why pray…
I was praying one morning last week. I pretty much messed it up by spending prayer time thinking about praying. It is the curse of the overly analytical to ruin the activity by pondering the activity. Still, the questions came, and they make me think:
- Why pray for one thing or another to happen when I already know that You are in control?
If You are in control, and it is happening, it is happening under Your control. - Why pray when I know that You already know the situation?
It isn’t like I’m bringing some mess to your attention that you were previously unaware of. - Why pray when You know the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end?
Am I going to change Your mind? If I did, what does that say about You? or Your control? - Why pray for Your will to be done?
Back to the first question. Your will will be done. More accurately, Your will is being done. - Why pray when Paul told us we don’t even know how or what to pray?
He’s right…
What I want is most likely what I don’t need.
My initial impressions, assumptions, and partial understanding leads to wrong conclusions.
I’m selfish.
I fall asleep when I pray.
I get distracted when I pray.
I ramble in my prayers. Really bad.
Most of the time prayer is a bailout plan.
I know the technical answer to the question of why we pray. It is about relationship. But, if it is about relationship, consider what kind of a partner we are in the relationship. Think of what a “normal” prayer list looks like…the one in our church’s prayer meeting looks something like this:
- 4 cancers
- 3 travelers
- 2 pregnancies
- 15 sick in the church
- 6 extended family medical issues
- 5 unsaved
- 2 jobs
- 4 soldiers
- smattering of unspokens
And what do we pray:
- 4 healings
- 3 safeties
- 2 safeties
- 15 healings
- 6 healings
- 5 salvations
- 2 jobs
- 4 safeties
- smattering of just do something, something good…
Where’s the relationship in this? I can easier find a rut in “normal” prayer lists than a relationship. Where is Your will in these prayers? I can easier find my will than Yours. Really Jesus, teach us how to pray…
Killer Prayer Tips from Igniter Media on Vimeo.
Hi son
Prayer does present some enigmas, however there are some clear instructions on prayer. Here are a few as you walk through the NT
Mt. 6:5 Jesus expects believers to pray: when you pray
6:8 Jesus said our Father knows what we need but in 9 He says in this manner pray.
10 says to pray for His will to be done on earth
11 to give us our daily bread
9:38 pray the Lord of the harvest to send workers
14:23 Jesus the very Son of God prayed
26:41 He told them to watch and pray so they would not enter into temptation
John 17:9, 15, 20 Jesus prayed for believers to be protected
Romans 8:26 does say we don’t always know how we should pray, but it also says the Holy Spirit will help pray by intercession for us
II Cor. 5:20 Paul prayed for their reconciliation to God
Col. 1:9 Paul did not cease to pray for them and desire that they would be filled with the knowledge of His will.
Ephesians 6 teaches about wearing our spiritual armor, but it does not stop with just wearing the armor, for the very next Vs which is in 18 says “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit for themselves and for Paul to be able to accomplish what God had for him in Vs 19-20, this is seen also in II Thess. 3:1
I Tim. 2:1 Prayer was the first thing Paul was led to command the church to do in behaving properly in the house of God 3:14-15
I Tim 2:8 men are to pray everywhere lifting up holy hands
James 5:13-16 Prayer and confession are keys to healing, *The effective , fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
I Thess. 5:17 sums up the time factor of prayer: Pray without ceasing.
Lewis Sperry Chafer the founder of Dallas Theo. Seminary said; “It is as much decreed to be by prayer, as it is decreed to be done at all.”