The Character of a Praying Person

 "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double-minded." James 4:8

Read: James 4-5

The true person of prayer spends time with God, not just for a few minutes in the morning or before a meal, but throughout the entire day. Such a person starts his morning greeting God and carries that conversation through every moment of the day, then closes the day with a heart of thankfulness and a departing sweet "Goodnight" to God.

Such a person seeks refuge in God when things get tough.

"But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head." Psalm 3:3

He believes God will take care of him.

"I lade me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me." Psalm 3:5

A praying person honestly assesses himself before God.

"Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah." Psalm 4:5

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" II Corinthians 13:5

 He realizes that he may not always get what he asks for, but he will receive what is best for him, and this will lead him to praise God. 

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

Such a person develops a deep and sincere attitude of gratitude that reaches to the very depths of his being.

“Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.” II Corinthians 9:11

Praise and thanksgiving lead to a heart of joy and peace, even in the toughest of situations.

“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 15:11

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” Acts 16:25

Because of his continual fellowship with God, his countenance and his impact on those around him will bring God glory, even when undergoing tribulation.

“And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him [Stephen], saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.” Acts 6:15

How has your prayer life been lately? Is it showing, not necessarily by the answers, but by who you are for having spent time with God?

For further study, read: I Samuel 30; Psalm 56.

To God be all glory and honor and praise! Amen and Amen. 

"But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation." Psalm 69:13.

Man of Prayer

 "Draw night to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." James 4:8

A.W. Tozer was a man of prayer. He wrote on such subjects as knowing God, worshiping God, living a crucified life, and so on. He was known to spend much time praying, lying prostrate on the floor. As a part of his regular devotional life, he read hymnals, claiming the hymns of old were a necessary part of growing in our relationship with God. 

Photo by Samuel Martins on Unsplash

The apostle James gives the attributes of a person of prayer. Such a person doesn't depend on written prayers in a prayer book to religiously read. He doesn't pray at set time, reading down a grocery list of names and prayer requests. Such a person has a relationship with God from which he prayers.

Prayer is a conversation with God and much more. Prayer, when done with an attitude of truly seeking the presence of God, deepens our knowledge and understanding of God. If lacking this experience, James tells us a person simply needs to ask God for it, but to do so believing God will provide.

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5

"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." James 1:6-8

The phrase "double minded" comes from the Greek word 'dipsychos', which means wavering, uncertain, doubting. It signifies that the person is divided, two-spirited, and vacillating in opinion or purpose.  

Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden of Eden. What a privilege. The apostles often spoke of their prayer life. If you look at their epistles, you'll find their prayers included thanksgiving, praise...essentially the element of worship.

I enjoy spending time alone with my husband. He is my favorite person to be with. Part of my pleasure is telling him how much I appreciate and love him, and hearing him say the same. Sometimes our times are filled with discussion on our dreams, our family, our work, and those things that make up our day. The time is special and I find myself growing closer and understanding him better each day because of these conversations.

Time with God results in the same, a deeper knowledge of God, a deeper appreciation of fellowship with Him and a keener desire to obey and please Him. That's when a person knows he has spent time in true prayer.

However, often people pray with their mind on one thing, while their words run their grocery list of names and prayer requests before God. The prayer isn't said in faith because they are simply going through the motions their habit of prayer dictates. That's not to say you shouldn't have a habit of praying. Rather, that it not be a religious habit, done without any real consideration of who one is praying to.

Prayer is about a person's relationship with God. The focus of a person's prayer needs to be on that relationship, deepening it, enjoying it, growing in the knowledge and understanding of God. That relationship is beautiful, powerful, more fulfilling than any other relationship, and it begins with true prayer.

"But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou are my help and my deliverer: make no tarrying, O my God." Psalm 40:17

"The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry." Psalm 34:15 

Conversation with My Heavenly Father

I have imagined my Heavenly Father coming to my room each morning to have a conversation with me. 

Over a week ago, He was trying to get something across to me, something about seeing His hand in tough situations, having joy in bad times, and the like. And of course, I nodded and grinned and said that I understood and agreed wholeheartedly. Then He sighed (I’m sure) and allowed me to proceed with my day.

This conversation was held over the course of a week where I anticipated having a successful discussion with my oncologist which would lead to the end of my chemo treatments and all such medication. I was quite optimistic that I’d get my way, and I’d be able to breathe easily at the end of the appointment, ready to live a happy life free of side effects, treatments, and doctor appointments. Hmmm.

Things, as you may guess, did not go as planned. No, I shouldn’t go off the chemo or meds. There’s too high a risk of the cancer returning. No, my life was not my own…well, okay, that was what I was hearing, not necessarily what the doctor was saying, but you know how that goes.

Suffice it to say, we came to an understanding. I would go off the chemo for three, maybe six and no more than nine weeks. And during that time, I would go to all sorts of other doctors' appointments eating up all the precious free time I was looking forward to having, and all the world was going to come to an end…. well, again, what I was hearing—not necessarily what the doctor was saying…the world coming to an end, that is.

When the appointment was all over, I wanted nothing more than to cry my woes on someone’s shoulders. So, I hopped into my truck (cattle needed to be attended to irregardless of my emotional situation) and headed for the ranch. 

I figured I would call my dad. He’s always good for a conversation on the woes of my life. Hmm. Either he wasn’t home, or he’d determined not to answer the phone when my number flashed (I mean, really, who wants to listen to a whiner when you’ve got better things to do?) (Love you, Dad…you’re amazing).

So, there was my eldest daughter. She should be home. But an unanswered call was quickly followed by a text stating that she was in class and would catch up with me later (later, of course didn’t come for a couple of days…sigh).

Not wanting to burden anyone else, I turned on my playlist and was struck with the concept of my God right there where I was at, waiting for me to turn to Him, to do just what He’d been trying to tell me all week long, preparing me for the disappointment I’d just faced.

And so, I wept. I cried both for the joy of knowing that my Heavenly Father cared, for the forgiveness He gave me, the smile He sent my way, and for (when it started to click in my brain) what He’d been trying to get me to see: look for His hand in all things.

But He wasn’t quite done.

After doing what I do with cows and calves, then coming home and doing what I do at my computer and my house and my yard, I took some time to watch a video and was thunked on the head by God.

Yup. I’d been looking for someone all day who would listen to my complaint (even though I’d shared it with God in the truck on the way up). I wanted someone to say I was justified in my complaint; I was righteous in my perception of things….and clearly, I was not behaving as God had been instructing me to do. Sigh.

Forgive me, Lord. I’m thick headed and know nothing. I can say, as Job: 

“Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.” Job 42:3

I’d like to say I’m a little wiser now…and perhaps I am only in that I’ve been humbled, but….ummm…I know myself too well. Nonetheless, I’m so very thankful for my Heavenly Father Who is quick to teach, quick to correct, and quick to forgive. Who is both merciful and righteous, both gracious and just. Got to love a God like that. Got to love my wonderful Heavenly Father.