Aspects of an Abundant Life
By Jerry Batson, Th.D.
Special to The Alabama Baptist
The very idea of believers experiencing an abundant life while ignoring or being erratic in their prayer life is an idea that is dead in the water. Prayerlessness is a major enemy of an abundant Christian life. God alone can supply the lasting abundance we need and are capable of possessing.
A prayer-filled life is already on the road that leads to spiritual abundance since God’s abundance often lies on the receiving end of prayer.
The observation of the psalmist is still valid: “In Your presence is fullness of joy” (Ps. 16:11). Prayer is the appointed way into God’s presence. In a similar way we read of the longstanding principle that roots from centuries before Christ in the promise given in Isaiah 56:7: “I will … make them joyful in My house of prayer.”
Unhurried meditation
The highest inspiration for prayer is God’s word fueling our unhurried meditation on His truth which in turn leads us into prayer. Often the best subjects for prayer arise not out of our needs but out of His word. The sequence of God’s word, our meditation and resultant prayer can be our best path into an abundant life since it allows God to suggest our prayer topics.
While our needs are legitimate subjects for prayer God’s concerns may well be the more important items on our prayer lists.
We might go on to add that prayer is the way God has provided His children to receive what He already desires to supply us each day. The Bible minces no words in declaring, “You do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2). Prayer is, of course, the appointed means of asking.
God’s abundance
This same passage goes on to allow that failure in prayer can occur when we ask amiss in order to spend God’s supply on our own pleasures (James 4:3).
While these warnings are not to be dismissed, Jesus put the matter of God’s abundance being received through prayer in positive terms by declaring, “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matt. 7:7).
In short the potential for experiencing God’s abundance is closely tied to the regular discipline of prayer engaged in for the right reasons.
His abundance is not only for our good but also and most preeminently for His glory.
Given the individuality of each of our lives and our own distinctive circumstances what would our prayer-filled life look like? If not already the case begin filling life with regular prayer and watch for ensuing spiritual abundance.
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