and great God, “If you … know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13).
Through the Spirit we can begin to understand the things of the Spirit. It is not that God is so mystical or elusive, but rather that we are carnal and blinded through our natural inclinations. The more we seek God the more we will comprehend the things of the Spirit. By the power of the Spirit we find the answers we are seeking. Take confidence in the words of the Proverb, “Those who seek me diligently will find me” (Proverbs 8:17).
Scripture:
“You will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29).
Terry R. Baughman
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
This generation seeks answers instantly on the internet. Our vocabulary has expanded to accommodate contemporary usage. While Google is an expansive tech company, they are well known for their search engine which can instantly find answers to frequently asked questions. The entry of keywords will produce thousands of websites in response to a query. The name of the company has become a verb to identify the search action. One might hear someone say, “I googled to find the answer.”
Unfortunately, Google cannot help us find all the answers. In our search for the “Will of God” we will not see it materialize on our device screen as a result of our questions. Google cannot return answers or resources for the weighty questions of eternity or the moral dilemmas of ethical situations. We can use internet resources to define words and perhaps bring up articles of what others have found in their search for answers, but it will not result in the answers to the most perplexing questions in our quest for God.
Even though the Apostle Paul did not have the internet he was aware that there are some things that cannot be seen or understood with natural wisdom. The things of eternity and the wonders of God’s preparation cannot be viewed with human eyes or comprehended with natural ears. But, Paul said, “God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10).
Some answers will only be found through the Spirit of God as we seek Him through prayer and meditating on His Word. He desires us to know His Word and His will for us. He has given us His Word and His Spirit so that we might seek after Him and find Him. “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us” (Acts 17:27 NIV).
Without the Spirit of Christ we are unable to understand some spiritual concepts. Paul said, “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV). However, the Holy Spirit is a free gift available to all. As we seek God we must first seek to be filled with His Spirit. It is a promised gift from our good and great God, “If you … know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13).
Through the Spirit we can begin to understand the things of the Spirit. It is not that God is so mystical or elusive, but rather that we are carnal and blinded through our natural inclinations. The more we seek God the more we will comprehend the things of the Spirit. By the power of the Spirit we find the answers we are seeking. Take confidence in the words of the Proverb, “Those who seek me diligently will find me” (Proverbs 8:17).
Scripture:
“You will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29).
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