In 1 John 3:1 it is written: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God”.
It is indeed amazing that the Creator of the universe and everything that exists or has ever existed, has chosen to reveal Himself to us, not as the Master and King He is, but as our own Father in Heaven. And how much more amazing it is that this all-powerful, all-encompassing God has declared us to be joint-heirs of His inheritance with Jesus Christ our Lord!
But we dwell in this world which is under the control of the enemy of our souls, whose mission regarding us is to “steal, kill, and destroy”. Moreover, we live in these earthly bodies that have become corrupted figuratively and literally, and we find that the stakes are stacked against us. We are no match for what stands against us, opposing us from cradle to the grave, unless we pray.
When was the last time you prayed?
“I am like a pin drop in an ocean of a vast creation, living in one of countless generations over millennia, and among billions of people in my generation. Does God care about what happens to me?”
“Does God, great as He is, even see me or know who I am?”
“Is my life important to Him?”
“Is it realistic to expect that the Creator of the universe would lift (whatever corresponds to) a finger to provide what I need or to help me with a need?”
“Am I worth anything to God?”
“Can He distinguish my voice from so many others and so many things to deal with my issues and supply what I need?”
Perhaps at some point some of these questions have crossed your mind, or perhaps it has more than just crossed, it has taken root in your mind. Perhaps that is the reason you consider prayer futile, even presumptuous, and certainly not a rational action point for your situation. May I reassure you that prayer works.
Jesus prayed often. Jesus prayed all night before he chose his disciples, he prayed through the night after feeding the five thousand men, he prayed for his disciples and the church in his last days, he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Indeed, he taught his disciples to pray.
Jesus taught that we must have a proper attitude to prayer: in the parable He told of the visit of the Friend at midnight, he taught that we must be bold in prayer – not entitled, disrespectful, or presumptuous – but bold in the knowledge that God is our Father and is able and willing to supply our needs (Luke 11:5-13). In the story of the Widow and the Unjust Judge (Luke 18 1-5), He taught us to persist in prayer: to pray until we receive an answer. In Mark 23, he devoted time to teaching that we must have faith in God when we pray; believe that we have received whatever we ask for in prayer; in Matthew 7:7, he taught us that we should ask for what we need in prayer and that God is a good Father who will only give us good things. He inspires us to believe in the goodness and power of God to whom we pray, and charges us to believe that when we pray we do not speak into a nebulous force in the atmosphere but to God who is real, and is our Father, and cares.
The apostle Paul teaches us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17); to be anxious about nothing but pray about everything (Philippians 4:6).
The apostle John teaches that if we pray according to God’s will he hears and answers our prayer (1 John 5:14).
The apostle James teaches that the prayer of the righteous (those who receive the salvation God offers in Jesus) is powerful and produces great results (James 5:16).
What does it even mean to pray? How does one pray to a God who is the creator of the universe? Is prayer wishful thinking? Is there a purpose to prayer?
Simply put, prayer is talking with God. It is communicating your deepest thoughts and desires to God. It is a recognition of God’s sovereignty, His power and His willingness to establish his will in the world and in your situation.
We pray in the confidence that God hears us, He knows us, and He cares about us. Our praying assumes God’s compassion, his interest in us and our situation, and His ability to do something about it.
Our prayer is an embrace of the assurance of His Fatherhood, His nearness to us, and His involvement in our lives and what matters to us.
Prayer is not wishful thinking. It is not positive thinking or sending positive thoughts about a situation. We pray to God who exists and who, as magnificent, perfect, holy, and omnipotent as He is, does care about us. He listens to us, and He moves on our account to answer our prayers.
Prayer has a purpose. It is not so much to get you what you want, as to position you in relation to God as a child to your Father who is willing and able to meet your needs.
Do you have a need? Stop complaining about it, talking about it or crying about it. Pray.
