Get Personal With God

Have you ever had a reflective moment? Some would call it a stop-and-smell-the-roses occasion. Others might deem it a come-to-Jesus instance. While still others may name it Pow-Wow time. Whatever you might title your personal review of life at the moment, my strong encouragement is to not only include God in your review but consult The Lord, Jesus Christ first and throughout the process. In other words, Get Personal With God.

Paul was sitting in a Roman prison when he had time to reflect on his life like this. As Paul studied his journey thus far he obviously included prayer to The Lord in his counsel. He had time to write so he wrote the believers in Philippi and revealed this very experience to them.

"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13-14

Paul used the phrase "I do not consider", with the original Greek word logidzomai used which had a bookkeeping or accounting nature associated with it. The word meant to mathematically count, calculate or tabulate or to make a conclusion. 

When Paul took an accounting of his life, he purposefully stated - "Forgetting what is behind". Many might deem these thoughts and experiences by Paul as his failures and especially the time when he was the accuser of the The Way or Christians. But that time had long expired. While I feel sure he was re-verifying the failures were forgotten and no longer a hindrance, I also believe that Paul was making sure his accomplishments were not a stumbling block.

I imagine many companies in the corporate scene have experienced set-backs due to over-emphasis on their successful benchmarks. Celebrating victories is important and proper recognition to the correct employees is vital, but there comes a time soon thereafter when the company must move on. The same is applicable with the individual. Paul knew this, stated this to the Philippians and declared his target - "straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  

If you read Philippians 1:19-26 you will see how Paul has been inspired or "convinced" that he will continue to live and minister. This is a huge factor in Paul taking the time and effort to stop for a moment, since he glaringly had the time inside a prison cell and not only reflect on his life but Get Personal With God in prayer.

Respectful and meaningful conversation with God is the definition of prayer. Prayer itself is the acknowledgement that self-sufficiency is no longer a viable, reasonable, successful lifestyle. When one speaks with God, many things move both in the physical realm and the spiritual realm. Committing a dedicated time to Christ Jesus and His Holy Spirit plus listening more than speaking are two helps and signs of a good developing prayer life. Prayer should also develop in the believer an excitement and passion for God's Word and desire for it to manifest.

There are many Godly examples of prayer warriors in Scripture, among them are Daniel, Nehemiah and Jesus. Focusing on the account of Nehemiah, this man of God, while he was working as cupbearer to the king in exile, heard from his brother that Jerusalem was a physical and spiritual mess. Nehemiah then prays about the situation and evidently receives a personal burden or inspiration as to who God has in mind for the job of restoration - Nehemiah, himself. This is why Nehemiah ends the prayer like this -

"Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

I was cupbearer to the king." (Nehemiah 1:11)

Even more impressive is the way Nehemiah started his prayer. He did not open his conversation with exclamations of dread and doubt. He did not begin his prayer with a grand list of demands for this awesome task on his heart. Nehemiah began his prayer by saying - 

"Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments," (Nehemiah 1:5)

Then Nehemiah presented his requests before the Lord concerning the sins of his people and the condition of Jerusalem. This reminds me of the order of approach that is set forth in Psalm 100:4 -

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."

This is the proper entrance to God's Court and Presence when we pray in any and all situations. 

As mentioned earlier, prayer moves - things, people, spirits and God. When you read the events that transpired with Nehemiah rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, one can observe prayer moving God's heart, moving the opposition through the men of Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem, the moving of the physical stones back into place and the challenge of protecting themselves at the same time, and a movement for other people to help.

The most important aspect of prayer is the alignment with God's will and Word. God's hand will not move against His own truth. We must be the ones to adjust and make our views, pursuits and requests parallel with God's perspective. James, the half-brother of Jesus, resonates with this teaching, by saying -

"You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 4:2-3)

James supplies the problem and answer within these words. Desiring and not having equals impatience which leads to taking matters into your own hands. Coveting and continuing to not get what you want is seeking the wrong source to begin with and causes a life of conflict. Then when you do pray, your prayers are not aligned with God's plans and your requests are based from incorrect motives.

To help place our prayer-train on God's prayer-track - here are some prayer helps - 

1. Enter God's presence respectfully seeking His face and company first not His favor and fulfillment of a to-do list.
2. Ask the Lord what to pray for today. What should your time be focused on with Him today? Who do you want me to pray for Lord? Seek the Lord's heart.

Introspection is healthy. However, true development really arrives when you include  The Creator from the beginning in your quiet time. Then while you consult Him, forget not your honorable approach to Him and I believe, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, you will have an excellent start on how to Get Personal With God.