Three Elements of Prayer Wisdom, God’s Part, My Part

Three Elements of Prayer

Wisdom, God’s Part, My Part

We talk a lot about prayer and the importance of it

Maybe you have had a troubling time in your life and someone said pray about it

Prayer is conversation

Conversation with God

That in its self is strange because we cannot see God

And if we do not understand how God speaks to us, we could become confused

There are three elements to prayer

The first is “Wisdom”

When we come to God in prayer we are to talk to Him

About the issue that troubles us

It is in that conversation we are looking for wisdom

In prayer, we discover wisdom for our concerns

The next two parts are our part and God’s

God does miracles, but often He reminds us that in the beginning

He gave us the responsibility to rule and take care of His creation 

When these three come together in prayer, things happen

Three Elements of Prayer

Wisdom, God’s Part, My Part

We talk a lot about prayer

and the importance of it.

Maybe you have had a troubling time in

your life and someone said pray about it.

Prayer is conversation…

Conversation with God.

That in its self is strange because

we cannot see God and if we do

not understand how God speaks

to us we could become confused.

There are three elements to prayer.

The first is “Wisdom”.

When we come to God in prayer…

 We are to talk to Him about

the issue that troubles us.

It is in that conversation

we are looking for wisdom.

Wisdom is always the best tool

to handle every situation in life.

The more wisdom we have the better

life goes for us and those around us.

Think of it this way…

You are in a business meeting and you

are talking to the owner of the business.

The owner may lay on your heart a concern or

you may come to the meeting with a concern.

In that meeting you are looking for

the best way to handle the concern.

That is prayer talking to God to find wisdom.

I have been in many meetings in my life.

 Sometimes very little is said for me to

understand the wisdom of the matter.

 Other times I have left the meeting and for

days I was in a process of getting wisdom.

God does not always speak the answer.

 He allows us to talk to Him,

 so we can discover where we

are at in our understanding.

Sometimes it is His silence that causes

me to look at the issues more deeply.

Somehow whether I am on my knees or lying

on my bed, the eyes of my heart are opened.

Sometimes it takes days to get the picture.

It is through this process of discussion with

God, I find understanding to the concern.

I find wisdom.

James tells us that whatever the concern …

Even when many trails come our way,

 that if we lack wisdom

 God gives it generously.

Even when we are the reason for our trial…

 God gives us wisdom without finding fault.

What an example of God’s care

for us when we are at fault.

 He is not looking to condemn you, but make

you wise so you can handle your problems.

Going to God in prayer gives us stability

because wisdom is not based on our emotion,

 but an understanding of truth that sets us free.

The second and third element of prayer deals

with handling the concern or issues with wisdom…

There is our part and God’s part.

Too often we come to God

wanting Him to fix everything.

I love it when God does a miracle.

But so often I find God saying I gave

you responsibility at the beginning of

creation to rule and care for my creation.

So many times we enter the throne room

in boldness, but our boldness is telling

God how to get the job done.

Our boldness is because our sins are

forgiven through the blood of Jesus.

So we should be bold to enter…

 But humble because of

what Christ has done for us.

So approach God in prayer looking for wisdom.

 After you find that wisdom…

 Ask God for understanding on

His part and your part in the matter.

Prayer is meant to change us

and that takes time.

Time to open our minds and

hearts to the wisdom of God.

Remember Solomon…

 He was given the opportunity to ask for anything.

Solomon saw the greatest thing

we can ask God for is wisdom.

Because wisdom is the answer to all things.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,

who gives generously to all without finding fault,

and it will be given to him.”    

James 1:5 NIV

Scripture Reading

 James 1:2-8 NIV

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.