If you're like me, it's altogether too easy to allow distractions. If I'm not focused, my mind can wander. How do we avoid that and offer up powerful prayers that "avail much"? (James 5:16).

As we explore the answer, allow me to relate a personal experience. Google Earth is a favorite program of mine. The basic versions are free, and they allow me to take a digital map of the world and amazingly "zoom in" and see great detail. Perhaps you also have tried it.

Through marvelous satellite imagery, the program offers astonishing detail about buildings, houses and natural objects. Using Google Earth, I have gone back to all the places I've lived, and the images evoke long-forgotten memories of what my little world was once like.

Through Google Earth, I can instantly gain a different perspective and scale of my world, even to the point of seeing earth suspended in space. That digital capacity helps me appreciate and be reminded of God's perspective of our world, our activities, and even our thoughts!

When I view the world through Google Earth, I am profoundly reminded that God sees the big picture with me right in it. He sees my life intertwined with other lives, events and timelines.

Here's my point: A big help to my prayers has been learning to literally "zoom out" of my life, to try and see the profound perspective that God has. The Bible emphatically confirms that God listens to us (Psalm 66:19-20). Accordingly, as we pray, do we really consider how God views our prayers from a much larger perspective? Do we consider how our requests impact the lives of others?

The model prayer Jesus offered to us illustrates God's perspective. Let's see how it is arranged in order and priority (Matthew 6:9-11):

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done on earth as it isin heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.

How do we gain and appreciate God's perspective?

In step one we focus completely on God's greatness. We honor and thank Him for all that He is. Our attention and praise is on Him and Him alone.

In step two we focus on God's vision of His Kingdom. As we understand what Jesus taught, we prayerfully "zoom out" to see His reign come to the entire earth. We anticipate His return.

In step three we consider His will, His plan, His work. This reminds us that we are but part of a bigger picture. This reminds us that when we align with God's will, powerful things happen (Romans 12:1-2).

Here's a critical point: It's not until step four and beyond that we turn our attention on what we personally need. Perhaps too often this is where many prayers start, instead of first trying to gain God's perspective of our situation. When we do ask for personal intervention and help, we are taught to ask in perspective of already having thanked Him, understanding His mission and will. With this viewpoint we're ready to talk about our world as we "zoom back into" our lives.

Having God's perspective freshly in mind, we cease being myopic and short-sighted. We can think big!

In conclusion, in our prayers let's always remember that God has a perspective that is far, far bigger than ours towards all life and things. He sees all. As humans, we have a limited view.

It is also important to remember that in the big picture, God's timeline is often way different from ours. Read what God declares in Isaiah 46:10:

"I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand.'"

Our prayers can become much more meaningful and powerful if we can manage perspectives of a big picture along with our own circumstances. As I pray, it is helpful to me to spiritually "zoom in and out" in my mind's eye to better appreciate true reality of what God sees and what He can do.

I'd like to offer you our study aid Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion. A key chapter is "Praying for a Right Spirit and New Attitude." We can have a much better relationship with God once we understand what roadblocks we need to remove in order to reach God in prayer.

Power up your prayers with God's perspective!

P.S. Thank you to those who have written to me about your challenges and victories in your spiritual journey. If you have a story about powerful prayer, please let me know at victor_kubik@ucg.org.

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