When Jesus prayed, it was focused on the will of The Father. God wants to send out workers into the harvest field, so Jesus encourages the 72 to pray for those workers. At the moment he was telling them this, Jesus was sending them out into the field AS the workers. Jesus had the 72 praying for themselves.
People will often talk to me about concern in praying for themselves. "I feel selfish," is usually the quote, "when I pray for myself. So, I just pray for others." This goes against the teachings and practice of Jesus, though. He prayed for himself. He encouraged his followers to pray for themselves. It's not selfish to pray for God's will in your life. The selfishness happens when you pray for stuff God doesn't want for you.
So, I would suggest worrying less about that fancy new house or car. He already promised to provide if you seek His Kingdom and His Righteousness. Instead, perhaps, talk to Him about your part in His plan. Pray for ways you (not your spouse) can make your marriage better. Pray for ways to built a better relationship with your children and grandchildren and how He wants you to raise them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Pray for His Wisdom in decision-making and prioritizing. Pray for His clear direction, strength, and, when you are following His will, for His peace. All of these things are praying for yourself, but in ways He encourages you to pray.
Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. "When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. "When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' (Luke 10:3-10 NIV)
Pray for God's Kingdom to come and His Will to be done here on earth just as it is in heaven. Pray that it begins in you - your mind, your heart, your words, and your actions. Pray for your part in His plan, moment by moment and day by day.
But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.' I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. "Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me." (Luke 10:11-16 NIV)
You are God's worker. You are Christ's ambassador to the world. He is ready to work in you to grow and through you to reach your world with His love. You are not alone. Billions of His followers are also working on His Team and His Body. They are reaching out to their worlds at the same time you are reaching out to yours. God will remind you of this in prayer. Allow Him to give you encouragement, strength, and courage to continue your part in His plan.
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:17-20 NIV)
You may not see the fruit of your labor as quickly as the seventy two did, but your faithfulness will produce fruit - both in your own life and in the lives you touched. Don't worry about the results. You plant. Another waters. God causes the growth. Different seed will fall on hearts with different kind of soil. They control the condition of the soil. God causes the growth. You keep planting good seed and watering it. Rejoice, though, not in the "successes." Rejoice that you're in The Garden and on His Team.
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. (Luke 10:21 NIV)
Don't be like the educated of Jesus' day who missed Jesus altogether. Instead, be like little children learning from their Father. Then, you will experience the fruit of His Spirit in your life.
"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." (Luke 10:22-24 NIV)
How about you? Do you see? Do you pray as Jesus did? Do you pray for yourself? How does God answer?
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