OMNIBENEVOLENT

For these past two nights and every other night this week, Journey Church is gathering at each of our campuses -- to pray.

There's something about the body of Christ coming together to seek, ask, knock, kneel and petition God.

Whatever you think about Kierkegaard's philosophy of life and theology, he got it pretty right when he said: 'The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.'

The beauty of prayer is that we pray to a personal Being -- Almighty God.  He isn't a statue or a concept;  He's Someone to interact with.  If He was impersonal or distant, prayer wouldn't have much meaning or purpose.

God also loves us.  He isn't just loving, He's ALL-loving - He's omnibenevolent.  He provides a good outcome.  That's His nature.

"The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays."

God is omnipotent, so there's nothing you can ask that is beyond His ability to provide.  If He weren't all powerful, we would have little assurance that He could or would answer.

God is omniscient.  He knows it all.  That impacts our prayers every time.  He understands, grasps and directs all that is happening in history at all times -- past, present and future.  This means no prayer is too big for Him, but also that no prayer is too small.

'Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  Be alert and always keep on praying for the Lord's people.'  (Ephesians 6:18)

And be blessed.