Day 18 - 21 Days of "Plenty Too Much"

PRAYING IN GOD’S ABUNDANCE

PTM praying isn’t just praying for God’s abundance, it is praying from God’s abundance.  It is not just praying to the Lord in heavenly places, it is praying from and with the Lord as we are seated with Him in heavenly places.  Some people pray like beggars and some pray like sons and partners with God in His Heavenly enterprise to deliver His blessings, gifts, and provisions to people on earth.

Jesus taught such a bold approach to prayer.  In John 14 right after saying that we would do even greater works than He did because He would position Himself as an intercessor on our behalf Jesus said in John 14:13-14, “And I will do whatever you ask in My name (as my representative), this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified and celebrated in the Son.  If you ask Me anything in My name (as my representative) I will do it.”  (Amp)

We have been given the authority to open the storehouse of Heaven on behalf of the needs of earth.  That storehouse is full and never lacks.  Jesus’ name is the authority to make requisitions on behalf of people Jesus loves and is burdened for.  This means we can open Heaven and create the spaces or portals of an open Heaven on earth for people and situations where the enemy is hindering and depriving them of the will of the Heavenly Father.  As we open Heaven, Angels operate, lids and veils on people’s minds and hearts are removed.  Eyes are opened, and resources from God’s unseen realm of plenty too much flow.

I believe the story of Joseph is a picture of this kind of prayer.  Through prayer and obedience, Joseph built storehouses and God miraculously provided many years’ worth of food.  As people came from all over the earth, Joseph would command the storehouse be opened to meet the people’s needs.  He was given this authority by the King.  He didn’t sheepishly ask the King each time for something to give.  He discerned in his own heart and mind what the provision should be and then spoke it.  I like the verse in Job 22:28 that says, “You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established.”

As we enter into prayer we can believe based on Jesus righteousness that we are qualified, worthy, and commissioned to have access to the storehouse of Heaven for people’s needs.  This means as we are in prayer we should expect to discern and partner in our spirit with God’s will.  Many are hesitant to do this, but Jesus makes it clear that it glorifies God when we open Heaven by decreeing His will.  We don’t do this by selfish arbitrary feelings but by coming with a surrendered heart, leaning on God to make it clear even as we are in the act of praying.  As a church this often means taking time to come into agreement with others.  If we miss it and our hearts are sincere, God will help us get on track.  In the meantime, part of faith is acting confidently based on what we sense in our heart.  We should operate as boldly as if we had a check from the richest person in the world that we were walking into the bank to cash.

The prayer of faith then is to call those things that don’t yet appear as though they already were.  It means to speak to mountains and tell them to move.  I like to describe it as declaring outcomes to situations that don’t yet appear.  The facts of the story today might seem opposite but we can declare the outcome from the throne room of the One who causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.