On Sunday at Austin City Life, we explored the answer to the question: “Why don’t I pray (more) for the salvation of others?” We concluded that there are two related reasons:
1. We Don’t Want God’s Kingdom to Come. Instead of seeking first God’s kingdom and trusting him to add all we need, we seek first our kingdom (comfort, job, health) and then add on God’s kingdom, if he’s lucky. We don’t pray the Lord’s prayer–that his kingdom would come in the lives of others who don’t know Jesus. We pray Our Prayer—“Let my kingdom come, let my will be done.”
2. We Don’t Want What God Wants. A related reason that we pray such selfish prayers, and so few prayers for the salvation of others, is fundamentally because we lack desire for God. We do not find the infinitely desirable God desirable, so we do not spill over into prayer crying out that others would repent and believe the Gospel and enter into a satisfying relationship with God.
How then do we cultivate desire for God?
Cultivating Desire for God (and Prayer for Others)
How do we move beyond our languishing desire for God and kingdom of Self prayers? How do we cultivate desire for God and love for others, so that we will transgress the boundary between our private world and the public need? Here are several suggestions:
1. Repent and ask God’s forgiveness for not desiring him. The Scriptures are filled with commands to rejoice in the Lord, to delight in him, to sing His praise. Our indifference to the infinitely desirable God calls for repentance. Fortunately, God is also abounding in lovingkindness and patience and gladly extends us forgiveness.
2. Cultivate a real relationship with the Holy Spirit. Begin each day by drawing near to God and asking for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18). Most of us wake up empty or half-full. We need the Spirit of God to give us fresh affection and desire for God and belief in the gospel. It is the Spirit that awakens us to the beauty and glory of God. Ask the Spirit to guide your prayers (Rom 8:26-27; Jud 1:20; Eph 6:18).
3. Pray memorized prayers that promise God’s work to give us desire for him.
- “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” James 4:8
- “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
- “Satisfy me in the morning with your lovingkindness that I might rejoice and shout for joy.” Psalm
- “God is faithful, who has called us to fellowship with his Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:9
4. Make a list of people who you can pray for each week, by name, and share this with your Fight Club. One of the best ways to cultivate prayerfulness is to begin a set aside time to pray each day. Of course, we should pray throughout the day in dependence upon and relationship with our wonderful God. However, we need both continual and concentrated time with God if we are to truly nurture a relationship, and pray his kingdom.
Helpful Resources in Cultivating Desire for God
- When I Don’t Desire God (Piper) The Dangerous Duty of Delight (free sample)
- Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Whitney)
- A New Inner Relish (Ortlund)
- The Expulsive Power of a New Affection (Chalmers, free online)
- Communion with God (Owen)
- Confessions (Augustine)