When we pray we normally expect an answer. We seek to live by the power of Scripture, more specifically the promises that Jesus made about prayer in his name. We might believe strongly that God does answer prayer.
Something critical comes into our lives and we feel the need to pray. We pray in faith and God answers our prayer. By chance, it is exactly how we wanted it to be answered. That is well and good; but what is your response to having received an answer to your prayer? You might declare: It was what I expected, and you go on with your normal routine in life. Or it is what I deserved, so there is no reason to think anymore about it.
Let's look at the story of Jesus healing a blind beggar. The blind man calls out for help from Jesus. Jesus asks him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The man stated that he wanted to see again. Then we read: "42Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.’ 43Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God." Luke 18:42-43
The blind man felt the need to follow Jesus and glorify God.
I wonder how we respond to God answering our prayers? Is it that we become a stronger follower of Jesus? Do we spend time glorifying God by our words and actions? It gives us cause for reflection.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Praying in Seclusion
As we begin the season of Lent, we do think about our piety. For many of us it might mean giving something up for Lent or it might mean cultivating certain disciplines where we have a direct focus.
The Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday directs us to our piety in regard to prayer. Jesus said, "When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." Matthew 6:5-7
When we pray we don't need to make a public display of it. We don't need to appear to be more pious than someone else. We don't need to "boast" about our praying.
At best, we are directed to keep it private so that there is no pretension. The form here is just as important as the substance. The form keeps prayer anchored in a humble attitude, where we realize we are just "beggars before God," to use an expression from Martin Luther.
The same goes for the number of words that we use. It doesn't depend on how many words we use or how often we repeat a certain phrase. It's all a matter of being sincere within ourselves.
How is your posture in prayer? Is there anything that needs to be changed to keep you reverent and humble as you pray?
The Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday directs us to our piety in regard to prayer. Jesus said, "When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." Matthew 6:5-7
When we pray we don't need to make a public display of it. We don't need to appear to be more pious than someone else. We don't need to "boast" about our praying.
At best, we are directed to keep it private so that there is no pretension. The form here is just as important as the substance. The form keeps prayer anchored in a humble attitude, where we realize we are just "beggars before God," to use an expression from Martin Luther.
The same goes for the number of words that we use. It doesn't depend on how many words we use or how often we repeat a certain phrase. It's all a matter of being sincere within ourselves.
How is your posture in prayer? Is there anything that needs to be changed to keep you reverent and humble as you pray?
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The Prayer of a Righteous Person
Have you ever felt like you have underestimated the power of prayer? Have you ever felt a limit or cap regarding for what could be accomplished through your prayer? Maybe you have limited your prayer to only what interventions you have seen happen in the past.
God has given us prayer that really doesn't place restrictions on what can be done! It's almost like we and God are a team, hoping to accomplish something that is worthwhile for our well-being and for advancing the kingdom of God.
I would like you to consider the words the writer James. "The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective." James 5:15 The context here is that James is talking about those who are sick. They should call for the elders of the church to pray over them. Then, we have these words that a believer's prayer is "powerful and effective;" that is, to bring about healing.
We as people of faith can make an impact on ourselves, the lives of others, and also perhaps the direction of our nation through our prayers. Dare we limit what God can do?
God has given us prayer that really doesn't place restrictions on what can be done! It's almost like we and God are a team, hoping to accomplish something that is worthwhile for our well-being and for advancing the kingdom of God.
I would like you to consider the words the writer James. "The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective." James 5:15 The context here is that James is talking about those who are sick. They should call for the elders of the church to pray over them. Then, we have these words that a believer's prayer is "powerful and effective;" that is, to bring about healing.
We as people of faith can make an impact on ourselves, the lives of others, and also perhaps the direction of our nation through our prayers. Dare we limit what God can do?
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Wondering Why Your Prayer Was Not Answered?
There is no limit for what we can pray. We might get so carried away with prayer that we pray to win the lottery or have the opportunity and the wherewithal to travel to exotic places.
Such prayer is not praying for what we need, but what we want that is for our pleasure.
In the book of James we read: "You do not have, because you do not ask. 3You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures." James 4:2-3
What we pray for may be downright foolish according to God's wisdom. It might look well in our own eyes, but not good for us from God's vantage point. We all have to wrestle with the disappointment that comes when we have fine tuned a prayer and there is no response from heaven.
When God answers prayer, it is a gift that is given to us. God as the giver would desire us to have what is for our edification, well-being, and growth for the kingdom.
If we find that we have an unanswered prayer, perhaps we need to examine the content of that prayer. Are we asking for something that is only for our pleasure? I must admit that sometimes there might be a fine line between what is good for us and what is for "spending on our pleasure." Here it is left in God's decision for what is best in our lives.
Such prayer is not praying for what we need, but what we want that is for our pleasure.
In the book of James we read: "You do not have, because you do not ask. 3You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures." James 4:2-3
What we pray for may be downright foolish according to God's wisdom. It might look well in our own eyes, but not good for us from God's vantage point. We all have to wrestle with the disappointment that comes when we have fine tuned a prayer and there is no response from heaven.
When God answers prayer, it is a gift that is given to us. God as the giver would desire us to have what is for our edification, well-being, and growth for the kingdom.
If we find that we have an unanswered prayer, perhaps we need to examine the content of that prayer. Are we asking for something that is only for our pleasure? I must admit that sometimes there might be a fine line between what is good for us and what is for "spending on our pleasure." Here it is left in God's decision for what is best in our lives.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Pray and Believe
Prayer might seem like a long shot or like a shot in the dark. You pray and wonder what are the odds of your prayer being answered. We all must wrestle with this aspect of prayer since we don't see God to whom we are praying. We may not hear anything either that confirms us in a positive way. We might pray and begin to have serious doubts along the way about our prayer being answered.
We have the words in Scripture, "But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord." James 1:6-7
We cannot be double-minded in our praying. We are invited to have the utmost confidence that as we pray God will deliver. How willing would you be to do something for someone else who had no faith in you? However, when you hear someone say to you, "I know you can do it!" it encourages you to move forward. You are more willing to respond.
Being single-minded does not come easily to us. We must be willing to believe that God can do what might seem beyond our own human realm of fixing problems. We must believe in a God who can do far more than what we can ever imagine!
For the next couple of weeks, I will focus more on prayer in the book of James.
Have you ever found yourself wavering in prayer? Were you comfortable with it?
We have the words in Scripture, "But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord." James 1:6-7
We cannot be double-minded in our praying. We are invited to have the utmost confidence that as we pray God will deliver. How willing would you be to do something for someone else who had no faith in you? However, when you hear someone say to you, "I know you can do it!" it encourages you to move forward. You are more willing to respond.
Being single-minded does not come easily to us. We must be willing to believe that God can do what might seem beyond our own human realm of fixing problems. We must believe in a God who can do far more than what we can ever imagine!
For the next couple of weeks, I will focus more on prayer in the book of James.
Have you ever found yourself wavering in prayer? Were you comfortable with it?
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
The Christian Church exists today with many denominations. We certainly have become a diverse group of people. Even within denominations, there is much difference among congregations.
We enter now the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. We are invited to pray for unity within the church.
Scripture gives us the words of Jesus in praying for his followers: "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one,I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." John 17:20-23
We would realize that there are many things that have caused division among Christians, involving such things as doctrine and practice.
Jesus, I believe, is praying not so much for organizational unity, but that we would all see our oneness in him - to see that there is more that unites us than divides us.
It is gratifying to know that he is praying for his church and continues to do so. May it also be our prayer that we as believers can seek to live in harmony with each other despite our differences.
We enter now the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. We are invited to pray for unity within the church.
Scripture gives us the words of Jesus in praying for his followers: "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one,I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." John 17:20-23
We would realize that there are many things that have caused division among Christians, involving such things as doctrine and practice.
Jesus, I believe, is praying not so much for organizational unity, but that we would all see our oneness in him - to see that there is more that unites us than divides us.
It is gratifying to know that he is praying for his church and continues to do so. May it also be our prayer that we as believers can seek to live in harmony with each other despite our differences.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Where Only Prayer Can Heal
Many of our prayers are for those who are ill. This seems to be a very common avenue for prayer. We might wonder amid all of our advancements in medicine, if it is not the medication itself that could do the healing and maybe even eclipse prayer.
On this point, I am reminded of a story in Jesus' life as recorded in Mark 9. A father had a son who had been ill with an evil spirit. The father was hoping that Jesus' disciples would cure him. They were unable to do it. The father then goes to Jesus with this dilemma. Here is where we have the response of Jesus to help cure the boy: "But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “This kind can come out only through prayer.” Mark 9:27-29
Amid all of our technology and miracle drugs, I believe that there is still a place for prayer in healing. God's power can do far more than what we can do. That is why we do pray every Sunday in our worship for those who are ill.
How about you? Do you believe in the power of prayer to heal an illness - whatever kind it might be?
On this point, I am reminded of a story in Jesus' life as recorded in Mark 9. A father had a son who had been ill with an evil spirit. The father was hoping that Jesus' disciples would cure him. They were unable to do it. The father then goes to Jesus with this dilemma. Here is where we have the response of Jesus to help cure the boy: "But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “This kind can come out only through prayer.” Mark 9:27-29
Amid all of our technology and miracle drugs, I believe that there is still a place for prayer in healing. God's power can do far more than what we can do. That is why we do pray every Sunday in our worship for those who are ill.
How about you? Do you believe in the power of prayer to heal an illness - whatever kind it might be?
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