APD - Ask Pastor Don #12

“Pastor Don, my question is different from some of the ones you’ve been dealing with in past weeks. It has to do with my walk with God - particularly my prayer life. I feel like there is no actual relationship between my devotional prayer times and my actual growth in Christ. There are so many unchanged parts of my heart. Is there any advice to help me with this?’

What a fabulous question - though not an easy one. Long ago I read these words and just copied them into my notes. I know they’re not all original with me, though I can’t remember the source. I just know I’ve found them life-giving for my own prayer times. Here’s what you should seek the Lord for when you desperately long for a changed heart:

1) Pray for deeper delight in God:

Whatever it takes, Lord, give me delight in you as the greatest treasure of my heart.

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)

2) Pray that the Holy Spirit constantly purifies your desires:

Whatever it takes, Lord, align the desires of my heart with yours.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9B10)

3) Pray for ongoing humility to be fully aware of your dependence on God:

Whatever it takes, Lord, increase my awareness of my dependence on you in everything so that I will live continually by faith.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

4) Pray for deeper discernment and a clarifying of Biblical vanues:

Whatever it takes, Lord, teach me to discern good from evil through the rigorous exercise of constant practice.

“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:14)

5) Pray that God deepens your craving for a God-pleasing life above all other hungers:

Whatever it takes, Lord, keep me desperate for you because I tend to wander when I stop feeling my need for you.

“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.” (Psalm 119:67)

6) Pray that God keeps you motivated to be disciplined in your pursuit of His will - paying any price to remain loyal to His kingdom:

Whatever it takes, Lord, discipline me for my good that I may share your holiness and bear the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

“He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:10B11)

7) Pray that God deepens your awareness of the brevity of life and the urgency of using time wisely for eternal significance:

Whatever it takes, Lord, increase my resolve to do your will with all diligence.

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15B16)