My wife and I were in Naples recently and participated in a wedding. While there, we stayed at the Ritz Carlton. I was very impressed with the Ritz Carlton. I was not only impressed by the beauty of the facilities and grounds, but was more impressed with their people.
One of the evenings there, we were having dinner and I got up to go to the restroom. As I walked down the hall, one of the employees said, “Good evening, Sir,” I said, “Good evening” in reply. I went to the restroom and two minutes later, I pass this employee again and she says, “Welcome back, Sir” and I said, “Thank you.” So as I walked back to the room I began to notice is that every employ you approached in the hotel would great you this way.
I later did a little research on the Ritz Carlton. What I found is that they have created a cultural identity that creates these types of responses. The employees at the Ritz Carlton call themselves “Ladies and Gentlemen”. “Good to see you sir,” “Welcome back sir,” “Glad to be of service to you sir,” or “My pleasure”. All of these greetings are what “Ladies and Gentlemen” do. It’s not hard to do something when you identify yourself as someone who does that. It becomes a very life-giving and natural way of communicating.
So I got to thinking about identity regarding answered prayer and the life-giving Christ followers. I wondered if there were any connections with identity and answered prayer. So I took a look at someone who always got his prayers answered every time he prayed. Yes you guess right it. It was Jesus.
The bible says we are to identify ourselves with Christ. Galatians 2:20 says this, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” So I live in this earthy body with the same trust in God to answer my prayers as Jesus. If we identify our selves with Christ the way the scripture encourages us to, then we would act like the employs and staff of the Ritz Carlton as they identify themselves as “Ladies and Gentlemen”. The scripture identifies us in Christ as “Sons and Daughters of God.” So does Jesus still expect to get His prayers answered? The only wise answer would be yes. We are his body in the earth. We are Christ followers. So therefore, Jesus always expects to get his prayers answered. That’s just the way a son or daughter would act. It would never cross our mind that God would not answer our prayer just like it never crossed Jesus’ mind. It would be the furthest thing to cross the minds of the “Ladies and Gentlemen” of the Ritz Carlton to say anything other than, “Welcome back Sir.” You would never hear them say, “What do you want?” “I don’t have time for that.” “Its way over there, just go down the hall and turn left.” No, its, “Follow me sir” because it’s who they are. They are Ladies and Gentlemen and that’s what ladies and gentlemen do.
Jesus never would have walked up to Lazarus tomb and said, “I don’t know about this. This is going to be hard. Maybe if I read a little more of the Law of Moses this morning or if had not lost my temper yesterday and ran those guys out of the temple.” He would have never thought of anything other than, "Lazarus come forth."
So, identity is very critical when it comes to getting your prayers answered. Before you pray, think about who you are. Refuse to pray like the world prays. Know and believe you are like Jesus when he prays.
It takes a very humble heart to say, “Welcome back Sir”. “Good to see you, Sir” or “God always answers my prayers.” Be sure today to give it a try and remember...
Be Life Giving,
Alex Anderson
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