Praying Like a Dead Man

From one of my daily devotionals:

As we continue to look at prayer from a Hebraic perspective, have you noticed the shift of emphasis away from you as an individual to God and His Sovereign will? This change goes against what you probably have been taught. Our culture focuses on us and the improvement of ourselves to build a better future for our selves. If I can just get that degree, that job, that special person, or extra money, then I can control my destiny. This is how we have been taught in America and it goes against a Biblical worldview (which focuses on our usefulness to God and His purposes). All of this will affect how you pray. We want to pray the way Jesus did and put the Father's will first. Consider Jesus' prayer in the garden the night He was arrested: "And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." Matthew 26:39 (KJV) The only way that one can utter these words and mean them is if there has been a resignation of ones complete self to the will and purposes of God. Remember that to trust or to have faith in Hebrew is a verb. Verbs describe action and are not simply mental assent. To trust God or have faith in Him requires that you actually place yourself under His authority. This type of prayer is prayed by dead people. I don't mean dead as in the body; I refer to dead in the terms of a death to ones own way. True death to self is required to pray this way. So, how are you feeling? Are you still alive or have you died to yourself yet? Today is a great day to put to death your will and embrace the Father's will. It might be painful, but the new life is so much better. Then, prayer will become a much sweeter experience.