Commune with God

During lockdown, normal life happened almost entirely online! It was the age we lived in, in 2020, and many are still enduring this overseas. Our time online has increased dramatically, much of which continues, even now as we are able to move around freely.
As a minister, David Shin found his time online increased exponentially, with zoom video conferences, video producing, editing, uploading… There were online Bible studies, emails and social media to keep up with.
“Praise God,” David said. “Without the internet, we would not have been able to connect with each other.” Not wanting to diminish the blessing the internet bought us, David does however, point out it is a two-edged sword. Here is some of what he said in a sermon in April, 2020.
I’ve reflected on our spiritual experiences as a community of faith transitioning into this online reality we are living in right now. I pray that we do not assume or come to the place where this becomes a replacement for our own personal Bible study and prayer life.
This should be supplemental and the irony of what I am doing today in our study is to use the online medium to encourage us to spend time offline, to put our phones into airplane mode and to turn off our computers. To actually open the pages of the Bible. Yes. That still exists. Open the pages of scripture rather than going to the iPad or online, because there are so many distractions.
I want to encourage you to go to the Bible and open it up and spend time in prayer… Today I would like to talk about strengthening our prayer life. Prayer is important and as Christians we know we should pray more… but it can be difficult to practice. A quotation that inspires me in my own prayer life is from Roger Morneau in his book, Incredible Power of Prayer. On pg 41 he says God “waits for our requests for help so He will then have the legal right in the sight of the universe to move with power into Satan’s domain and rescue his captives.”
Somehow, in the dynamics of the Great Controversy, when we pray for God’s intervention in ours or someone else’s life, it gives Him the authorization to move above and beyond what He would normally be able to do, because He has chosen to abide by the fundamental principle of freedom of choice. So when we pray for God’s help, He is essentially given special access. Special authorization beyond the limits He set. Human permission to intervene.
This is a beautiful thing about prayer – the most powerful thing you can do in your relationship with God is to give Him your consent and then God says ‘Ok, I have clearance.’
In her book, Prayer, Ellen White said “Prayer is the breath of the soul, the secret of spiritual power. No other means of grace can be substituted and the health of the soul be preserved. Prayer brings the heart into immediate contact with the wellspring of life.” (pg 12) We need prayer like our body needs to breathe, and it is the source of spiritual power.
We are told not to worry about anything, but to pray about everything. So tell God what you need and thank Him for what He has done. This time of pandemic is a time of uncertainty, anxiety and worry. Now is the time to bring those burdens to God. If ever there was a time that we as God’s people should be praying, it is now.
So I want to share with you seven keys for strengthening prayer life while we are going through this quarantine period. And obviously these principles apply event when we are out of quarantine.
Principle 1 – Begin your day with prayer
When you get up in the morning consecrate yourself to God for the day. You may have done that at your baptism, you may had done that last week. But this is a daily matter. ‘Lord I am yours, today. I give you my heart. Today. Begin your day consecrating every part of who you are to God.
Principle 2 – Give your will to God
“The will must be placed on the side of God’s will. You are not able of yourself to bring your purposes and desires and inclinations into submission to the will of God, but if you are willing to be made willing, God will accomplish the work for you.” Thoughts from the Mt of Blessing p 142.
Principle 3 – Pray for the Holy Spirit
There are certain prayers that are ‘yes’ prayers – promises from God that we know He will give if we ask, and prayer for the Holy Spirit is one of them. So when you get up in the morning ask for the Holy Spirit to fill you and you can know regardless of the way that you may or may not feel that day, that you have received the Holy Spirit by faith, because Jesus has promised it.
Principle 4 – Keep a prayer journal
Writing our prayers is a biblical practice. Many of the psalms we find in the Bible are written prayers. This practice of writing our prayers, I think, gives a certain focus to our prayers every morning.
Principle 5 – Pray with God as you would converse with a friend
Many times we talk about our relationship with God in this ethereal sense that is very hard to think about tangibly. We say ‘Oh, I have a relationship with God.’ But what does that mean? If there is no conversation, there is no relationship. So prayer is conversation, and conversation is relationship.. The implication is that prayer IS relationship. Talk to God as you would a friend… He is the best one you can have.
Principle 6 – Pray throughout the day
Scripture admonishes us to pray without ceasing. Enoch set us an example as he walked with God. We should not restrict our prayer life to once or even twice per day. We can, and should, pray whenever we need to commune with our Father. In business meetings and in the classroom. At the shops when we are picking up the kids. At any time.
Principle 7 – Use a prayer acronym or some other aid to guide you through prayer
I recommend using a mental map of the Sanctuary for guiding your prayers. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, accept Christ’s sacrifice at the alter. Exchange your sin stained robes for Christ’s robe of righteousness as you wash at the laver. Feast on God’s word at the table of shewbread, and be filled with the Holy Spirit at the menorah. And at the alter of incense offer up your intercessory prayers for others. And bask in God’s presence at the mercy seat.
Then take His presence with you into your day.

One of my favourite quotes from the book My Life Today is found on p 302.  “His angels are appointed to watch over us.  And if we put ourselves under their guardianship, then in every time of danger they will be at our right hand.  When unconsciously we are in danger of exerting a wrong influence, the angels will be by our side, prompting us to a better course.  Choosing words for us. And influencing our actions  thus our influence may be a silent unconscious but mighty power in drawing others to Christ and the heavenly world.”

We can have this experience every single day.  As we get up in the morning and consecrate our selves to God, giving Him our will, saying Lord I want to ask for the Holy Spirit today, that God would commission His angels to be by our side, prompting us to a better course and causing us to have a heavenly influence that will draw others to him.   

I pray we each commit to spending extra time in prayer and communion with God.

IntraVic from Pr David Shin’s Sermon

David Shin is pastor in America. Twelve months ago, he preached on prayer life in Quarantine. His message is just as relevant today… His sermons can be heard on Faith FM and the AudioVerse podcast.