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Any work to which we give ourselves must have one clearly defined goal if we're to be successful. That goal is the one thing for which we long. It must be that which motivates us in prayer. It doesn't matter if all the details work out exactly as we've planned, as long as that God-given goal is accomplished. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, the bottom line was simple - the glory of God. That was the single objective in the prayer life of Christ.
When Jesus taught His
disciples to pray, He concluded by teaching them to pray, "For Thine is
the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen" (Matt. 6:13b
NAS). The chief end of all He taught was the kingdom and power and glory of
God. When we look into the heart of Jesus as He prayed that high priestly
prayer in the 17th chapter of John, we're struck with how consumed He was with
the glory of God. He uses the word "glory" 8 times in its verb or
noun form. Jesus longed for the glory of God and longed that His disciples might know God's glory.
I often hear people pray
noble prayers - prayers for the sick; prayers for world evangelism; prayers for
the church; prayers for revival; and prayers for protection. I believe that God
wants us to pray such prayers. But our goal in prayer must be much higher than
all these petitions. There's only one end to which we should be praying - the
glory of God. All other praying misses the mark of the high calling of God upon
our lives.
We often pray for bigger
and better things. We pray for more people, larger crowds, and better finances.
But God is longing for us to seek His face. He's looking upon the motives of
our heart. When Samuel was trying to determine who would be Israel's
leader, God whispered to him, "Do not consider his appearance or his
height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks
at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart"
(1 Samuel 16:7 NIV).
Revival takes place when
the cry of our hearts is for the glory of God. Evangelism is most effective
when the deep longing of our lives is for the glory of God. Churches grow when
their sole motive is the glory of God. Battles are won. Victories are realized
when we seek His glory above all else.
God won't share His
glory with anyone. He alone is worthy of all the glory and honor and praise.
There's none like Him. When our hearts long for one thing and one thing alone -
the glory of God - we're on the verge of seeing God do extraordinary things.
This must become the passion of our prayers. It must be the delight of our
desires. Oh, the glory of God! How our hearts must be consumed with the longing
to see His glory. Then we will know what it means to pray with the heart of
Christ.
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