Praying Like Sons

Praying Like Sons

Prayer. It's not just a duty, it's a direct line to the King of Kings. As a believer, you have instant access to His throne room and every resource within His Kingdom. Need wisdom? Favor? Provision? Creativity? Ask! He hears, and He promises to answer.

We have boldness and access. Ephesians 3:12 tells us, "In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." Because of Jesus' sacrifice, we don't have to come to God timidly or fearfully. We can come boldly, knowing we are loved and accepted.

Hebrews 4:16: "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Ephesians 2:18-19 “Through Him We have access... and are of the household of God.”

Jesus taught His disciples a revolutionary way to pray out of SONSHIP to their Father. (Luke 11:2)  It's a prayer that honors The Father heart, seeks His mercy, asks for daily needs, and ultimately aligns our hearts with His purpose to advance His Kingdom. So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God.

This model of prayer brings your life, business and vision into alignment with Kingdomcentric Purpose. When His Kingdom is our highest priority blessings are promised.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Praying as Jesus taught is less about a list of requests and more about a rediscovering our identity. Reminding us who He is, the King of Kings, and who’s we are, Sons and heirs to His Kingdom forgiven, empowered, and destined for greatness.

Obstacles to Prayer

Two of the greatest obstacles to effectual prayer is selfishness and materialism. Both rooted in idolatry. God is crystal clear, He will not share a relationship with any other god! When material outcomes and the blessings become the object of prayer we are distracted and need to center our prayer priorities on Kingdom outcomes. Everything else is an organic result of that.

A third obstacle to prayer is fatigue. This is a good reason to prioritize prayer so that you can give of your best time to intimacy with God. Doing so will charge your day with the rest that is in Christ. Prayer in and of itself is restorative for mind, soul and body. (Hebrews 4:1~9)

When we pray out of sonship aligned with God’s will and design our focus is Him and the Kingdom. Everything changes. Fear subsides because we see Him as Father, Provider, Healer, a present help in all trouble. This is why Jesus model for prayer starts with Our Father. This single phrase anchors our identity and assures our faith. This model of prayer places us sqaure in the middle of His Purpose, Power, Provision and Grace!

Few recognize the position or access afforded by sonship. When we recognize our position as sons it should transform our prayer life. This is why Jesus’ Model for prayer emphasizes and prioritizes acknowledgement of the Father position of God. Jesus even uses the analogy of the father son relationship to emphasize prayer. The more we acknowledge Him and our position in Him the more intuitively we act out of that position and access. (Matthew 7:9)

Recognizing our position as sons and daughters of God and heirs to His Kingdom radically changes how we approach prayer and engage in spiritual warfare. We are not merely servants or subjects in God's Kingdom; we are His children, princes, co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). This royal identity grants us authority and access to the King's resources.

Ephesians 6:12 tells us, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." We are engaged in a very real battle against a spiritual enemy, but we are not fighting alone. Luke 10:19 declares, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." Through Christ, we have been given authority over the enemy and his schemes.

Here are some key Biblical ideas related to praying as sons and daughters of God, with a focus on authority:

1. Sonship and Inheritance:

• Romans 8:15-17: We've received the Spirit of adoption, crying out "Abba, Father!" This signifies an intimate relationship and the position of an heir. As heirs, we share in Christ's inheritance, which includes authority.  
• Galatians 4:6-7: Because we are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!" This confirms our identity and allows us to approach God with confidence.  

2. Authority in Christ:

• Luke 10:19: Jesus gave believers authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. This authority is derived from our connection to Him.  
• Matthew 28:18: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus. As His followers, we participate in that authority.  

3. Boldness and Confidence:

• Hebrews 4:16: We can approach the throne of grace with confidence, to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Our position as sons and daughters allows for boldness in prayer.  
• Ephesians 3:12: In Christ, we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.  

4. Praying with Faith:

• Mark 11:24: Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Our authority is released through faith-filled prayer.  
• James 5:16: The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

5. Alignment with God's Will:

• 1 John 5:14-15: This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. Praying in accordance with God's will is key to effective prayer.  

"You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." (James 4:3 NKJV)

This verse highlights that unanswered prayer can sometimes be attributed to wrong motives. Here's a breakdown of what praying amiss entails:

• Selfish desires: Praying with the primary aim of fulfilling our own desires and pleasures, rather than seeking God's will or the good of others. This can include praying for material possessions, status, or revenge.
• Wrong motives: Having a heart attitude that is not aligned with God's heart. This can include pride, envy, unforgiveness, or a desire to manipulate or control.
• Lack of faith: Not truly believing that God is able and willing to answer our prayers. This can lead to doubt, fear, and a lack of persistence in prayer.
• Disobedience: Living in a way that is contrary to God's Word and then expecting Him to answer our prayers. This can include harboring sin, neglecting our relationship with God, or refusing to forgive others.

In contrast James 4:2 says, “You do not have, because you do not ask." Prayerlessness leads to lack, lack of awareness, familiarity, and confidence. When we fail to pray, we miss out on the blessings and provision that God desires to give us, in part because we do not acknowledge Him but lean first into our own ability or resources. Acknowledging our sonship creates familiarity with God.  Remember when you were a child and seeing that rarely seen family member and how awkward hugs and conversation were. Unfortunately, many believers respond to God as an estranged father. With familiarity we recognize that He is the source of all good things.

Familiarity also Aligns our hearts with His will. We seek direction for our lives that align with His Kingdom purpose. As a result of familiarity prayer comes more naturally and comfortably and living in alignment Makes His provision and blessings more readily available. We open ourselves to the abundance He has for us.

Our pursuit of the disciplines of a prayerful lifestyle are not about legalistic qualification, or missing hell, but rather living with heavenly access here now, to influence those we are destined to disciple.

Relationship, Not Ritual: Prayer is not a religious chore or a box to check off our spiritual to-do list. It's about cultivating a vibrant, ongoing relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Grace, Not Works: We don't pray to earn God's love or approval; we already have it through Christ. Prayer is a response to His love, a way to connect with Him and receive His grace.

Freedom, Not Fear: A prayerful lifestyle is not driven by fear of punishment but by a desire for intimacy with God and a passion to see His Kingdom come.

Transformational Power: When we live with a constant awareness of God's presence and power, it transforms our perspective and our actions. We become more compassionate, courageous, and effective in our witness. Our voice should sound like that of our Father affirming His value in others.