The Ultimate Point of Prayer

The ultimate point of prayer is not to get things from the Lord but to live as close to Him as possible.

I love that statement! Let it sink in and cause you to evaluate the main purpose of your prayer life. I wrote about healing last week. It's a promise from God that belongs to us! It was purchased through the stripes on Jesus's back... but our prayer life and reason for pursuing Him can't be based on what we can get but what we can give the one who gave it all for us! 

Healing, blessing, joy, fulfillment, and financial stability are all byproducts of an intimate relationship with Jesus. They must not be the reason we seek Him, just an extension of that relationship. It's the face of the Healer we must desire more than His hands of blessing! 

Matthew 6:31-33 (KJV) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

God knows your needs before you ask, and yes, you should ask in prayer for God to fulfill your needs and that of others, but don't let that be the extent of your relationship with Him. If this is the accumulation of your prayers then you are missing out on the greatest part of your Salvation. Get to know Him! There's nothing like the wonderful privilege of entering His gates with Thanksgiving and His courts with praise!! Always start your prayers by entering His presence with a gift of worship! Oh, how He enjoys hearing the love and adoration of His children. 

You'll find that all your needs will begin to pale in comparison to His presence! Seek Him through His Word and bless Him with your worship! Anticipate your time with Him throughout your day then enjoy the blessing of building your relationship with Him! You'll find that the things that once seemed urgent just don't affect you as they once did and what matters most to Him will become more important to you! As you seek His face, His heart will be developed within you! 

Psalm 100:4 (KJV) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name.

Psalm 27:4-9 (TPT) Here’s the one thing I crave from Yahweh, the one thing I seek above all else: I want to live with him every moment in his house, beholding the marvelous beauty  of Yahweh, filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace. I want to contemplate in his temple. In the day of trouble, he will treasure me in his shelter, under the cover of his tent. He will lift me high upon a rock, out of reach from all my enemies who surround me. Triumphant now, I’ll bring him my offerings of praise, singing and shouting with ecstatic joy! Yes, I will sing praises to Yahweh! Hear my cry. Show me mercy, and send the help I need! I heard your voice in my heart say, “Come, seek my face;” my inner being responded, “Yahweh, I’m seeking your face with all my heart.” So don’t turn your face away from me.