Communication

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I've noticed over the years just how many times the word JUST is used in our prayers. About now you're saying, SO WHAT?, can't you write about something meaningful and significant? Just hear me out on this one, you'll be glad you did, and you'll find that what you are about to learn will put dynamite back into your prayers rather than limiting them.

The next time you hear someone praying before the congregation, count the number of times you hear the word just used. You'll be amazed.

Let's first look at the very definition of the word just.

1) Precisely; exactly: just enough salt.
2) Only a moment ago: He just arrived.
3) By a narrow margin; barely: just missed being hit; just caught the bus before it pulled away.
4) At a little distance: just down the road.
5) Merely; only: just a scratch.
6) Simply; certainly: It's just beautiful!
7) Perhaps; possibly: I just may go.

This smacks of a "double minded man", limiting but not limiting, one thing, yet many things.

So we can see by the very definition that it is limiting. If I tell a child to just pick up the paper and to just get in here, you will see the immediate conflict, and they are probably thinking "will you just make up your mind, which of these do you want me to do?".

The argument that God is bigger than that can certainly be made, but "out of the abundance the heart the mouth speaks" no doubt needs to be looked at here. If we pray for God to just show up, that comes from a heart that does not believe that we really warrant the Almighty to intrude on our meeting. Is that just inside the room or just inside the door? Or do we REALLY want Him to invade our presence and our meetings, changing lives by a very real encounter with the Living God?

Lord, would you please just heal my friend/mother/father/brother/sister/cat/dog? Like if He does this "one" thing you'll NEVER ask Him to do ANOTHER thing EVER?

or Lord, will you just change my circumstances. Are you asking Him to do only "one" thing, that being that you want Him to change your circumstances? Or that you want Him to change your circumstances just enough to make you comfortable but not so much that you have experienced a "radical" change?

Just get me a job. Is that just any job? Flipping burgers, checkout clerk, delivery boy, stocker? Those are jobs and if you are at the job entry level that's fine, they are great places to start, but if you are in your 30's, 40's, or 50's, you should certainly have a lot more to offer the world than those entry level positions. A side note here, if you are starving, then take one of those jobs. Now back to the point, Or should it be asking God for the job/career that He designed you for?

I tell you the truth, if you REALLY mean just, then quit praying, He wants you to come boldly into the throne room of Grace and boldly present your petitions, not just anything! If you REALLY don't mean just then try (by that I mean do) replace the word JUST with the word REALLY and start experiencing a God Who is more than ready, willing, and able to answer your prayers with power, life changing power!

Get rid of the attitude that you're not worthy of the Creator of the universe's time or energy. If He can take the time to come to Earth, live a sinless life, and spend a few hours on the cross taking on ALL the sins of the world, then He is more than pleased to really show up, really change lives, REALLY set people free, REALLY heal the sick, "REALLY" bind up the broken, and REALLY empower you to minister to His people and the lost, building the Kingdom of God.

Not just, but REALLY!

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