Who Am I Even Talking To?

"Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and everything in them." Acts 4:24

This was the beginning of the first recorded prayer from the very first grouping of the church. A few weeks ago I blogged about Gods value system and how it's not mine. How He assigns value differently than I do. How God values his glory above all else and how, I often value my well being, or the well being of those I love, above all else.

So I guess it's no suprise that lately, my prayers are reflecting my value system. I find myself opening prayers, entering into conversation with the creator of all things, with requests for things I want or feel I need, then rushing out of conversation with The Holy One and asking it be done.

Yet, when the first believers prayed, their prayers reflected a very different value system. Even as their very lives were at stake, they didn't rush into the presence of I AM, demanding protection and covering. Instead, they opened their prayer by assigning, declaring value where it was due. "Oh sovereign Lord" "Maker of heaven and earth" "Creator of the sea and everything in them."

So much is accomplished in this simple action. The early church brings honor to God through their words. Their words act as reminder to God of His power, and his character, beautifully framing any requests that were to follow. God is __(fill in character quality)__ therefore we have great hope and confidence in bringing our needs, our thoughts, our struggles-- in all things --before Him. Not entering God's presence in a manner that assigns value where value should be assigned, cheats me from the intimacy of worship, cheats me from the confident hope that should flow from acknowledgement of who He is and it cheats God from the glory he should be receiving.

I want to stop cheating God and stop cheating myself. I want to slow down in approaching the great I AM. I want to pray like the early church, and I want to experience the power and presence of the Almighty God like they did.