This post is based on a recent sermon shared at the Hive Church by Ps Tony Rae. All scriptures are NIV unless otherwise indicated. Note also that Ps Tony gives credit to the work of Ps Stanley Vasu.
A prayer for more
Dear Lord: please transform me into Your likeness; teach me Your ways; train me for victory; test me to purify me; touch me so that I know Your presence; think of me so I may receive Your blessing; trust me so I may serve You well; all for Your glory. Amen.
Ps Tony Rae
A way to prepare for transition or a journey:
Get release form the past (while remembering and retaining good aspects of it).
Look to the future and ‘pack’ for the new season or destination.
Ultimately the best way to prepare and deal with change / transition is to prepare ourselves.
Here are some principles formed into a prayer to facilitate that self-preparation.
- TRANSFORM ME
Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is— his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
It is important that we pray that God should transform us. Very often we pray for others that God should change them. We see their flaws and mistakes and ask God to transform them. But often we are blind to our own faults. We fail to realise that we need a deep transformation in our own lives. When God changes us that will produce a consequent change in others. Many times others will not change until they see a change in us. May God help us to cry out ‘Transform me’.
2. TEACH ME
Psalms 25:4 “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.”
Psalms 143:10 “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
It is important that we pray that God should teach us. Many times we are not aware of our ignorance. We fail to realise how much we don’t know. We are complacent and confident and think that we know everything. This is a dangerous condition. We must seek God’s revelation and guidance to know His paths and His ways and His truth. Therefore it is important for us to pray ‘Teach me’.
3. TRAIN ME
Psalms 144:1-2. “Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.”
Isaiah 48:17-18. “This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea.”
It is important that we pray that God should train us. We face so many battles and struggles and attacks of the enemy. Therefore we must ask God to train us to fight these battles. Lack of proper training can cause serious damage in our spiritual walk. Therefore it is important that we pray ‘ Train me’.
4. TEST ME
Psalms 139:23-24 “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalms 26:2 “Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;”
I Corinthians 3:11-13. “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.”
It is important that we pray that God should test us and examine us. People undergo periodic medical checkup to find out the condition of their physical body. It is even more important to undergo a spiritual checkup to ascertain the condition of our spiritual life. Otherwise we may be unaware of serious spiritual flaws and spiritual diseases that could destroy us. Therefore we must seriously pray that God should examine us and point out anything that is dangerous. Therefore it is important that we pray ‘Test me’.
5. TOUCH ME
Mark 10:15-16. “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”
Mark 8:25. “Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.”
It is important that we pray that God should touch our life. The touch of God is a touch of blessing and healing. If God removes his Hand from our life we will soon be led towards barrenness and hopelessness. We should seek the touch of God upon our lives. Therefore it is important to pray ‘Touch me’
6. THINK OF ME
Psalms 40:17. “But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay.”
Psalms 115:12-13. “The Lord remembers us and will bless us: He will bless his people Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron, he will bless those who fear the Lord— small and great alike.”
Isaiah 49:15-16. ““Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”
It is important that we pray that God should think of us. It is a loving prayer that touches the heart of God. It is a plea to God to remember us and not forget us. It is a prayer to God to keep us in His thoughts. When God is mindful of us He will bless us. Therefore it is important that we pray ‘Think of me’
7. TRUST ME
I Timothy 1:12-14. “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”
Matthew 25:23. ““His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”
It is important that we pray that God should trust us. When God trusts us He gives us His power and His ministry. He gives us more and more responsibilities. When we are found faithful and trustworthy we will be led to greater heights of service and usefulness. Therefore it is important that we pray ‘Trust me’.
