More Than a Prayer

Hello Bride of Christ,

A couple of years ago my family and I spent a week at Yellowstone National Park. One thing this trip had a lot of was preparation! Before, during, and even after we had to spend time preparing for what lied ahead. The preparation not only made us ready for future events but allowed us to thoroughly enjoy the moment we were preparing for once we were in it! Since we took the time to prepare we knew what to look out for, what to expect, so no worry or distraction came and robbed the joy from the moment. The ever present moment. 

Did you know that prayer is the moment to prepare for? Prayer is not just the preparation. There is preparation done for prayer. 

In Psalm 5 David's song notes this preparation for prayer which gives way to forming an expectation of what prayer will be like and what to expect during and after prayer. David writes, "O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch." (Psalm 5:3) 

David reveals where he drew the confidence from to start this prayer song to the Lord with such direct commands: "Give ear to my words...consider my groanings...Give attention to the sounds of my cry" (Psalm 5:1-2)

David had prepared in the morning. In the morning alluding to first thing. In the morning he prepared his sacrifice. What offering are we giving to the Lord? The Lord no longer requires blood sacrifices as that was paid once and for all through Jesus on Calvary. But to prepare for the Lord does require something, as Paul in Romans writes "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship." (Romans 12:1) 

Bride of Christ, we are called to prepare ourselves to be living sacrifices, holy (separate from this world), and pleasing (living according to his ordinances) to God. It's only then, once we have prepared ourselves we too like David can pray to the Lord with confidence and watch. Watch the Lord move and be God. If you want more than a prayer, prepare yourself for the Lord, because the Lord our God will lead and make straight the path before you.