Sometimes you need to steal away to commune with the Lord for yourself. Our guest blogger Minister Jacqui Showers’s article is entitled

“It’s ALL About You: Selfless Prayer ”

It’s All About You!

Selfless Prayer

Several years ago in a discussion with my sister and mentor, Portia (who since has gone to be with the Lord), who was telling me that she had reached a dry place in her life when it came to prayer. It seemed as though she had difficulty praying for others. Both of us found it interesting.

I’ve come to realize that there are times when you want to pray for others, but you can only pray for yourself. Oftentimes what we find ourselves doing is trying to force a situation when God is beckoning you to spend some quality time with Him. Stealing away for personal prayer with God allows you to find yourself all over again and gain the strength you need to fulfill the assignment God has for your life.

Jesus stole away to have personal time with God. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane He didn’t pray for anyone, but Himself. He asked God to allow the cup to pass from Him and he ended the pray surrendering His will to the will of God. There are things in our lives that appear insurmountable that it is hard to focus on anything else but our own needs. These are not so much selfish times as they are selfless times.

A selfish person will keep pushing themselves pouring out when they know they have nothing else to give. A selfless person realizes that it is time for them to pull away in order for them to become rejuvenated to endure to the end and to be able to effectively minister to others.

There are seasons when you go to call out for others and you find yourself calling out for yourself. There are seasons when that is all you can focus on is your own concerns and cares. Try as you may to pray for others, your circumstances and needs supersedes and take precedence over those of others.

You see, God instructed us to love Him first, then others and finally ourselves. Because he knew that there comes a time when you have to minister to your own personal needs. There comes a time when you have to turn your back on the cares of this world in order for you to get into the face of God. You will never become all God envisioned if you don’t spend that quality time with Him by yourself and on your behalf. During this time you are able to curl up in His arms and tell Him all your concerns and fears. It is during this time that your soul is being renewed to accomplish the tasks that he has set before you.

When we don’t make time for these special moments, we miss God and all that He has for us. It is in this intimate encounter with God that we begin to know ourselves and the will He has for our lives.

So, go ahead and pull away. Whether its in your prayer closet, prayer chair or wherever, pray for yourself. It is not a selfish act, but a selfless act when we go to our Father so He can pour into us in order for us to acquire the strength we need to fulfill the assignment. It is only then you can truly help someone else. Now, you can say, “It is not all about me, but it is about You (God and others).

SCRIPTURES

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go yonder and pray. Matt 26:36 (ASV)

After walking a little farther, he quickly bowed with his face to the ground and prayed, “Father, if it’s possible, let this cup {of suffering} be taken away from me. But let your will be done rather than mine.” Matt 26:39 (GW)

At that time Jesus went to a mountain to pray. He spent the whole night in prayer to God. When it was day, he called his disciples. He chose twelve of them and called them apostles. Luke 6:12-13 (GW)

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Phil 4:6 (KJV)

PRAY

Father, Sometimes I want to cry out for you on behalf of others, yet I find myself discussing my own needs and concerns. It is not that I don’t care about others, but it is because I need more of you to strengthen me in order that I can go out and be an effective change agent for you. Bless me not to feel guilty about this time I so desperately need to spend with You. Teach me how to embrace these moments as instrumental in my spiritual growth. It is when I come to You with all my concerns, I am able to envision myself as You do and to help others do the same. Amen.

Copyrighted © 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Share your thoughts.

Jacqui Showers, Showers’ Blessings, The Showers Group Ministries

Question: What ‘s your response based on the Word and expereince?

ABOUT MINISTER JACQUI A. SHOWERS

Minister Jacqui A. Showers, Evangelist, Inspirational Coach and Author, is the Founder of The Showers Group Ministries. She provides unboxed inspirational coaching through individual consultation, workshops, seminars, conferences, church services and other venues; and she is the author of Showers’ Blessings weekly inspirational eblasts serving a worldwide distribution. She is a licensed Minister at House of Prayer & Praise Ministries, Detroit. She can be contacted at showersblessings@sbcglobal.net or visit the website at www.theshowersgroupministries.com.