Purpose of Prayer

Latent Unbelief (You Can, But Won’t)

Ken

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till He come and rain righteousness upon you” (Hosea 10:12 KJV). 

Warning: This is the lie we tell ourselves. 

LORD, I believe You can save, heal, or deliver this person I’m concerned about, but I really don’t think You will, because I don’t think You care as much about my concerns than for the obviously dire circumstances of others faraway. 

Whenever the people of God become weary in well doing, we begin to see prayer as only a way to change God’s mind about what we want Him to do, instead of prayer conforming us better to His Perfect Will. 

“Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied Him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?” (Malachi 2:17). 

When we are concerned about anything more than His glory, then we are gradually and insidiously building up resistance against the Most High. This is the fallow ground of our hearts that must again be broken up, in order for the Almighty to manifest His righteousness in us. His timing is always the right timing, and His actions are always right. 

“Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you” (1Peter 5:7). 

Father, forgive me for my unbelief, for now I understand You love me more than I ever knew. Come, Holy Spirit, and fill Your Church with a powerful revelation of Jesus. Almighty God, create in me a new heart of faith and love. Justify Yourself, for You are right in all You do. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

What’s the Real Value of Prayer?

Ken

We’ve grown accustomed to feeling prayer somehow changes God, so we will receive whatever we ask. Prayer does not change God, but prayer changes us. Prayer nourishes the life of God in us teaching us the character of Jesus through His Spirit. We quit our praying because we do not see the point in our continually asking for what we apparently do not receive. If God is all knowing, why the bother of prayer? Either we have been deceived into the notion that prayer changes things, or we have entirely been waiting for God to change, when God has been seeking our renovation and growth through the occasion of our emotion racked circumstances. “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1 KJV).

We need prayer. 

“Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1). 

We normally do not pray, but pray we will, because human wits have an end. 

“27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. 28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses” (Psalm 107:27-28). 

We do not know what else to will and choose in prayer, because human wills have an end. 

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26).  

We do not have the wisdom to know for what and how to ask, because human wisdom has an end. 

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). 

Prayer changes me, and I must do it. 

“And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). 

Prayer helps me to know God better. 

“Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). 

Prayer enables me to help others. 

“12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:12-13). 

Prayer helps me do God’s will. 

“14 And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: 15 And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. 16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and He shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it” (1John 5:14-16). 

Prayer changes others, just as it has changed me.  

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). 

Prayer changes others, when I ask. 

“If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7). 

Prayer changes others, when I do not give up. 

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7). 

Prayer changes circumstances through me. 

Heavenly Father, may we value prayer as You do. May our pleas for help fall upon Your loving ears, and may our desire to be delivered out of our present distress be less than our appreciation of You. Accomplish all Your Will and show us Your glory. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your name, we pray. Amen and amen.