ANOTHER BLOG ABOUT PRAYER

The thing that makes me sad is that there are certain things that I know.

I don't think them, I know them.

But one cannot state that he knows certain things, lest he be accused of excessive pride.

Only what I know is the truth.

Not to admit that I know it would be lying.

So I am faced with a dilemma.

Exhibit pride or lie.

What kind of choice is that?

I was reading a post the other day in which the writer was asking people to pray for a particular physical thing.

Let me be quick to say that I believe it is superlatively important for us to pray about things.

Not everything, but in general, things.

Many people quote Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness: and all these thing shall be added unto you." as though it is God's promise to give you things if you seek Him.

Of course you are smart enough to realize that the word "but" is used as a conjunction, connecting this thought to the ones that go before it.

Thus we know that the verse is saying that if we seek God and His righteousness above all else, that we don't have to worry about food, shelter and clothing.

We have to work for them, we just don't have to worry about them. Worrying about them will not add a cubit to your height or an hour to your life.

So many people find it necessary to pray about the minutia of life.

Such is not necessary.

For instance, you need not pray about whether it is God's will for you to witness the Gospel to others.

His Word tells us to do so in Matthew 28:16-20.

He said do it.

So don't pray about it, just do it!

For many people, prayer is a way to get God to go along with their wants, whether they be wants of healing, riches, stability or whatever.

I wrote a little verse about it. Sing it to the tune of "Puff the Magic Dragon," the Peter, Paul and Mary hit of years long gone.

It goes like this:

God my magic genie does what I ask;

For Him to do what I command is not too hard a task.

Say the incantation, "In Jesus' Name;"

And when you've gotten what you want you'll know you've won the game.

That is so pagan, so superstitious, so blasphemous!

Scripture tells us that when we abide in Jesus we can express to Him the desires of our heart and He will give them to us.

In the context of the whole counsel of God, though, this means that if our desires for ourselves match up with His desires for us, He will give us what we want because what we want is what He wants for us.

You see, prayer is not our way to manipulate God, it is His way of letting us know what He is up to and inviting us to go along for the ride.


It is also one of the means by which we die to self and yield to Him.

It is like a conversation with an expert in a field in which you are a novice, but one who does not look down on you, rather seeks to teach you His field.

Most of us pray gimmie, gimmie prayers (uh...myself included BTW).

"Lord, take away my illness. Give me health."

"Lord, make Aunt Suzie well give her health."

"Lord, you know I need $400.00 to make it through the month. Give me wealth."

(Don't you just love how we tell God what He knows?)

"Lord, Heal my marriage. Make my spouse a better person so we can live together."

"Lord, strike my jerk of a boss with lightning so I will have a better time at work."

"Lord, this business belongs to you. Make it prosper, 'cause it's yours."

"Lord, give apoplexy to that lady who cut me down at church the other Sunday. Get even with her for me."

How much more satisfying our prayer life would be if we would learn to pray:

"Change my heart, O God."

"Lord, help me be more like you every day."

"Lord, if this illness kills me, let me be looking forward to the unspeakable joy of being face-to-face with my blessed Savior."

"Lord, I give this situation to you. Do whatever you want to with it."

"Lord, give my boss a special measure of peace today and help me be the employee I should be to earn the paycheck I get."

"Lord, I offer myself as a living sacrifice to you today."

"Lord, I give this business to you. Help me to work hard so it can grow your way."

"Lord, this is your business. Do what you want with it."

"Lord, help me give myself 100% to my spouse today, expecting absolutely nothing in return and thus show forth your grace and peace."

"Lord, help me die to self a little more today than I did yesterday."

Life is very hard.

Because we live in a fallen world, things happen.

Living our lives for Christ is even harder.

Circumstances? Well, they are just that: circumstances.

Will they change?

Maybe.

But if not, like Paul, we need to say, "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance I'm found."