Dear Abby, AMEN.
“I struggle with praying for what I want because I know, in the end, God’s plan will prevail anyways… he knows better than me because he’s sovereign… Isn’t it pointless for me to pray for what I want?”
Determinism, Fatalism & Providence.
The Creator of the universe INVITES US to ask him to do things that we think would be good for the glory of His name, and for the good of the world.
God does some things ONLY in answer to prayer. God does some things WITHOUT anyone praying. God does some things CONTRARY to what has been prayed! This is the universe where a holy, benevolent, wise God has invited us to pray without ceasing.
We Pray Because… We’re Invited & Commanded to Pray. (Matthew 6:31, 7:7-11)
Jesus urged his disciples to approach God as a trusted, loving Father.
“Converting our unceasing thinking (or worrying!) into unceasing prayer moves us from a self-centered monologue to a God-centered dialogue.” -Henri Nouwen
Were Invited into a Deep Connection. (John 17)
“A man may study because his brain is hungry for knowledge, even Bible knowledge. But he prays because his soul is hungry for God.” -Leonard Ravenhill
“The real ‘work’ of prayer is to become silent and listen to… the one that calls you Beloved… That has to be affirmed over and over again. That is prayer – listening to the voice of the one who calls you “the beloved.”- Nouwen
We’re Invited to Align with God’s Will. (Jeremiah 29:13)
“Prayer is surrender–surrender to the will of God and cooperation with that will. If I throw out a boathook from the boat and catch hold of the shore and pull, do I pull the shore to me, or do I pull myself to the shore? Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but the aligning of my will to the will of God.” -E. Stanley Jones
We’re Invited to Keep Asking! (Isaiah 43:22, James 4:2, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
“If we don’t have a hidden life with God, our public life for God cannot bear fruit.” -Nouwen
Questions:
1) Is prayer necessary? If God knows everything why should we bother?
2) Have you ever become frustrated with seemingly unanswered prayer? What did you learn about God through it?
2) Scripture admonishes us to “pray continuously.” When was the last time you really connected with your saviour in prayer? How do we develop a culture of constant awareness of the presence of Christ in our life?