Why Are You Praying?
Good Morning Friends,
I would guess on this and I may actually be wrong but I am pretty sure that God does not need our prayers to know what we really need but perhaps we need to pray to discover what we really need. I am told that the number one reason people pray is to change their circumstances and that may well work but has got to be short lived as an intervention. Why Are You Praying?
Scripture: First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all—this was attested at the right time. For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
1 Timothy 2: 1-7 (NRSV)
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Luke 18: 1-8 (NRSV)
“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.”
Luke 22:42 (NRSV)
Message: Many people pray, wanting God to better their lives, change their circumstances. Even non-religious people will turn to prayer in times of need to appeal to a higher power to intervene and change their lives. A lot of people pray regularly asking God to intervene in their lives and indeed often this works even for non-believers. One has to wonder why this is so. Then we learn that the short term positive results for prayer is supported by science. The problem is that even if prayer changes our circumstances it has little lasting effect if the focus is only on circumstances. If we want real change in ourselves we have to pray in a different way for a completely different outcome. If we want prayer to change us it must glorify God and come from a righteous heart seeking the change that relates to God’s purpose. The best prayer then is about God not us. Prayer is not to be used as some magic wand to meet our desires and yet that is often how it is used. The truth of our belief is seen in our tendency is to use prayer as a last resort. But when we pray that way we are really saying we are still in control of our lives. God is an afterthought. Unfortunately prayer does not come “first of all” for many of us. It comes last, if at all. We tend to believe that God helps those who help themselves as scripture. But this is not true. If this theology was correct Sampson should never have failed. Jezebel would have been a role model. Friends, prayer is to be our first response. This is a sign of obedience but also the sign of victory.
So friends,
in prayer discover the comfort in knowing that you are beloved by God. And if you are genuinely seeking God’s answers, you can go to your Father confidently with your questions. He will respond to you in love so learn to do this first.
Pray that our prayers change us for the better. Pray we not use prayer as a last resort. Pray we trust in God even when we do not comprehend His will. Pray we are permeated by faith in the Father and trust. Pray we realize the goal of prayer is of secondary importance to the relationship with God…union with God…union with God’s merciful love. Pray we never stop praying even when our prayers are not answered. Pray we have prayer that keeps our faith alive. Pray we have unceasing prayer, persevering like the widow in the Parable from Luke. Pray that in our prayers we experience the compassion of God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 