The Practice of Prayer - Five

ATTRACTION & MOTIVATION

We began this series of posts with the following paradigm for the PRACTICE of PRAYER. 

Encounter = True Goodness = Attraction = Motivation = Bonding = LOVE

The Book of Genesis tells the story of creation, how God created everything that exists. When the work of creating was complete, it says, "God looked at everything he had made, and found it very good." Gen. 1:31 

...... VERY GOOD ......

Then in chapter two, in the middle of God's good creation, we have this: Out of the ground the LORD God made grow every tree that was delightful to look at and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Gen. 2:9 

...... DELIGHTFUL TO LOOK AT - GOOD FOR FOOD ......

Now our role in this work of creation is given; "The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it." vs.15 Creation is not ours to do with it as we please. Our role is to be stewards and protectors of what is God's creation, not our doing.

...... CULTIVATE and CARE FOR IT ......

Finally the purpose for the two trees in the middle of the garden is revealed. "The LORD God gave the man this order: You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat; when you eat from it you shall die. Vs. 16-17 

        NOT GIVEN                                  GIVEN
    TO DEFINE  GOOD & EVIL          TO CHOOSE LIFE

What is given to us is LIFE and God's good creation in which to live life; creation which is: - delightful to look at and good for food - What is not given is the freedom to alter and change, either the specific design or the intended purpose which God has given creation. We are to live life to the full, to delight in and explore the full beauty of God's creation. 

Is it not delightful to watch a small child discover its world. It is attracted by everything, everything looks delightful and good to eat, and so - into hand, into mouth. But not everything is meant for the mouth. What the child must learn is the intended purpose for all these wonderful things that surround it.

By  THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER one enters the school of life to discover and learn what God's good purpose is for their life - why he created me. God has sown in our hearts the ATTRACTION for life. This in turn becomes my MOTIVE in prayer, my goal - to discover who I am in God's eyes, what wonderful and good things God has in store for me - in this life and for all eternity - and by contrast, what may be harming me and preventing me from knowing and fulfilling God's purpose for me.

>>> THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER - SIX <<<