Part 1: What have we in mind when we pray?

Part 1 

From "A Call to Spiritual Reformation" by Don Carson.

(round about p 60-62)

I took a picture of this prayer request in a Cambridge church in December -

it brought a smile to my face.

What have we in mind when we pray?

Dear God, I wish I do not have to do my piano lessons.

As we pray for others, as I am off to a prayer meeting for "Tots and Toys" this evening:  for mothers and young children who come along on Thursdays - what do we pray for?
(By the way, these looks at prayer are NOT meant to put any of us on another guilt-trip - not one little bit!)

Carson writes:

We are not to think of ourselves as basically independent and on the right track, but occasionally in need of a little input from the Deity, a little blessing called down by an appropriately formulated prayer.

Paul prays for the Thessalonians from a broad vision for them:  definitely not a little of this and a little of that.

2 Thessalonians 1
5All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power 10on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.
11With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 12We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.


Carson writes:

Paul has certain specific  things in mind for the Thessalonians:  a vision that stretches from grace received right through to the new heaven and the new earth.  

Okay so it is  all very well to have a grand vision, but a waste of time if it is just "on paper".  Paul's petitions and goals are aligned with this vision.  Added to that he always remembers God's grace....
 
Verse 12:  Paul remembers that we must have this grace of God at every single point of our lives.
12We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Carson writes:

At the heart of our praying must be a vision - a biblical vision.  A vision that embraces who God is, what He has done, who we are, where we are going, what we must value and cherish.

When we pray we need a vision that drives us

• toward increasing conformity with Jesus
• toward lives lived in the light of eternity.

Not common sense, not only the immediate needs, but a biblical vision  must shape our prayers.
Check-question: 
"Are the things that most concern us in prayer, the things that most concern the heart of God?"

Questions we ask ourselves as we pray for each one of our children, including foster children, grandchildren, family, friends, colleagues, church, governments, the suffering...

• Do we pray puny little prayers stunted by a mini vision?
• Do we remember to remember to remember that God's GRACE at every junction in life is not just a sweet word, but a total essential?
• Do we desire our vision and hopes and prayers and intercessioins to be informed and shaped by a biblical vision.

Tonight I want to get closer to praying with a biblical vision for Spicer Street's Tots and Toys - and for our children, grandchildren and all those dear to us - for the world and for enemies.  And........not forget to remember God's grace!