THE WORD 4 ev 1

Today’s reading is Luke 11 (click here for link)

"Lord, teach us to pray." Luke 11:1

Many theologians have taught and do teach that prayer changes nothing except the one praying. For example, a favorite devotional write of mine, Oswald Chambers, wrote: “It is not so true that ‘prayer changes things’ as that prayer changes me and I change things. God has so constituted things that prayer on the basis of Redemption alters the way in which a man looks at things. Prayer is not a question of altering things externally, but of working wonders in a man's disposition." However, I completely disagree. After all, our Lord says “ask, and it shall be given unto you, seek and you will find.” In fact, Jesus even emphasizes the power and effectiveness of bold prayer; and please… let’s not make the silly assumption that our Lord is only talking about spiritual gifts and not physical gifts. I unfortunately hear that explanation too often. Instead, let’s take our Lord at his word and trust that prayer is powerful and effective, especially if it is prayed without reserve and with the boldness of childlike faith and trust.

Of course, there are those who will consider all the many times that their prayers have either gone unanswered or answered in the negative and have concluded that prayer simply does not change God’s mind but rather changes us and shows us the will of God. However, that is putting too much emphasis on that act of praying. Truth is, prayer doesn’t really change us at all—nothing really can, except the Word of God. His life giving Word turns sinners into saints. Therefore prayer is the response and natural desire of the saint. This means that the question we must be asking ourselves, concerning our prayers, is whether they are driving from our exposure to the Word or whether they are driving from our own petty thoughts on how we think the world should be?

Perhaps, in your life, it might seem as though you have been crying out, asking and asking, but still you have not received. Try a new approach. Turn to God’s word. Let your prayer come from there. Perhaps the burden you are asking God to remove from you is the very burden God has chosen to lay upon you for your own good, to draw you closer to Him. But how will you know this if you have not heard the Word of God? Try reading James 1 or Romans 8:28 and following. Pray from the scriptures. Let them motivate, instruct, form, and energize your prayers. God does listen and God does respond in amazing ways—just ask Hezekiah (Isaiah 38:1-8). But remember that prayer is more than blind, one-sided, petitions from you. It is a two way conversation. Don’t just ask… listen, too.

Someone once said that an avid writer must be an avid reader. I completely agree. Perhaps the same is true of prayer.

Blessings,

Pastor Aaron