Day 18: The Primary Goal of Prayer is Presence
Question: When you pray, do you ever find yourself simply resting in the presence of God - or are you always asking Him to fulfill your desires?
Bible Passage: Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Reflection: “Christians should not think of prayer as a means to an end, a tool to get what we want, but rather as an end in itself. Prayer is the goal.” - Francis Chan
We all go through seasons and circumstances where we are convicted about not praying or reading our bible enough. That is not always a bad thing, but certainly not the goal. When we know and experience our Lord’s love, grace, and mercy towards us, that creates in us a desire for Him. Sometimes it is like we are worshipping the benefits of a relationship with Jesus and not Jesus. Jesus’ sacrifice was more powerful than any of us can realize. For example, He not only died for our sins but also to make a way for each of us to come to Him, as we are told in Hebrews:
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:19-23 ESV
Take some time today to pray and meditate on this truth: Our God is not a means to an end; He is our end. What a privilege it is to get to spend time with Him in prayer.
Prayer: God, help us to be a people who seek You above all other things. May our lives reflect Your goodness, Your mercy, and Your love. Teach us to hunger for what is eternal and not be satisfied with lesser things. Help us overcome the distractions of this world, the noise that pulls our hearts away from You, and the temptations that dull our affection for Your presence. More of you and less of us, Jesus…amen.
Bible Passage: Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Reflection: “Christians should not think of prayer as a means to an end, a tool to get what we want, but rather as an end in itself. Prayer is the goal.” - Francis Chan
We all go through seasons and circumstances where we are convicted about not praying or reading our bible enough. That is not always a bad thing, but certainly not the goal. When we know and experience our Lord’s love, grace, and mercy towards us, that creates in us a desire for Him. Sometimes it is like we are worshipping the benefits of a relationship with Jesus and not Jesus. Jesus’ sacrifice was more powerful than any of us can realize. For example, He not only died for our sins but also to make a way for each of us to come to Him, as we are told in Hebrews:
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:19-23 ESV
Take some time today to pray and meditate on this truth: Our God is not a means to an end; He is our end. What a privilege it is to get to spend time with Him in prayer.
Prayer: God, help us to be a people who seek You above all other things. May our lives reflect Your goodness, Your mercy, and Your love. Teach us to hunger for what is eternal and not be satisfied with lesser things. Help us overcome the distractions of this world, the noise that pulls our hearts away from You, and the temptations that dull our affection for Your presence. More of you and less of us, Jesus…amen.
by: Lucas Fox
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2026
May
Day 1: The Joy of Conviction Day 2: Formed for WisdomDay 3: God is Our Refuge Day 4: Fighting the FleshDay 5: What is the next right thing to do?Day 6: The Spiritual Discipline of Silence Day 7: Not Fast, Just Furious Day 8: The Rosetta GroanDay 9: The Secret Place, It Starts HereDay 10: Call GodDay 11: Leave Nothing Undone Day 12: WhyDay 13: Obedience That Hurts, Endurance in the Midst of Suffering Day 14: Unbalancing Your Life for GodDay 15: What weighs you down?Day 16: The Delusion of Pride Day 17: The "It's Not that Serious" SinDay 18: The Primary Goal of Prayer is Presence
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