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I’m irregular about going to the gym and so when I saw an advertisement for energy…exercise in a bottle it was tempting – but it doesn’t work. We want the same quick fix for our spirituality, we want a strong thriving spiritual life without the work. So, we buy supplements, books and tapes that promise a secret to spiritual growth. Prayer is a similar exercise useful for building up our spiritual lives. Paul in 1 Timothy 4:8 tells us, “physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

What is prayer useful for…

1. Pray to strengthen your inner being.

• Verse 16 literally translated is, “into the inside man.” As though Paul’s prayer was a direct injection of growth into our spirits.
• Prayer is a great boost, but it’s not always easy. We’re always looking for a quick fix, a pill, or program that trims 50 lbs in a week and boosts our energy. We are consumed with finding the “true secret” to growth.
• If you want to tap into that power, pray. Pray to Jesus Christ, he will strengthen your inner being. Prayer is what strengthen our inside being. We know what it takes to strengthen our bodies – exercise. We know what it takes to strengthen our minds – study. We know what it takes to strengthen our spirits – prayer.
• When we pray we often pray for the physical and we should (James 4:14) but how much more important is a prayer to strengthen the “inner being” the being that really eternally matters.
• No other exercise I know can do this, and it is enhanced tenfold through scripture reading Psalm 119:11.
• Prayer gives us the power to endure trials (Jesus), it gives us the power to receive blessing (Elijah and the rain), it gives us the power to cooperate with God (Abraham and Lot in Sodom).

2. Pray to know the unknowable.

• John tells us at the end of his gospel (John 21:25) tells us that all of the acts of Jesus would not fit into books. Neither can an accurate description of his love be given, it’s been written about since Moses penned the books of the law and still today authors explore this topic.
• Prayer gives us insight into the deep things of God and gives us perspective on him. Many have said that this is asking to, “Think God’s thoughts after him.”
• Scripture reveals a lot of things to us, prayer completes the picture. There are things not found in scripture, what to do in specific situations, who to talk to, what job to take, etc. Prayer gives us insight into these difficult situations.
• James 1:5 tells us that God gives wisdom to those who ask. If you don’t know something ask God! This wisdom is sometimes a verse or book rightly interpreted, sometimes it’s a brother or sister sometimes a quiet and still peace in your soul. Sometimes wisdom is learning to hear the quiet voice of God.
• The key to this is making this a regular part of your life, otherwise your strength is no built up. It’s just like exercise – we need to practice this regularly.
• I know when I’ve not prayed enough when my prayers in the evening are distracted. If I’ve kept it all in, instead of going to God through the day. If I’ve neglected to pray in the evenings then my prayers are scattered. But, when I’m constantly in prayer my clarity and strength is built up so that I can definitively move about in God’s will, make right choices without hesitation.

3. Pray to be filled with the fullness of God.

• We strive for a lot less than the fullness of God in our lives, we work for a paycheck, fantasize about a new TV or new car. But when was the last time you said, “God open up the fire hose of blessing in my spirit!”?
• James 4:2 tells us that you do not have because you do not ask!
• We are satisfied with so little, when God made us for so much. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has given us a great capacity for heavenly perspective, the NIV says that he has set eternity in our hearts – yet we still can’t discern all the things God has done or will do. Because we aren’t strong enough to handle God’s Glory or discerning enough to know his truth.
• May God fill us and increase our capacity for him…may we be filled with the fullness of God. If we ask God to strengthen our inner being, he will make us strong enough to handle the weightiness of his glory. If we ask God to give us wisdom to know the unknowable then we can know His divine mysteries. Only then can we be filled with the fullness of God.

What is prayer? What is this discipline that gives us this power, knowledge and fullness? Robert Farrar Capon said it best, “Prayer is not “going to God” (he’s already in you), or “seeking God” (he’s already found you), or “opening yourself to God” (you couldn’t keep him out if you tried), or “becoming spiritual” (he’s already sent you the Spirit — who would rather show you Jesus than help you display your spiritual prowess). And it’s certainly not buttering God up with abject apologies for your existence — because in his Beloved Son, he already thinks you’re dandy. Prayer is just talking with Someone who’s already talking to you.” – Robert Capon, The Foolishness of Preaching. (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1998), 68.

“Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” – Ephesians 3:20-21

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