The Ground of Prayer

If you are like me you struggle with prayer.  For the past couple of years I have been helped greatly in my anemic prayer life, by considering the prayers of the men and women that are recorded in the Word.  This started for me in 2 Thessalonians 1:12 (here @ Bible Gateway).

Genesis 32:9 – 12 (here @ Bible Gateway) is one of those prayers that encourages me, or better, gives me a clearer understanding of the attitude I need to have in prayer.

Jacob’s appeal to God has three elements that instruct me in prayer:

1. He comes to God in the midst of obedience.  He is currently doing what the Lord had told him to do, namely, return to his own country. 
2. He does not claim to be worthy of God’s attention.  He acknowledges his dependence on God and the lavish grace with which God has blessed him.
3. He reminds God of His promise to Jacob to make him a mighty innumerable nation.

So three things it seems that would be good for me to check as I come to Him:

• Am I currently in obedience to Him?
• Do I recognize that this is not about me but rather about the plan of God, His purposes?
• Am I approaching Him based on what He has promised?

This probably needs some more thought, but that is a start.