The Principles of Prayer XXVIII

 There is a difference between having to do something and getting to do something. When you have to do something, the underlying perception is that it’s a chore, a burden, or something we would rather not do, like waking up before dawn to commute to a job we are indifferent toward on the best of days, and spending eight hours doing tasks we would never consider doing were we not being paid for it.

Getting to do something denotes both willingness and desire, presupposing that it’s fun, enjoyable, and something that, given the chance, we would gladly keep doing for the rest of our days, like eating cake for dinner, or enjoying the sun on a perfect day while our toes curl in the sand. Granted, for some, spending time in the mountains is the ideal, but personally, I’d take the beach over the forest every time, without fail.

Coming before God in prayer is not a chore. It is not a burden, or something we have to do, but rather something we get to do. We get to speak to God. We get to fellowship with Him. We get to grow our relationship, and be in His presence, and we should look forward to our time alone with God with as much enthusiasm and joy as we would doing anything else we look forward to and yearn for.

If ever prayer feels like it’s becoming a chore rather than a grace, it’s a telltale sign that you’re losing sight of who God is and who we are in relation to Him. If first love burns bright in your heart, there will always be a sense of excitement and anticipation when contemplating spending time with God. It’s not something we put off; it’s something we make time for because of who it is we are addressing and pouring our hearts out to.

Isaiah 46:9-10, “Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.’”

Even if you are unaware of it, and it occurs subconsciously, you will have a different demeanor when interacting with someone in authority than you would with a store clerk or a greeter at the local grocer. When we approach God with the awareness and understanding of who He is, we do not do so flippantly or glibly, but with the requisite reverence His station demands.

We honor God because of who He is, and those who fail to grasp who He is will always tend to downplay the awe and reverence the situation demands. By now, we’ve all heard the tall tales of individuals claiming to play with God’s beard or beat Him at a game of chess, and you can tell they are no more than fanciful fabrications because there is no awe and wonder in their fantastical yarns. You’re telling me you sat on God’s lap, braided His beard, and walked away as unaffected as you would have been petting a stranger’s labradoodle in the park?

You stood before the majesty of He who declared He is God and there is none like Him, and you weren’t wholly undone, you didn’t tremble, you didn’t cry out Oh wretched man that I am? The flippancy with which you relate your supposed experience tells me you’re lying through your veneers. The lack of reverence, awe, and wonder at having supposedly seen God face to face tells me it was not so.

Any man or woman who’s had a genuine encounter with God does not, and cannot, come away unchanged. His righteousness will inevitably reveal their wretchedness, and His majesty will inevitably reveal their insignificance. This is why no true servant of God has ever declared themselves indispensable. They understand how small they are in contrast to the greatness of God, and that He will do all His pleasure with or without their active participation.

God is not dependent on any one man, any one church, or any one denomination. They are all dependent upon Him. In Him we live, and move, and have our being, and absent Him we are no more than dust, destined to return to the earth from which we were fashioned.

The goodness of God is on full display not in the blessings He gives, but in that He makes Himself available to each and every one of us, at any time of the day, including weekends, and all we need do is avail ourselves of this grace, press in, and have fellowship with Him.

There is no greater blessing than being able to talk to God and know that He hears us. There is no greater blessing than knowing that when we pour our hearts out to Him, He will not turn a deaf ear or dismiss us out of hand because He has more important things to do.

If men understood the power of prayer and the grace that it is, perhaps they would not be so quick to ignore it in lieu of bombastic experiences, or fanciful stories about pet dinosaurs in heaven, or how Jesus is a big Marvel fan. Children believe in fairy tales. Grown men and women shouldn’t.

There is growth, maturing, and edification in one-on-one prayer time with God that no amount of second-hand retelling of stories or testimonies can replicate. When we endeavor to have strong, vibrant, and consistent prayer lives, the experiences of others we deemed as supernatural will become our lived experiences, because the closer we draw to God, the nearer He will draw to us, and the more of Himself He will reveal on an individual basis.

Walk humbly with your Lord. Spend time with Him. Let the desire of your heart be fellowship and relationship, rather than bombastic experiences, and your faith will grow, stretch, and mature to the point that six months from now, or a year from now, your walk will be unrecognizable. It’s not a sprint, it’s a lifelong marathon, and consistency in prioritizing God is the key to spiritual growth.

With love in Christ,

Michael Boldea, Jr.  

Posted on 19 May 2025 | 11:48 am