1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
Our opening Scripture shows us the conversation that took place between Jesus and His heavenly Father, which is a classic example of how He prayed in His earthly life. Prayer, here, as Jesus prayed, revealed His understanding and acknowledgement of who His heavenly God was, whom He had made Him and the powers He had given Him over mankind to give them eternal life. The Lord Jesus spoke of how the Father had given him power or authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as the Father had given Him. The Lord Jesus acknowledged what the Father had given Him. In John 17:2 the Word tells us, “As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.” Acknowledgement makes prayer potent and powerful. When prayer lacks acknowledgement, it becomes docile and inoperative. For example, if you are in a relationship and there is no acknowledgement of who you are to your partner or your friend, and vice versa, the relationship will be weak. This is known as affirmation. Your faith in Christ Jesus becomes effectual through the acknowledgement of those things that God has deposited in you in Christ Jesus. Every relationship thrives on affirmation or acknowledgement, and the prayer relationship is not an exemption.
Philemon 1:6 says, “That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” Therefore, the first element of prayer that makes prayer powerful is acknowledgement. Acknowledge who God is. Acknowledge who you are in Him. Acknowledge your union with Christ, and this is done by thanksgiving unto God. So, the Lord Jesus shows us this pattern of acknowledgement in prayer. Prayer goes beyond just having your needs met; it is not without it though. That’s why sometimes when some of God’s people don’t know what to pray about anymore, particularly when they feel their needs have been met, they retreat from prayer; they have a recess from prayer. Hence, they see no need to pray anymore. God wants you to know that prayer is first and foremost acknowledgement of who He is and who you are in Him. This is the foundation or underpinning of your prayer life. Now you can give thanks to God for your union with Christ, the love of God for you, new creation realities in Christ; the things that God has done for you in Christ. You can give thanks to God that you are born again; the old life is gone and that you are a brand-new man in Christ. When you do this long enough in faith, your prayer life will be reinforced with power and grace of continuity in prayer. You will begin to talk from revelation, not because you’ve been taught a religious creed, but you have come to a place of knowing, having practiced acknowledgement in the place of prayer.
MY SOLID FRONT (YOUR CONFESSION):
In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I acknowledge who God is to me and who I am in Him as I give thanks to God continually in faith and joy. My prayer life is reinforced greatly in Jesus’ Name!
Further Meditation:
Proverbs 3:5-6; Colossians 1:12.