Are you praying Old Testament or New Testament?

I recently heard a series of talks on prayer by a Louis Giglio

His basic point was that generally we pray for four things on a regular basis that really, as Gods children and New Testament Christians, we should realise are not in line with our beliefs. He was suggesting we upgrade or remix our prayers to reflect what we actually believe.

The things were:

1) God bless me/us/the situation/this meeting/ this time/ this journey etc

2) Be with us/Go with us here/there/as we go

3) Protect us from harm

4) Forgive us for our sins

Can you think why these are are not such New Testament prayers?

See below!

1) God bless me/us etc

The point is that through salvation through grace and becoming joint heirs with Christ, God has already blessed us to the nth degree. The promises are in the bank and there to be claimed and received by faith. We dont have to ask for Gods blessing as through Christ he has already blessed us over and above all we could ask and think . How would you feel if you gave something to a child (full blessing) and then they kept asking for it. Frustrated?!

How about instead praying that we can bless Him!

2) Be with me/us...go with me /us

Jesus has already promised to "be with us aways even unto the end of the world." He has already promised to "never leave nor forsake us." If these promsises are to be believed (which they are) the last thing we need to pray for is for God to be with us, as He already is!!!

By leaving these things out and praying for other things we can make our prayers more effective.

3) Protection.... is not necessarily a New Testament given. In fact we are promised that in the world we will have tribulation/ or trouble. Nearly all the apostles came to a sticky end somewhere. If we are always praying for protection and asking for protection and looking for safety and security for oursleves and our families we may be frustrating Gods greater purposes.

(He shared the story of an Australian missionary Graham Staines who was murdered with his two sons outside a home for lepers in rural India in January 2000. He had served in India for 30 years. His wife and remaining daughter publicly forgave the murderers and committed their futures to India. the incident had a major impact on India as a whole and turned into a marvellous testimony and victory for the cause of Christ in India)

I must say I find this one a little tricky as this is something you generally always pray for especially on long journeys and mission trips. I think the point is that these prayers need to be bracketed with the request to glorify Him in whatever ways He sees fit. .....?

4) Forgive me for my sins.

Finally and most simply He already has.! The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. We need to confess our sins but His part of forgiveness is already in the bag!

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

It is already in the bag . It is done. It is finished.

Interesting concepts, hey?