What would it be like not to have access to God in prayer? We take the privilege of prayer for granted, forgetting the cost of that access through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, neglecting the open invitation of our God to approach Him, the scepter of His grace continually extended to us, losing sight of the power of prayer as God's ordained means for the accomplishment of His purposes.
Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet. Many of those tears were shed on behalf of the people of God as he cried out to God on their behalf. Tracing the winding river of prayer through Jeremiah's prophetic word renews us in the privilege of prayer and appreciation for the access we have to the ear of God for His mercy and grace in time of need.
"Do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and not not intercede with me, for I will not hear you" (7:16) Here in Jeremiah and elsewhere (e.g., 11:14; 14:11), God highlights for us the privilege of access to Him. We could bring several aspects of commentary to bear here, but at the very least we want to wake up sweaty and shaking from the nightmare of what it would be for us not to have audience with our God for our own petitions and intercession for others. We would shrink in the fear of abandonment, powerlessness and hopelessness.
Our spirits are revived when God speaks to Jeremiah, "then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you" (29:7). What is the "then" that restores God's favor and invites access and promise of God's ear? It is the promise of God's plans of the new covenant, plans bound up in Jesus Christ, plan of God's saving purpose, "plans for welfare and not for evil, to give a future and a hope" (29:11), plans where God assures us that if we seek Him, we will find Him and He will be responsive to our pleas (29:12-14). God hears our prayer because of Jesus.
Treasure prayer.
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