Things God Wants To Show Us When We Pray

Hello, this is Will Hardy with ManTalk Radio. We are all about breaking down the walls of race and denomination. Your chosen Truth Network Podcast is starting in just a few minutes. Enjoy it, share it.

But most of all, thank you for listening to the Truth Network Podcast. Today on Encouraging Prayer, we're going to talk about things God wants to show us when we pray, things that you won't discover really any other way. You might even call them secrets, James.

Yeah, that's right. Psalm 25 14 tells us that the Lord confides in those who fear him. Whereas the King James puts it, the secret of the Lord is with those who fear him. And I love that.

I also like the way that the New Living Translation puts it because it sheds a little light on it. The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. And that's what friends do, you know, they let each other in on things that they wouldn't tell someone else. There's a closeness there. And God makes himself known in beautiful ways when we approach him. And that's where we're going with this.

Oh, wow. Yeah, that's a great thing to talk about because each of those translations contain the same word fear, you know, and that can be a little bit difficult for us to understand. Yeah, exactly.

Great point. The word fear in Hebrew isn't the same as our English word, not when it's used with reference to God. We tend to think about fear as terror, you know, something that's going to hurt you that you want to stay away from. But when you fear God, it's actually the other way you want to draw close to him.

So it's, you know, this is something that's a different concept. And it's an example of this is in Jesus time when there was a non Jew who wanted to draw near to God and he took on many of the Jewish practices, maybe attended the synagogue, you know, that person was called a God fearer, right? So this has more to do with respect and even love and admiration. It's a very positive thing. Yeah, it makes me think of that verse that says, you know, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

That's it. So let's talk about how this applies practically when it comes to talking to God and just being with him. First, we need to understand this as a tremendous privilege, not something we, you know, have to do to stay in, you know, good graces with God because otherwise he's going to be angry with us, you know, that kind of thing.

No, this is something we get to do. Jesus is bringing us into a relationship with God like he has. You know, we become sons and daughters and think about this. Each family has its own special things that no one else may know about. There's a closeness there that no one else may share. Yeah, I see where you're going with that because when we draw close to Jesus, he really does show us things in really amazing ways. I mean, there's a friendship there.

Yeah, that's it. And Matthew Henry wrote that to live life prayerfully is to live a life of delight in God. In other words, to enjoy his company. And I think we just have to go there. We need to see that as the goal of our prayers. And I write about that also in my book Peace Through Prayer because it's so important.

Oh yeah, you do. And I think it's important to understand this when it comes to talking to God because not only is that what he wants for us, it also helps us want to be with him. Yeah, we really need to get that because this concept of family when it comes to knowing God is everything. Healthy families want to be with each other. You want to spend time with your dad if you still have him because you love him and God is the ultimate perfect father. And that's why Jesus goes after this concept of God as Abba Father, that, again, tenderness there with him.

That's what he's after. So James, let's talk about some of the things we can do to nurture that in our lives with God. What are some practical ways that we can fear God?

Great, yeah. Okay, so this morning I was reading a piece by F.B. Meyer where he was writing about obedience and he said that Jesus wants us to obey because it's then that we, quote, taste his rarest gifts and he knows that in the keeping of his commandments there is great reward. And, you know, that's another way of saying that he wants us to obey because it's good for us.

Good things are going to follow as a result. Not that things always work out the way we want them to, but, you know, that concept of his rarest gifts. Man, I love that, you know. It's something we don't want to miss.

When God lets you in on something he's about to do, for example, or, you know, just draws near in a special way and pours more of his love into you in a way that you know is just for you and whatever you're going through at the moment. Oh, that's so good. That's what this is about. Yeah, I'm so glad you put it that way because we all wrestle with obedience really on a daily basis if we're honest.

Do you? That's it. You're so right. You know, that's the other point. Honesty. We've got to be honest with God about that.

Yeah, I do. You know, I really, Lord, help me to want what you want, you know. And again, it's this honest humility with Jesus about the things we're struggling with. It's so important because he's a friend of sinners. And again, this is all about closeness, right?

Right. And if we're really sincere about that, if we are sincere about that, you know, where we are struggling with obedience, you know, then he can meet us there and really change our hearts. Yeah, that's, that's so true. And I think a big part of this concept of the secret of the Lord, you know, can play into those times when we're tempted because, you know, our temptations go deep, but God is able to go deeper still, you know, and that's just it to change our hearts. So, you know, I can imagine this conversation, you might be thinking, well, what are some of the secrets the Lord has told you? And I guess the response is, well, if I told you, it wouldn't be a secret.

Well, you know, it raises a point. God has special things just for you, just for me. And the way we get them is by loving him, by being with him in prayer, by just going to our Abba Father and saying, Lord, help me to be with you. Help me to love you. I want to know your secrets, Lord.

You already have all of mine, so draw me close. So beautiful, so beautiful. I think this would probably be a good place to pray. Father, thank you.

Thank you that this is your heart, that you want to be closer than we know, closer than we so often think. Lord, help us. Help us to just draw near because there's nothing better.

There's no one better. Oh, we thank you for your perfect love in Jesus' name. Amen. You can hear more from Pastor James by visiting his website, jamesbanks.org, or by visiting Peace Church in Durham, North Carolina. May God bless you and encourage you as you pray. This is the Truth Network.