prayer blessings

A granting of Blessings

Drawing near to God is a life-long endeavor that should at no time be conducted without the realization that through prayer this is made possible. Often when Christians are overwhelmed by the burdens of this world their thoughts end up with a realization that a drawing near to God is what is needed in their life, yet they struggle with depression, doubt and fear that this burden of “acceptable” sin in life will somehow keep them from a closer relationship with God. A misconception of the nature of God and sin is that God cannot tolerate sin. Quite the opposite is closer to the truth—sin cannot tolerate God. Sin runs from God trying to drag His creation with it, but there is no escaping the presence of God. This is where the struggle of man’s existence truly dwells. God is light and sin is trying to hide within the shadows from His presence, but from the presence of God there is no escape and only when we stand and face God with our sin in hand does He fully address our sin and alleviate it. This is the blessing of prayer.
It is within the act of prayer that we stand before God examining our sinful nature and expelling the individual sin while gaining understanding of the cause and affect of sin. Too often one attempts to shrug sin off and leave it in the shadows while conversing with God only to return from prayer to sin. The dog returns to its vomit time and time again. This is why so many spiritual retreats wear off so quickly after they are done. A few months go by and all that is heard is how much a return to that setting of prayer is needed. We treat sin as a pet that is tended to by our neighbors or coworkers in our absence—once returned from the retreat we may try to train sin to behave better in our lives, but the truth is we should have taken it with us and let the vet put it down. Sin is the portion of our old self that is dying within us while destroying us.
Prayer is our defense! Accountability in prayer is our most valuable asset. Now not only are we to stand before God and be purged of sin by His power, we are to stand before our brothers and sisters and recall what blessings God has granted us in His presence. These times of confession and relief are to be open and confidential yet liberating. There should be no hindrance in prayer, no holding back in our accountability. Casting off fully what we once were and putting on a new righteousness that is not of self but of community. This is the full completion of Kononia-fellowship with a purpose. We are to be before God with every burden, knowing well that Christ has made this possible and the Holy Spirit has led us to the throne. The aspects of God combined to the Shema-HEAR there is only one God and we are His people! This is the call that we are to go boldly into the light of His presence, allowing Him to purify what we cannot do apart from Him. That we are to return to this world with the cleansing of God and, continuing in our confession, proclaim what God has done for us—This is the Blessing of Prayer.