Recognizing Our Position in Prayer

“Recognizing Our Position in Prayer”

We've studied about our need to recognize God’s position to glorify Him in our prayers. Though we will never be able to study all of who God is, we did learn that God is God and we are not. Today we will examine our position in relationship to God’s position.

I guess I’ve really never thought about God’s position in my prayers and in my daily life until I really began to study what God had to say about prayer. And I really never viewed myself in any position before God. But now since I have studied and continue to grow deeper in my communication with Him, I am beginning to understand the magnitude of who God really is. With that, my position before God is coming into focus. It’s so vital to an effective prayer life to understand our position before God.

Turn to Isaiah 66:1-2. (NIV) Fill in the blanks:

This is what the Lord says: “_________________ is My throne and the ___________ is My footstool. Where is the _____________ you will ______________ for Me? Where will My resting place be? Has not My hand made all things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “This is one I esteem: he who is _________________ and __________________ in spirit and __________________ at my _____________,” declares LORD.

God is on the throne and reigns eternally. He is Creator God and everything that is exists is created by Him and for Him. God desires to reside in hearts which are humble and contrite. In other words, He wants to reside in hearts that recognize their need of God and His superiority over them.

We glean 3 things from this verse that defines our position in relationship to God’s position.  They are: 

1. Humility (Recognizing one’s lower position in relation to God.)
2. Contrition (Sincere remorse)
3. Fear (Respect for God’s position)

These three words describe the make-up of a person who is in a right relationship with God. This is the position we must assume in order to have an affective prayer life. 

Let’s examine these individually:

1. Humility

Humility is the lack of pride or the freedom from pride. It is not self-abasement (false pride) No one likes false humility, especially God. He can spot it immediately.

Read Colossians 2:16-23. What do you think false humility is after reading these verses? Why is it a hindrance to our prayers?

In our self-abasement (false humility), we try to show God that we are humble through our actions. The adherence to man-made commandments is pride at its worse. We are trying to redeem ourselves by our self-imposed and self-inflicted regulations. We, in our guilt, are trying to make ourselves right with God. In other words, we are replacing what Christ did on the cross with our insufficient, prideful acts of human redemption. Only Christ’s redemption is sufficient.

We must examine the motives of our hearts. When we humble ourselves before God it should mean wanting His will and way over anything else in this world. It is knowing that His way is best even when we don’t understand it. It is believing Him no matter what is going on around us.

Read 1 Peter 5:6 & 7. What does it say about humility?

Why can we cast all our cares on Him?

Humility, the kind that God requires, is one in which we recognize our need for Him. We learn and accept that we cannot do anything to correct our sin or alleviate our guilt from sin. All our efforts to redeem ourselves amount to nothing. The only thing, the excellent thing, is to submit to God and His redemption. His redemption is through His Son and our acceptance of His actions on the cross. It is enough to cover us. What we do to cover our guilt is worth nothing.

True humility recognizes our need of God.

2. Contrition

Contrition is sincere remorse for wrongdoing. It is repentance, a conscious turning from evil or disobedience to God. Contrition is our response to God’s grace. We turn 180 degrees from our sin, our false humility, our idols and this world and place our focus on God through Christ Jesus.

Read 2 Corinthians 7:10. What is godly sorrow?

What does it bring?

What does repentance lead to? 

What does godly sorrow do about regret?

What does worldly sorrow bring?

True humility brings about contrition and repentance. This all leads to salvation. We are saved by God from the penalty of death resulting from the guilt of our sins. Worldly sorrow involves false humility and no repentance before God. Because of this, it leads to death. There is no salvation involved. 

A contrite heart is required for a right relationship with God. God resides in the hearts of those who are truly contrite and repentant. In order to have an effective prayer life, we must humble ourselves and have sincere remorse for our sins before the Holy One.

Contrition is our response to God’s grace.

3. Fear 

The fear of the Lord is a fear that is defined as awe and reverence felt in the presence of His highest authority.

Read Psalm 111:9. What two words describe His name?

1.

2.

We worship what we fear. This is because what we fear is often foremost in our minds. The fear or respect we have for God is essential to our relationship with Him. We must always have Him foremost in our minds.

Let’s examine the two words that Psalm 111:9 uses to describe God.

The Holiness of God

God is holy and we must recognize this. He is separate from evil and cannot tolerate it. God is completely perfect. Our approach to God in prayer must bear this in mind.

Read Exodus 15:11. Answer the questions this passage poses:

The Awesomeness of God

The fear of God (awesomeness) we experience when we approach Him in prayer is a positive experience. Our fear before God, His awesomeness, produces righteous living. We are devoted to Him in our awe of Him. In order to have an effective prayer life, we must fear God (respect Him). The fear of the Lord helps to keep our eyes focused on Him.

Read Psalm 86:11. When we learn the ways of the Lord what do we walk in?

Why do we need an “undivided heart” in order to truly fear His Name?

In a right relationship with God we are humbled. There is a lack of pride and self-sufficiency. In our humility towards God there is freedom. The lines of communication are clear. We acknowledge our need of His power and grace and accept our awful lacking without Him. In our humility we see our need to turn away from sin and the pull of this world. 

Responding to God’s power and grace causes us to have a good and effective prayer life. We must turn towards Him in repentance and away from the distractions that interrupt our conversation with Him. Humility and contrition are components of the fear (respect) of God. It is the knowing and accepting that He is holy and powerful, yet full of grace in perfect love, in which we delight in Him.

Humility before God is true freedom.

Prayer Time

Don’t view yourself as a “nothing” before God. View yourself as His dearly loved child. Go to your Prayer Journal and write out your recognition of God’s position in relationship to your position.

1. Humility towards God
2. Contrition towards God 
3. Fear of God 

Discussion Question

1. Define “false humility” and why it is a hindrance to our prayers?

2. Contrition is sincere remorse for wrongdoing. It is repentance, a conscious turning from evil or disobedience to God. Contrition is our response to God’s grace. How do you come to God with true humility? Explain.

3. The fear of the Lord is a fear that is defined as awe and reverence felt in the presence of His highest authority. How is this kind of fear different from worldly fear?