Ignorant prayers are dangerous
I saw a breath-taking mountain scene with a deep valley and a river I could barely see winding between the mountains. Suddenly a large sheet with the front two edges held up, keeping something back, descended from the sky and then burst open. Releasing water crashing into the valley and covering it to about mid-way up the mountains. A lake now covered the ground that used to be covered in grass and trees. I was left feeling like something wasn’t right. A mistake had been made, an error in judgment perhaps, or something happened too abruptly and there hadn’t been enough time for preparation.
“Why am I feeling so sick to my stomach?”
“Often people pray for and even sing for the floodgates of heaven to be opened up. This is good in My timing. This is devastating when a spoiled child asks for more than they are ready to handle. Trust me when you’re in a time of preparation. I know what is best for you. Rushed, impatient and presumptuous prayers are not prayers led by My grace. I grant you love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. For this reason, so that your desires are tempered by wisdom.”
“In time, the valley will absorb the life-giving water into itself, but the destruction has already taken place. Trees were uprooted and died. A new ecosystem will need to take hold.”
“Sometimes, I desire the destruction of old and useless things, such as thought patterns, emotions, or traditions that are ungodly or ignorant of My grace. Then there should be rejoicing when things are pulled down or destroyed. But there are other times when I water a tree I do it slowly with each drop pooling around its roots and sinking deep. I desire those roots to have to go deep to look for the water strengthening the entire tree. Shallow roots make a tree easy to topple.”
“There are many reasons I have for how, when, and where I distribute my gifts from heaven. Your job is to trust that I have the full knowledge necessary to choose correctly for you. If you rest in this and use the Holy Spirit’s guiding to craft your prayers, they will not be ignorant or rushed they will be precise and effective.”
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I know there have been times where my prayers have been born of fear and not His perfect love. No doubt creating ignorant prayers that fall far short of the mark Christ would have me aim for. At these times, in particular, I think it’s important to seek the body of Christ to help you pray.
Let other not as close to the situation pray for you. For not only the resolution of the situation but also for your peace to be able to hear from God. Can you think of a time you lifted up ignorant prayers or fearful prayers?
What did you do to get back to God’s peace?
Do you have anyone who helps you with this? If so, you are truly blessed to have such a friend in Christ.
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]” (James 5:16, AMP)
Prayer for you and me: Lord, help us be content in our current process you have us submitted to. Teach us to pray in submission to the Holy Spirit so that our prayers will not be filled with ignorance, but filled with Your grace. Grant us the wisdom to move and speak only according to Your wisdom and not our own so that we do not voice ignorant prayers.
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