Fellow Seeker

My initial column for this e-news was an introduction of what it can mean to me to be a Seeker of God.  I’m going to continue on with this theme for my column. I get to share with you those aspects in life that fill out my seeker experience and I hope and pray it will be a blessing to each one that reads the Fellow Seeker column.  By far the most important part my writing to you is not my mere words or experience, but the scriptures that accompany each column.

I have contemplated prayer.  Prayer is a pillar as a seeker of God. You perhaps have heard the words, “Always have a prayer on your heart”. Or maybe contemplated the words of Jesus found in Matthey 6:6-7 as Jesus encourages us to enter into our “closet” when we pray rather than make a spectacle of praying like boisterous hypocrites.  The Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 encourages us to “pray without ceasing”. What does the words of Jesus and Paul really mean?  How does it work?

We can’t all be in our closets all the time.  We have to be in conversation with people we live with, work with, and inevitably interact with.  The words of Jesus and Paul as earlier noted are encouraging us to have a state of mind and spirit rather than literal behavior.  Although, literally getting away in an alone, quiet, secret or happy place is a wonderful place to meditate and commune with God.

“There is no time or place which it is inappropriate to offer up a petition to God.  There is nothing that can hinder us from lifting up our hearts in the spirit of earnest prayer.  In the crowds of the street, in the midst of a business engagement, we may send up a petition to God and plead for divine guidance, as did Nehemiah when he made his request before King Artaxerxes.  A closet of communication may be found wherever we are.  We should have the door of the heart open continually and our invitation going up that Jesus may come and abide as a heavenly guest in our souls.

- Ellen G White, Signs of the Times, December 16, 1889

 A state of heart and mind is what it is all about.  It can be at a time when I get rear-ended in an intersection, or a time when I’m in disagreement or conflict with a work associate, or a time when a child is needing my close attention.  And, those times of praise such a time of securing a new job, a time of visiting with a good friend, or even the time of just waking up to a new day.

 Have you heard of the “One Word Prayer”?

“Many of us try to speak more in our prayers than is necessary.  God already knows.  God does not desire flowery words flung toward the heavens.” 

- Bo Prosser-Theologian, Christian Educator, Motivational Speaker

May I suggest a few one word prayers; Thanks, Help, Yes, Peace, Renew, Reveal, Courage, Patience, Guide, Heal, ……and more.

Prayer can be a thought, a word, a conversation with God in your quiet happy place. God wants to hear from you.  God wants to speak with you.  God wants to be with you.

Power; Psalm 46:1, Isaiah 40:29, 1 Chronicles 16:11

Requests; Philippians 4:6-7, 1 John 5:14-15, Mark 11:24

Amen; Or in other words “Let it be true”, “Let it happen”, “Let it be as God would will it to be”

1 Peter 5:11, Jude verse 25, Psalm chapter 23

Yes; I may not know what God’s will is – I just want to be willing to do His will.

  Just say “yes” to God.  Philippians 2:13, Psalm 40:8, Psalm 143:10

Encounter with God; Jeremiah 29:12-13, Hebrews 4:16, Matthew 6:9-13

Romans 8:26; The Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words.

Prayerfully,
A Fellow Seeker

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