The currency of intimacy = TIME

The currency of intimacy is ‘time’. If a husband never spends time with his wife, it is unlikely that intimacy will ever develop between them; the opposite is true, what intimacy does exist diminishes as the situation continues. Time is an essential ingredient in any healthy relationship. This is immediately applicable to prayer.

If time is the currency of intimacy, and is a currency that can only ever be spent (it can not be gained or replaced, once it is spent it is spent forever), it is a currency of utmost value. There is not one thing more precious. Where we ‘spend’ our time reveals much about what or whom we truly value. Jesus said that where our treasure is, that is where our heart is (Matthew 6:21). The context of these verses is money, but we could, without twisting the principle revealed here, apply it to our time. Where our time is spent, reveals where our heart is inclined.

In this, we encourage every student who has not already established a ‘discipline’ of prayer, to seek to do so. Prayer is not just something we ‘do’, it is our life. Connecting with God is not an option, it is a necessity.

“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.

You have said, Seek My face [inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require [of necessity and on the authority of Your Word].”

(Psalm 27:4,8 AMP)

In respect to establishing a lifestyle of prayer however, set times can aid the development of a discipline, which quickly will become a delight! If we pray only when we ‘feel’ like it, the unfortunate truth is, we will often ‘feel’ more like an extra hours sleep, or a session in front of the TV, than a time set apart to seek God. Jesus said to His disciples the following statement which to varying degrees is certainly true of all of us:

“Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”” (Matt 26:40-41 NKJV)

Often, because disciples (which literally means ‘disciplined ones’) fail to develop a discipline of prayer, including a degree of consistency and habit, they never enter below the surface of spiritual life to taste and enjoy its benefits.

Time, place and posture in prayer

Some things seem obvious or unnecessary to consider, but for some, scriptural teaching on the basics can release them from traditions and religious habits that have prevented them enjoying the liberty we have been granted in the Holy Ghost.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

(2 Corinthians 3:17 NKJV)

First, we will look at posture.

a. Posture in prayer

The posture of the body is of little importance in prayer. Certainly one does not have to kneel or place one’s hands together in order to pray. What is important, regardless of physical position, is the posture of the heart.

In scripture we have examples in prayer of people:

i. Standing (Mark 11:25)

ii. Kneeling (Luke 22:41)

iii. Prostrate (face down) (Matthew 26:39)

iv. Laying down (Psalm 63:6)

v. Sitting (1 Chronicles 17:16)

Wesley Duewel in ‘Mighty Prevailing Prayer’, speaks of posture and passion in prayer, saying:

“Real passion is not synonymous with physical exertion. Spiritual wrestling is not dependent on physical activity. Prayer passion is not produced by lifting the hand, waving the arm, standing, kneeling, lying prostrate on the floor, walking back and forth, or any other form of prayer posture or action. The Holy Spirit may lead you to such change of posture, especially when you are praying alone in your secret place.

Sometimes use of such a posture for the time being harmonizes with or expresses the mood of your soul – humility before God, hungry pleas for God, waiting in His presence, or spiritual determination and urgency. Many mighty prayer warriors, like Brainerd and Finney, have had their bodies soaked with perspiration from intense soul anguish in their prevailing prayer, even as Christ sweat the blood-sweat in Gethsemane. But do not try to work up spiritual intensity by your human exertion.”

The time of prayer

Unlike Islam and some other religions Christianity does not necessarily have particular times which are commanded for prayer or spiritual activity. Even adherence to the set times of Judaism, the old covenant which formed the basis of the new, is no longer required from the faithful. The Old Testament, with its types and shadows found completion and fulfilment in Christ. He ushered in a new covenant, based not on law, but grace and freedom.

Of this truth Paul says:

“But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years.” (Gal 4:9-10 NKJV)

“One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it...” (Rom 14:5-6)

There is nothing especially holy about Saturday (the traditional Jewish Sabbath) or a Sunday (the traditional day of Christian worship). Nor is early morning more holy than 2pm in the afternoon. The time is sanctified (set apart for God’s purposes) by the activity or altar it is placed upon. When we take time to pray, whenever it may be, it becomes a time ‘esteemed’, a time ‘unto the Lord’.

Jesus spoke about the reality of ‘abiding’ in Him. In this respect, all our time is set apart, not just one day each week, or one or two hours each day.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” (John 15:4 NKJV)

With thanksgiving

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;”

(Col 4:2 NKJV)

Faith and thanksgiving go hand in hand. A thankful heart is a heart certain that its requests have been heard and that their gracious Father is active to bring it to pass. If we know something has been granted, we will automatically give thanks. Doubt and fear keep us in a place where we are unthankful, believing that our Father is withholding from us. In reality, although there may be hindrances to the manifestation of your answer, they are not found with God. In fact, your thanksgiving without seeing the answer may be the avenue God will use to bring the desired object into your possession. Thanksgiving is another tool in the belt waiting to be used to powerfully affect God’s will in your life and the lives of those you pray for.

With simplicity and sincerity

““And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply…”” (Matthew 6:5-9 MESSAGE)

Effective prayer is born out of relationship and revelation of the character of God. We can be certain, if we ask with pure motives and in accordance with His will, He is eager to answer and grant our request.

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”” (Luke 11:13 NKJV)

““Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32 NKJV)

All prayer should have the will, Word and promise of God as its basis

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14-15 NKJV)

The foundation of faith is found in the knowledge of God’s will. His Word is His will. When our prayers are based on the revealed Word of God we have great confidence to pursue our goal without doubt or fear. Our boldness before Him resides not in prideful presumption, but humble acceptance of His will, and an aggressive dedication to accept nothing other than what has been granted through Jesus Christ. The Word alone is the foundation for such boldness and confidence.

All prayer should be prayers of faith

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV)

The Bible speaks of a specific kind of prayer which most often is called the ‘prayer of faith’, but all prayer should have this essential ingredient in its exercise. Without faith we cannot please God. Every form of prayer should be from a heart fully trusting the One to whom the prayer is addressed, eagerly expecting the desired result as promised in the Word. A prayer of consecration for example, although practised because specific details of God’s will may still be unknown, should nevertheless be employed, fully trusting that what is committed to the Father will indeed be placed in His hand, and that He will personally take up responsibility for that which is committed to Him.

“…Still I am not ashamed, for I know (perceive, have knowledge of, and am acquainted with) Him Whom I have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on), and I am [positively] persuaded that He is able to guard and keep that which has been entrusted to me and which I have committed [to Him] until that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)

Prayer should be ‘in the Spirit’

“praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—” (Ephesians 6:18 NKJV)

Although the scriptures refer specifically to praying in tongues as praying ‘in the spirit’, more generally it refers to all prayer. God is a Spirit (John 4:24) and must be addressed as such. All truly effective prayer proceeds from the heart (the spirit) of man, not the head. Intelligence is involved, but a purely ‘mental’ prayer will not affect the spiritual world at all. Our mind may conceive the request we desire to make to our Father, but when expressed it must come from our spirit, not just our head. In this way all prayer is ‘in the spirit’ because all prayer is essentially spiritual.

Mary Alice Isleib says:

“Praying in the spirit doesn’t mean to pray just in tongues. What does is mean, then? It means to pray out of your spirit, aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit. It means to pray all prayer – all the different kinds of prayer – in the presence of the Holy Spirit, in the realm of the spirit, out of your inner man.”

Prayer should be in the name of Jesus.

We come not with our own authority, nor do we rely upon our own power or holiness, but upon the covenant name we have been given, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not pray to Jesus, we pray through Jesus, using the weight and authority of His inimitable name!

““And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you...” (John 16:23-24,26-27 NKJV)