A Study in Prayer, Part #3 of 6

A Model Prayer

Let’s take a closer or deeper look at how the ancients prayed. Nehemiah was compelled to rebuild the walls of the Holy city, before going before the King to ask his permission, he prayed. Nehemiah 1:11, “O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man, For I was the king's cupbearer.” Nehemiah is praying for mercy and not material things. Another interesting aspect of prayer is how it can change God’s mind. In this example, the prayer was not for God to change his mind, but a prayer for God to remember him. Isaiah 38:1-5, “ In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death, and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shall die, and not live. Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and prayed unto the LORD, And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight, and Hezekiah wept sore.” Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying, Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.” His tears moved God. Luke 1:50, “And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.” Fear of God is a prerequisite for effective prayer. Fear of God would also prevent us from lying on God, or lying to God. The fear of God will also prevent us from trying to share in God's glory.

1 Kings 4:29, “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.” 2nd. Chronicles 1:11, “And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made the king.” God gave Solomon wealth because he did not ask for it.

The contradictions and confusion arises when we fast and pray for God to bless this natural body or to perform trivial acts that we should be able to perform. If we accept God as a spiritual God, we ought to approach him on a spiritual level as a spiritual God. It seems we ought to seek first the spiritual gifts that He has offered, and allow Him to provide the rest.  This is what Solomon did and anything less is demeaning to a spiritual God.

Other problems began to materialize when we try to impress the people with loud and demanding vocalization of words that tend to excite the listeners. This is called the "James Brown effect".  James Brown's utterance of two words, "Please, Please" was enough to turn the place out.  The manifestation of our error began to take shape when we come as a little child, who has the nerves to get up close, personal, and shouting in Our Father face. Ponder that statement if you must. In it, you might find a grain of substance. Jesus spoke against many of the qualities that our prayers are beginning to reflect. Our prayers are presented in a shape, form and fashion designed to excite and to stimulate responses from the listeners rather than to have a conversation with God. Praise and worship services may have evolved into an open form of spiritual entertainment, but pray should remain a sacred communication between the Father and his children. The desire to be a superstar often override our desire to serve God.  We enjoy such phrases as, “Didn’t that brother or sister Pray?” and when we strive to get this type of response, as Jesus said, we have our reward.

During any given Sunday at many churches, at the beginning of Sunday school we speak to God in prayer. At the beginning of Praise and Worship service, we speak to the Father in prayer. There is a prayer before the offering is collected, and before the pastor delivers his message. There is a long drawn out prayer usually at the end of the message. Before we walk out of the door to go home, we all must pray together. Driving down the highway, we pray for our car and we pray we do not run out of gas. There is someone praying when we get sick and when someone is dying. We pray that the fish to  bite, and we even pray for rain. The scripture did say, “We ought to always pray”, but it seems God would shake up the world, because of all of this praying, by all of these churches and by all of these people. The Bible did speak of, "The effectual fervent prayers of a righteous man.” When these prayer warriors are questioned about their technique they resort to such phrases as, “God can do" or "God will do" as if these are definitive answers. Wait on God he will do what we ask is a standard form reply and a deviation from the truth that God is not doing what all of these people are asking him to do. The ineffective use of prayer is rendering God irreverent in the eyes of the nonbeliever.

For prayer to be effective Mark 9:29 stated, “And he said unto them, this kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” The constant request for God to heal has caused many to turn away from God. If God were to heal all who cried out for healing there would not be a need for doctors, hospitals and death would be no more. I do not doubt the healing power of God. I believe that it application is according to God’s will and for the glory and honor of the father. Many of the requests for God to intervene are through long and tenuous public prayers, based upon the desire to be a healer. Jesus described this as a show. Luke 20:47 says, “The same shall receive greater damnation.” Thanking God for frivolous things seems good to a point, but then we should consider how those who are watching us perceive this. Thanking God for the peace and contentment that he has given seems more practical than thanking God for a pair of shoes. Thanking God for giving me Joy in sorrow is more productive than thanking God for a fancy suit. Thanking God for the spiritual gifts that Paul spoke off seems more appropriate to me than thanking God for waking me up this morning. Praying that your life reflects the Father’s will is more effective than praying for God to change the world, or to extend your life.

Effective prayer requires that our hearts meet the requirement set forth by God. Prayer is effective through fasting. Fasting requires giving up substances and causing the natural body to suffer. We honor the spiritual aspect of God and Christianity when we put the natural body in check.

The desires of the flesh should not take center stage in our prayers. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:3, “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” Praying for God to fulfill the desires of our flesh is common practice in many praying sessions. We pray for new cars, money, marital partners and try to justify God getting glory out of the things. Jesus asked his father to remove the cup of death, but he added, only if it was his Father’s will. He then began to pray to the Father to strengthen him. Now I ask you to think about this. The prayer in the garden was a very emotional prayer.  Sweat ran like blood, yet the disciples were able to sleep through it. How could they have slept through this if Jesus was whooping and howling at his Father like a spoil child? Some may say he left them at a spot and went further into the garden so they would not hear him. Maybe this was what Jesus meant when he said, “go into your closet, and shut the door.” I am just saying…

 Next: Lord Teach Me To Pray, Part #4

Join in the fray, it going to get hot on the waters today.

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