praying again

After my fast last year I had a very hard time praying. I just didn't understand why I needed to pray if my Father knows and sees everything I want, need, and will need. As much as I tried I just couldn't bring myself to pray without ending that prayer with, "Well, you already knew that." I hate doing things that seem futile. I hated thinking I was just babbling off some petty wish list while God twittled His thumbs wondering when I was going to get to the good stuff. It has been a very frustrating year. To start it off with some amazing time of fasting and closeness with God and then to end it wondering what the hell.

I start my prereqs for med school next week. Knowing I would have a pretty heavy load, 16hrs, and a full time job, I decided to start studying early to kind of front run the load. As I read my physics book I was fascinated by Newtons laws.

First law: The velocity of a body remains constant unless the body is acted upon by an external force.

Second law: The acceleration a of a body is parallel and directly proportional to the net force F and inversely proportional to the mass m, i.e., F = ma.

Third law: The mutual forces of action and reaction between two bodies are equal, opposite and collinear.

This third law really hit me. Newtons laws not only explain physical phenomenon but they also explains spiritual truths as well. There is a force that opposes me. There is a God who is for me, there is an enemy that is against me. Prayer isn't about imploring the hand of God. Prayer is not about getting God to take notice. Prayer is not about hoping I am seen and noticed. Prayer is God's way of creating power to overcome evil, strength to overcome obstacles, and force to overrun the enemy. His promise is that we are more than overcomers. We have more energy than the evil one, than the obstacles present, than any excuse to fail. We have been given power by the Holy Spirit.

Do you get it. We have been given the ability to generate power. We have been given FORCE, ENERGY, to run over the opposing force that stands against us. Jesus told us to pray with faith. Faith is confidence with what is unseen and hope for what we expect. Faith builds power to overcome what we currently see and experience in life. Faith enables us to steamroll forward. Jesus said that anything is possible to him who believes. I have never understood that. I never got why it was always placed on my shoulders. It is not the lack of God working, it is that there is an opposing force that hinders us.

An angel told Daniel that when he began to pray he started to come to him but was thwarted but as Daniel prayed the angel was able to overcome. You see prayer builds power and force that enable us to overcome the opposing forces in our lives.

Our current reality can change. But we must have faith and confidence in what is unseen. As we pray in faith and hope. That unseen becomes what is seen and replaces what we currently know as reality. Have vision, have hope. See something else. You don't have to deny what is today. But you don't have to believe it will be your tomorrow.

Prayer builds power. Faith builds force. Belief brings energy.

God is already for us. So prayer is not about converting Him, convincing Him, or recruiting Him to be for us. He already is. And He has given us the tools we need to live victorious lives.

I am praying again. I pray different. I know that God is for me so I don't beg and plead. I pray with faith and hope.