–LaToya McDonald and Shannon Hatton
There are so many ways to effectively apply prayers for spiritual growth and maturity in the sight of God (1 Timothy 2:1-7). This includes:
- Individual intimate communication with God.
- Prayerfully waiting on God for specific concerns.
- Intercession for others, and spiritual warfare, etc.
As we grow, we must be intentional about maturing. And as we mature in Christ, we must see to it that we’re growing. Growth is represented by an increase in size, power or nature while maturation is represented by a ripening and the readiness to be harvested or consumed.
Growing in our prayer life can mean increasing our time with God and applying God’s word for power in the secret place (Matthew 6:6). Maturing in our prayer life means applying God’s word and the Bible-based revelations received during prayer (1 Peter 2:1-2). We need both growth and maturation in prayer to reach our full stature in Christ (John 14:23, John 15).
Maturing in the place of prayer also requires obedience in accordance with biblical revelations from God. Obedience draws you closer to God through grace and faith.
The secret place and maturity
In John 15:4, Jesus reminds us that we cannot grow or produce ripe fruit unless we are connected to God. Prayer is our way of intimate and personal communication with God (Psalms 27:8).
We communicate our shortcomings, accomplishments, concerns and praises to God, and then He responds through his word, creation, dreams and the people around. As we communicate with God and wait for Him in the place of prayer, we expose ourselves to God. Hence, we grow through Him when his Spirit communicates to our Spirit (Romans 8:16).
It places us in direct connection with the vine (Jesus Christ), to receive the nutrients we need to grow, produce and ripen. Growth happens from being in the secret place (the secret place, which is in the Spirit of God through your spirit, is outside of time, space, and good works done in self-righteousness and vain religion).
Only from dwelling in the vine can you grow. And dwelling in Him includes obedience (Amos 3:3). In the secret place of the Most High, one is covered, washed, cleansed, affirmed and built up unto righteousness.
Intercession and maturity
In 1 Timothy 2:1, we are urged to pray for all people. Our prayers are like seeds that we plant into the lives of others.
The act of being selfless is a sign of maturation as we love others in obedience to God’s commands. There are times we must put ourselves aside and stand in the gap for God’s people. Jesus cleaned the feet of his disciples as an act of both humility and maturity in his walk.
So we must begin to wash the feet of those around us in prayer. We must stand in the gap for those who don’t know Christ so that they can know Him through us.
Waiting on the Lord and maturity
At times, God has us wait in the secret place for Him to build up our character, trust, and diversify our knowledge of Him. In the place of prayer, God works on our perceptions of Him and what we believe communicating with Him and waiting on Him in prayer should look like.
When it feels like God isn’t speaking, you should study His word because it is in His word that you receive logos instruction from the relatable lives of believers who were before us. In God’s waiting room, you tend to find new ways to spend your time as you wait patiently.
In the waiting room, there may be times when you do not know what to say or how to say it (Romans 8:26). Hannah prayed in her heart (1 Samuel 1:13) out of her desperation and God heard her. David prayed to God through songs and poems (Psalms 42). It was also David who prayed to God through dancing and worshipping (2 Samuel 6:14-22).
It obviously is not the most popular method, but journaling is also a way of praying and can be very effective when facing times of extreme difficulty and pain. When you feel like you have prayed all that you can pray, you can: write, dance, sing, go for a walk, etc. (Psalms 19:1). There are many ways to connect to God (Acts 17:28). In the course of our relationship with God, it is in the waiting room pivotal times happen.
By his Spirit, he propels, refines, heals and delivers us to look more like His bride. The waiting room may be trying, but let patience have its work for effectual pruning to take place so you can bear more fruit.
Remember, when you don’t know what to pray, the Holy Spirit prays for you when you pray in the Spirit. In addition, you should ask the Holy Spirit to lead you as you pray or to pray for you regarding the matter and He will if you believe. Sincerity in the secret place is the key in this case.
Prayer and destiny
No matter what seasons you face in your Christian walk, know that God hears you whenever you pray (if you are truly seeking Him). God is interested in every aspect of your life and sees them as integral.
Psalms 139:17-18 says that God’s thoughts for you are as numerous as the sand on the seashore. This is just a tip of the iceberg compared to the number of thoughts God has for you and all of these are good and are for your good because He is good (Jeremiah 29:11).He calls you the apple of His eye (Deuteronomy 32:10).
You are very important to God and your life was created on purpose to impact the world. Begin to ask Him what His plans are for you and what He created you to do on earth (Jeremiah 33:3). Start inquiring and walking in obedience as you spend quality time in the secret place of our great and mighty God.