DAILY VIDEO DEVOTIONAL
When I think of my greatest moments of prayer, I don’t necessarily think of those times when God gave me extraordinary answers. The greatest seasons of prayer have come when I simply and quietly met with God. Those times have been intimate moments of fellowship with the God who created and saved me. They have been the quiet moments when I just meditated on who He is and what He’s done.
One of the greatest times of prayer took place in Capetown, South Africa, when I sat on some rocks overlooking the ocean for several hours and didn’t utter a word. I simply sat in awe of the greatness of our God. Another time was as a new believer. It was when I memorized Scripture each morning and wondered at the greatness of God’s love. Another special time was when my physician told me not to speak for two weeks. My wife and I went to the Grand Canyon and spent a week “being still and knowing that He is God.”
Those moments were all very special, and I still smell the fragrance of His presence. It lingers with me years after those meetings. Those moments have been so precious to me because they sum up the nature and purpose of prayer. So many people have a misunderstanding or shallow view of what prayer really is. Too many believers view God as some sort of “Santa Claus.” They only go to God to ask for things, never just to get to know Him. Don’t misunderstand me. God will give us more than we could ever ask or think about asking. But He’s more than a benevolent God who is passing out gifts to His children.
God is our Father. He desires to get to know us on an intimate level. He wants to have fellowship with us. When we understand that, then we begin to understand the nature and purpose of prayer. It’s then that prayer becomes so meaningful. It changes from emotional desperation to spiritual intimacy with Him.
A young lawyer once asked Jesus what the greatest commandment is. Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Mt. 22:36, NIV). God created and saved us that we might love Him. Yet, we can’t love someone we don’t know. In order to get to know a person, we must spend time with that person. That’s what prayer is. It’s God’s method of spending quality time with us.
If I were to ask you, “Do you really love God,” I’m sure you would probably say, “Oh, yes, I love God.” But what would your answer be if I asked, “Do you have quality time alone with Him? Do you have an intimate relationship with Him?” I love my wife and children. Because of that, I make time to spend with them. When you truly love someone, you want to spend time with that person. And if you truly love God, you make time for Him. You want to be with Him, not just get something from Him. When you understand the true purpose of prayer and begin to practice it, a sweet fragrance will linger with you for years to come.
Matthew : Chapter 22
34) Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35) One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36) “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37) Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38) This is the first and greatest commandment. 39) And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40) All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Book of the Month
Sammy Tippit told his fiancée, “I can’t promise we’ll be rich, but life won’t be boring.”
Sammy had no idea what an understatement that would become. Beginning in the bars of Baton Rouge and the nightclubs of Chicago, Tippit has shared the news of life-changing faith in Christ all over the world – including in the middle of a revolution in Romania, the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda, and war in Burundi and the Congo.
Sammy’s lifelong adventure has come at a great price. He’s been cursed, threatened, arrested, deported, and blacklisted. He’s also been personally broken, ravaged with illness, and devastated by grief.
Yet he continues to preach to in stadiums, in open fields, and via satellite technology to hundreds of thousands around the globe. For all other books…
About Sammy Tippit Ministries
STM has been providing inspiration and help around the world for nearly 50 years. Sammy Tippit, founder and president, is a world renowned counselor, teacher and evangelist with experience serving and helping people in over 80 countries. Sammy provides materials that help people tackle a broad array of social, societal, psychological and spiritual issues. He is particularly passionate about making materials accessible to other countries around the world. Sammy is married to Debara “Tex” Tippit, and they have two children and five grandchildren.
Sammy Tippit Ministries is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization.
Contact: info@sammytippit.org
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