Prayer Falling Short
Recently, I began reading a book on prayer written by a former President of the Southern Baptist Convention. The first chapter tells us that when he began to get his prayer life correct, he saw hundreds of people come to the Lord. This is a great testimony, however, I do not believe it is normal.
Over the last few years, we have seen a boom in prayer books. It all started with the Prayer of Jabez. In my opinion, this is the only good thing that came out of this book. I believe the Prayer of Jabez was a terrible book. The entire premise was wrong. The fact that the author took a remote prayer from 2 Chronicles, and tried to apply it to everyone who is alive today is beyond me. Nevertheless, prayer is a big topic these days, and I think the church is better for it.
The problem I am having is that I am not seeing honesty when it comes to prayer. Every book that I have seen on prayer over the last few years makes prayer out to be some magic formula for Christian growth. It seems to me that Christians are looking for some mystic mantra to say to God to get all of these blessings, and I believe this isn't the intentions of God.
When I read the Bible, I see that good people suffered. I do not believe that Job would have seen his borders expand if he had prayed Jabez's prayer. I do not believe that Paul would have suffered less persecution if he got his prayer life in better shape.
I do not want to sound down on prayer. I believe in prayer. I would venture to say that I pray more than most. I start all most every day in prayer. I believe my prayer brings me into fellowship with God, and that is a good place to be. However, I do not believe I am changing God's mind when I pray, and if God decides to cause me to suffer so that the Kingdom might advance; who am I to think I can pray my way out of it.
I believe that it is time we bring sovereignty in our prayer life. God is in control, and we are not. Most every Christian I know believes that statement. However, they act like it isn't true when it comes to salvation and prayer.
The Lord Jesus gave us a prayer to model all prayer after. In that prayer, Jesus said, "Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven." Let us not leave this important concept out of our prayers. God is in control. His will should be our prayer and our goal. Remember this, the next time you pray.
(On Side Note) I Like to pray the Prayer of Jabez before I eat large meals.
Over the last few years, we have seen a boom in prayer books. It all started with the Prayer of Jabez. In my opinion, this is the only good thing that came out of this book. I believe the Prayer of Jabez was a terrible book. The entire premise was wrong. The fact that the author took a remote prayer from 2 Chronicles, and tried to apply it to everyone who is alive today is beyond me. Nevertheless, prayer is a big topic these days, and I think the church is better for it.
The problem I am having is that I am not seeing honesty when it comes to prayer. Every book that I have seen on prayer over the last few years makes prayer out to be some magic formula for Christian growth. It seems to me that Christians are looking for some mystic mantra to say to God to get all of these blessings, and I believe this isn't the intentions of God.
When I read the Bible, I see that good people suffered. I do not believe that Job would have seen his borders expand if he had prayed Jabez's prayer. I do not believe that Paul would have suffered less persecution if he got his prayer life in better shape.
I do not want to sound down on prayer. I believe in prayer. I would venture to say that I pray more than most. I start all most every day in prayer. I believe my prayer brings me into fellowship with God, and that is a good place to be. However, I do not believe I am changing God's mind when I pray, and if God decides to cause me to suffer so that the Kingdom might advance; who am I to think I can pray my way out of it.
I believe that it is time we bring sovereignty in our prayer life. God is in control, and we are not. Most every Christian I know believes that statement. However, they act like it isn't true when it comes to salvation and prayer.
The Lord Jesus gave us a prayer to model all prayer after. In that prayer, Jesus said, "Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven." Let us not leave this important concept out of our prayers. God is in control. His will should be our prayer and our goal. Remember this, the next time you pray.
(On Side Note) I Like to pray the Prayer of Jabez before I eat large meals.
posted by Foundes Community Church @ 6:38 PM
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