Which way are you facing?

"Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple." - Jonah 2:4

There are some religions that encourage people to face East when they pray as it has some connection with the new dawn. The Jewish faith chooses to face towards Jerusalem, and we see that this has been practiced for thousands of years. Daniel was one of the Old Testament prophets who prayed in this way.

In Daniel 6:10 it says, “when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to this upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”

As followers of Jesus, we believe that God is omnipresent, so we don't need to face a certain direction when we pray. However, it can sometimes help us to 'spiritually 'gaze in a direction, as it may give us more focus. 

The only thing we need to be sure of is that we 'turn our eyes towards Christ.' 

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in his wonderful face,
And the things of the earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of his glory and grace.”
– Helen Howarth Lemmel

Living in Grace

D3LM3

What pleases God

Hidden away in a verse in Timothy we catch a glimpse of something interesting. Paul suggests that we can please God with the way we pray about issues and people. See what you think:

1 Timothy 2:1-3 – “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Saviour…”

The first thing I notice in these words is that we can present our requests to God in many different forms:

Petitions, Prayers, Intercession, Thanksgiving...

Which one of these types of prayer do you find the most difficult at the moment? 

"Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference." - Max Lucado

Then Paul says that we should pray for all in authority, as this can impact upon our own lives. We pray for those in authority so that we may live peaceful lives. Interesting, hey? What are your thoughts?

Living in Grace

D3LM3