Underground Exiles

So here we go:

I’m reading through a load of New and Old Testament passages on prayer, while simultaneously trying to pick apart Calvin’s comments on prayer in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, and I’ve been very convicted by one recurring theme.

Prayer is intimately connected to passion. And passion, ladies and gents, is one of a number of things that is severely lacking in my own prayer life.

The single, unifying passion of all prayer is Jesus. As the image says,

“obsesssively, dangerously, undeniably Jesus…”

All prayer is about Jesus and His kingdom, and is directed towards Jesus for the triumph of His kingdom. If Jesus isn’t at the center, it just isn’t really prayer.

So why this obsession with Jesus?

Because we’re Christians. Because we believe that powerful prayer centers itself on a powerful Person, who is sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, with all worship and adoration proceeding towards the throne, and all justice, righteousness and loveliness proceeding from the throne.

The final book of the New Testament, Revelation, is eschatological; it is also a book of worship. The Book of Revelation is divided into heavenly scenes and earthly scenes, and we have a tendency to focus on the earthly scenes, and trying to figure out who the anti-Christ is and whether he’s going to put a barcode on our heads so we can be run over the scanner at the local Harris Teeter.

The important scenes are the heavenly ones, which are dominated by Jesus sitting one his throne, being worshiped by His people. Power and majesty flow from the throne, and if we want to pray with power, we must get before Jesus on His throne.

So…that’s what’s rattling around in my head. Stick around for more…