A Recipe for Powerless Prayer
Walk in Self-Condemnation
An old family recipe for powerless prayer has a very simple ingredient: self-condemnation. Contrary to what some might believe, it has nothing to do with repentance, nor does it glorify God. Furthermore, it keeps you in the driver’s seat. It runs contrary to what Jesus said was required to come after Him.
Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Part of denying the self includes not inserting yourself into places where you do not belong. It’s never been our position to condemn anyone, including ourself.
1 Corinthians 4:3-5 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but He that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
When entering into self-condemnation, one tends to reject mercy, and by extension God’s forgiveness offered them through the precious Blood of Jesus. Of course, many condemn themselves, because they haven’t forgiven themselves. From that standpoint, it is hard for them to imagine God forgiving them, since they can’t seem to do it, themselves. “I don’t know how He could forgive me.” How much confidence do you think they have in God hearing their prayers?
1 John 3:20-21 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
Repentance Removes Self-Condemnation
When persons do not truly repent, they may employ self-condemnation, especially if they plan to continue in the wrong direction. They use it like self-flagellation, in order to feel better about things. In order to save face before others, they’ll verbalize the self-condemnations, so others will not condemn them -at least not verbalize it to them. They’re still in control.
Repentance is concerned with the way God see things, and how He would want us to address sin, or anything else for that matter. It means to change the way one thinks, which in turn leads to a change in behavior. Repentance includes confession, which is full on agreement with God to include His view on our shortcomings. In addition, it seeks to change direction on His terms. What are His terms?
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (see also Acts 3:19-20).
Repent, confess your sins, receive His forgiveness, learn whatever lesson needs to be learned, and move on. We cannot glorify God by condemning ourselves, while living in the past. Rather, glorifying Him includes pressing forward to the mark of your high calling, and being conformed to the image of Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (see all of Philippians 3).
If you want to makes things up to God, do things His way. His ways do not include self-condemnation.
