Sometimes it just takes your breath away ...

The other day I was listening to David Jeremiah on the radio as I drove home from work. Talk about redeeming the time stuck in traffic! He was discussing the book of Daniel and Daniel's long wait for an answer to prayer. He then started to discuss the heart of prayer and gave an illustration that is just amazing.

If you have a safety deposit box, you are familiar with the protocol for getting into it. You bring your key and are accompanied by a bank clerk who has the bank's key. Only when both keys are placed in the lock, and turned does the box open. Prayer is much like that. The Father has many good and precious things waiting for us in that safety deposit box of prayer. He stands with His key in hand, but we must bring our key, insert it in the lock and turn it to receive from Him. The book of James tells us that "You do not have, because you do not ask God." (James 4:3)

Jesus told us that "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." (John 16:24) I believe that the other key is described in that verse. We have to ask in His name. That's not a little bit of magic that, like a spoonful of sugar, make the medicine go down. There is something much deeper.

When Candace's Aunt Edith was struggling with Alzheimer's disease, we were granted the power of attorney to act in her behalf. We had the legal authority to sign checks on her behalf and make commitments for her. It was not an unlimited authority, we were accountable to demonstrate that the actions were always in Auntie's best interest and for her benefit. When we pray "in Jesus' Name" we are exercising a divine power of attorney. We have authority, but we are bound to do and ask according to His will and purposes and not ours.

The two keys that David Jeremiah talked about -- the Father's will and our prayer -- are tied to the same box which is opened only when we ask, as Jesus did in the Garden , "not My will, but Thine ..."

I stand amazed at the partnership that we are invited to join. We get to pray, to join our will with His, to seek His glory, and then see both Heaven and earth move. If that doesn't light your fireworks, you need to get on your knees more often.

Keep the faith.