3 PRAY FOR GRACE TO UNLOCK GOD’S WAY TO DIVINE
INTIMACY.
Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight.
—Exodus 33:13
Grace can never be earned; it’s always a gift. Prayer doesn’t ask for grace; prayer accepts grace. Prayer says “Yes!” to grace.
Our problem in petitioning prayer stems from asking for what we want, instead of seeking what He desires to give. We make our lists and poll the lusts of our desires in order to present God with a gift list as if He is Santa Claus instead of the loving Father.
A loving Father always gives the grace that we need while wisely refusing to grant our wants. Receiving our wants puts us in bondage.
Like a child climbing into her Father’s lap and laying her head upon his heart, draw close to your Father and he will draw close to you. Listen to His heart.
The Father’s heart is generous, kind, loving and willing to bless us. We block God’s grace through prayer by not trusting His heart. We believe that we know what’s best for us and that God’s only desire is to discipline and deprive us.
A contemporary song intones, “When you can’t see His hand, trust His heart.” Intimacy means that we have drawn close to the Father’s heart in prayer. Prayer, our spiritual stethoscope, listens to His heartbeat. The greatest gift of grace given through prayer is divine intimacy—the ability to hear the Father’s heartbeat.
Stop begging or demanding. Pray for grace to draw near to His heart that you may hear what the Father has for you. Instead of demanding or begging begin listening and receiving. Listen to the Father’s heart for what grace He has for you and then accept it.
What the Father has for you in prayer far exceeds anything you could beg for or demand. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph. 3:20–21).
Jesus,
I can’t begin to imagine or ask You for what I really need today. Since You know the grace I need to receive, keep me close to Your heart that I may hear Your heart and know You intimately. Lord, right now I and say “Yes!” to Your grace. Amen.