Saturday, January 10, 2015

Praying with Jesus


I've been thinking about prayer lately, I ran across this excerpt  from the book  Hidden in Christ by James Bryan Smith;
"Setting my mind on the truth that Jesus is praying for me has changed the way I pray. I now pray with Jesus, not simply to Jesus. Jesus is interceding  for me (and you) so I offer prayers for my family, friends, and myself with Jesus, to our heavenly Father."

How is this possible that I can now pray with Christ, not simply to Him?  Think on that, it's powerful!  I'm not sure I've ever considered what a privilege and powerful thing it is to pray with Jesus...He is not praying with me, He is praying for me.
Hebrews 7:25, "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."
But as I learn to pray, I pray with Him. As my mind, heart, passions, desires, and kingdom heart-set is transformed my will aligns more, and more with His, I pray with Him....in accordance to His will. When I think of a "posture" of praying with Him I see alignment....coming together before the Father.  I see community. I see unity. I see grace-filled beauty ,and magnificence. I see transformation. I see boldness.

My eyes and faith are so small though, so as I learn to pray with Him according to His will...I am so thankful that the Spirit intercedes, transforms and translates for me. I can come boldly before the throne of Grace, in faith, knowing that it will be translated well....by the Spirit and Son.  
Romans 8:26-27, " In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."   
How do I learn this?  How do I practice prayer? Does this have to be all complicated?  And formulaic ? A system of prayer? No. I think it is very organic. Very relational. I'm not saying it should be disrespectful,  impertinent , or too casual...yet prayer in Christ shouldn't  be in whimpering fear.  I'm learning to pray with Jesus. 

I'm reminded of Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the LORD; and he will give you the desires of your heart."  As we learn who we are in Christ...as we delight in the LORD, in Christ.  As we delight in Him...we are changed, transformed, eyes are opened, hearts softened. Desires changed. Kingdom heart-set altered. I think we learn to pray with Him...

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