The DPP headquarters gave me a heads up this morning about checking out the foggy weather for possible DPP material. I never would have witnessed my first Dewy December Spiderweb if it hadn’t. I love the change of seasons in this part of the country, and I must say it doesn’t feel like the seasons have changed. I don’t mind the balmy weather, but I do pray it would be accompanied by much-needed rain. And by Christmas, I would really like to see some snow. Lots!
Speaking of prayer, this excerpt from A Praying Life by Paul Miller just floored me this morning, and I must share it with you. After you read it, go buy the book, grab some friends and study it together.
Deep down, we just don’t believe God is as generous as he keeps saying he is. That’s why Jesus added the fine print – “ask in my name.” Let me explain what that means.
Imagine that your prayer is a poorly dressed beggar reeking of alcohol and body odor, stumbling toward the palace of the great king. You have become your prayer. As you shuffle toward the barred gate, the guards stiffen. Your smell has preceded you. You stammer out a message for the great king: “I want to see the king.” Your words are barely intelligible, but you whisper one final word, “Jesus. I come in the name of Jesus.” At the name of Jesus, as if by magic, the palace comes alive. The guards snap to attention, bowing low in front of you. Lights come on, and the door flies open. You are ushered into the palace and down a long hallway into the throne room of the great king, who comes running to you and wraps you in his arms.
The name of Jesus gives my prayers royal access. They get through. Jesus isn’t just the Savior of my soul. He’s also the Savior of my prayers. My prayers come before the throne of God as the prayers of Jesus. “Asking in Jesus’ name” isn’t another thing I have to get right so my prayers are perfect. It is one more gift of God because my prayers are so imperfect.
Jesus’ seal not only guarantees that my package gets through, but it also transforms the package. Paul says in Romans 8:26, “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
burdenofglory 