E60 - Hope’s Harbor Gritty Bible Devotions - A Prayer of Realization

Hope’s Harbor

Gritty Bible Devotions

Episode #60

Title: A Prayer of Realization

Date: June 30, 2022

Contact: info@hopesharbor.net

Key verse(s): Colossians 1:9 – ‘For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Colossians 1:10 - ‘that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Colossians 1:11 - ‘strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;’

Intro: Years ago I heard Charles Stanley say one of the most powerful prayers offered to GOD is when we pray His Word back to Him. He mentioned the verses of Colossians 1:9-11 and said if these are prayed for someone without their knowledge for 30 days, an effect would be apparent.

So I tried it. I think the year was 1983.

Devotion focus: Prayer that reaches GOD

When I first tried praying Colossians 1:9-11 for someone, I chose my father-in-law at the time and began praying for him, reciting the verses and saying his name like this:

“Father, I pray that you fill George with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding so that George with walk worthy of You, fully pleasing You, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of You. Strengthen him with all might, according to Your glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.”

I did this without mentioning it to George. At the end of the first week, I called and asked how he was doing and was anything going on? Anything new? He said no and inquired why I was asking. Just curious I told him.

After the call, I thought ‘Hmm… nothing.’ So I kept praying and at the end of each week, I would call, and inquire in a roundabout way if anything was new, and still, nothing.

And then… on the last week, I called, asking the same questions and before I could say anything more, George began telling me excitedly about something that happened to him while he was taking a daily walk out across a field with his dog the day before.

He described it was like heaven opened and GOD poured down knowledge of Himself. He said it was like flakes of light descending the way snowflakes drift down. The knowledge filled his mind with a certainty of GOD’s existence.

He was overcome and had to sit down. His dog came over to check on him but he was hardly aware of her presence as the knowledge of GOD continued to inundate his mind for several minutes. He was left stunned.

Then he asked how I happened to call asking if anything new was going on and I told him about the prayer. Of course, we were both amazed.

Now listen, I’m not one of those people who live my Christian life always looking for some kind of experience like this. I didn’t even expect anything like this to happen and it only happened this one time in my life. So far.

The lasting effect for me has been a strengthened faith to pray these verses for others, which I’ve done for an untold number of people down through the years since. If it’s for a friend who’s married I enlist his wife to also pray the verses during the same time frame, usually 30 days, but that length of time is not the crucial factor.

The crucial factor is the prayer must be offered in faith, expecting GOD to do something in that person’s life. Normally the result, without exception, is a renewal of spiritual life in that friend’s life.

A warning here if I may: This practice, if you choose to incorporate it, is not some magic formula ensuring GOD will respond.

GOD the Father, GOD the Son, and GOD the Spirit are sovereign. Their Will is supreme and they will not be manipulated. Ever.

However… they want to answer prayer. Jesus taught this in John 15 and other places, that when we pray in His Name, meaning in His authority and will, He listens and answers, all according to how He decides is best. 

This whole point here is when we pray Scripture to GOD in the name of His Son Jesus; it does ensure He hears our prayers.

Summary: Praying Scripture must first be offered in faith and second be offered from a pure heart. Not perfect, but pure. You know, like not living in willful sin.

Action to consider: There are several instances of ‘prayers of realization’ in Scripture. One example is Psalm 91. If you will practice praying by saying the person’s name throughout that Psalm it becomes easier with time.

Again, these are not to become mindless repetitions when praying. Jesus warned against this in Matthew 6:7 – “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.”

Here’s a sample of a brief portion of praying Psalm 91 – I’ll use my wife’s name:

Vs 1 – “Lord, Kris dwells in the secret place of you Most High. She will abide under your shadow, Almighty.

Vs 2 – “I will say of you LORD, "You are Kris’s refuge and her fortress; My God, in You she will trust.”

Vs 3 – “Surely You shall deliver Kris from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.”

Etc.    

Next week’s devotion: The Promises of GOD