Solomon spends the second half of 2 Chronicles 6 talking to God about prayer. I love how he starts this section of his interaction with God: “Can it be that God will actually move into our neighborhood”? The temple is built and yet Solomon is amazed that God will be coming to town. It is mind boggling to think about God being right among us, but that is exactly how He works. He does not just sit up on the throne in heaven disconnected from our lives. He is right among us every moment, intimately interested in what we do. Solomon makes a list of qualities that the prayer relationship should have between God and His people. Do your prayers have these traits:
1. Intercessory
2. Personal
3. Energetic
4. Devout
5. Desperate
6. Alert
7. Attentive
Throughout this chapter Solomon also talks about the result of prayer. Over and over he talks about the failure of the people, that they are sinners and when they finally pray and return, Solomon asks God to respond with these kinds of descriptions:
1. Forgive
2. Act
3. Judge
4. Set free
5. Listen
6. Return
7. Start over
8. Train
9. Send rain
10. Reward
11. Honor
12. Do what is right
13. Do what is best
Certainly these are all action items that describe how God will interact with us when we pray. Our God is alive and listening. He is waiting for us to pray so He can take action like the words on this list. He is alive and well, waiting to move. Are you asking? The other key lesson in this section revolves around why prayer matters. Check out what it says: “So that people all over the world will know who you are and what you’re like, and live in reverent obedience…So they’ll know that you personally make…what it is”. The end game for prayer is to point people to God. To glorify His name. It is not about us – we are the beneficiaries of prayer but we certainly are not the center focus. It is about the very nature of God and making the world aware that HE is the one who must be glorified front and center. Do people know who God is and what He is like by how you pray? Does anyone know how God responds to your prayers? We need to pray in a way that God is glorified. That doesn’t mean we stand on the corners wailing prayers like the Pharisees did in Jesus time. It does mean that we journal and record what God does and we share that with people in humility as we see God move. How will the world ever know our God and the power of prayer if we don’t talk about it? Not focused on us, but on HIM. Who have you shared your latest answer prayer with? I encourage you to do that today, so they will know that God alone makes things “what it is”.
Posted by asorensen 
