When you realize how dependent you are prayer is no longer a struggle.
Jesus said, “Without me you can do nothing.” He did not say, “Without me you can do little.” He said, “Without me you can do nothing.” Nada. Zilch. Zero. We are completely dependent.
Breathing and eating are not a struggle for me: my very survival depends on them. In the same way, prayer has ceased to be a struggle because I have learned just how dependent I am on Him.
Prayer has become a joyful place of encounter and exchange. I meet with Him and we have a divine exchange: I give Him my needs and He gives me His resources. I give Him my weakness and He gives me His strength. I give Him my lack and He gives me His abundance.
This place of Hide and Seek is for me a place to learn of Him, to know Him, to know His ways, to answer His call to, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”” (Matthew 11:29–30, ESV)
When I am in the “secret place” and drawing near to Him, I am able to cast my burden upon Him because He cares for me. I learn to live my life anchored to His promises.
“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33, ESV).
Pressure presses me into the secret place. The stress and strain of life and ministry colliding with my humanity in all its complexities, weaknesses, fears, ambitions, and anxieties cause me to be overwhelmed. And in this condition I find He is my Rock, my Fortress, my Hightower, and my Safe harbor.
“For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.” (Psalm 27:5, ESV)
In the safety of the secret place I convert my worry list into a prayer list. I begin declaring over every need and opportunity, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done.” I pray this way until I have the peace of God for the situation. This is what we call “praying through.”
When you have “prayed through” Satan is no match for you because you stand in God’s authority.
Here are three practices that can help you to discover the joys of Hide and Seek:
- Set aside prime time for God. Not your leftovers, but your best time. For me, it is the early morning. I call it “my coffee with God.” For you it may be late evenings. The best time is the best time for you.
- Feed on the Word of God. There are plenty of daily reading plans out there, pick one and use it.
- Convert your worry list into your prayer list. I find journaling to be the best way to untangle the mangled mess of thoughts, worries, and demands clamoring for my attention. I identify them and then pray through them until I have the peace of God.
The Advent and Christmas Seasons point us to the Hope of His Appearing and His Presence. Live it to the fullest.
“You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”” (Psalm 27:8, ESV)
Debbie and I serve as the FMI Global Associate Director for MENACA and Europe. We focus on cultivating disciples, leaders, and church planting movements.
