Most of the time prayers seem to be focused on what we don’t have. Asking God to help us in areas that we are lacking in or praying for our various needs to be met. Rarely do we find ourselves in prayer seeking more of what we already have. Because we assume there is no need to worry about what we already have because we possess it. That, however, is not a good practice if we do not pray for more of what we already have, we can slowly lose it and focus on other things. Not to mention the fact that there are certain things we can never have enough of when it comes to serving God.
Please understand that this is not about praying for more money, nicer cars, bigger houses, or anything of the like. No, we need to pray for more of the attributes of God and the things that help us in our walk with God. So if you are already kind, pray that you will be even nicer. Are you patient? Ask God to help you remain patient in every circumstance. Already hungry for God’s word? Keep on praying so that you will always have that hunger. Whatever it is that you already have in serving God, keep praying for more of it every day. Yes, you have it today but keep praying for it to ensure you still have it tomorrow.
The Apostles did this very thing. They did not only pray for what they did not possess but prayed for more of what they already had. In Acts chapter four Peter and John are questioned and threatened then released by the pleading Jews. Upon being released they meet with the other believers and a prayer meeting breaks out. In which they pray for boldness. A trait that Peter and John already possess according to a statement made only a few verses earlier.
Acts 4:13 (ESV)
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus
Acts 4:29–30 (ESV)
29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
They did not pray for boldness because they lacked it. No, they were already bold the scripture makes that clear. They prayed for boldness because they wanted to ensure that they would never lose it. That they would continue to preach the message of Christ without fear. Which they did time and time again even when facing death. They remained bold because they always prayed to be bolder.
Acts 4:31 (ESV)
31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Don’t lose what you already have. Keep praying for more and more of it. You can never be too bold, hungry for God’s word, generous, loving, quick to share the Gospel or anything else that works to serve God. If all we do is focus our prayer on what we don’t have we will begin to lose all that we already have. So keep praying and growing in what you have and see the great ways in which God is able to use you.
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