“So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us.” (Heb. 6: 18-20a NLT)
Why do you pray?
Oh, I know all the reasons you are told to pray, all the reasons that I usually hear when I ask this question; things like: We pray because we love Him, because we want to give Him glory, because we want to know Him more, because we want to show our gratitude, because we want to know our own hearts more, etc; however, when we look at the majority of our prayers, they do not primarily contain these things. Rather, they contain our prayer requests. We pray to receive from Him, either for ourselves or for others.
Therefore, I ask the question again: Why do you pray?
When I search my own prayer life, I see that most of my prayers stem from…worry and fear. I am concerned, I don’t see the answers, and therefore, I pray, begging God to move the Heavens and the Earth in the situation that is giving me concern.
As I was finishing up one such prayer this morning, I did finally get to the other part, the praise, the gratitude, the love, and as I opened up my heart to Him for those last two minutes of my prayer, God spoke this question to my heart: Why do I pray?
I had to think about this for quite some time, and as I prayerfully contemplated this question I realized something pretty sad: My prayers are based on my worry and fear. I am concerned about a situation, I am afraid that it won’t end in the desired fashion, and so I pray. God’s message to me was clear: My purpose for my prayers displays my lack of faith, and my lack of faith stops God’s hand in the situations!
Yikes! I am praying for results, yet my purpose behind my prayers can actually hinder God’s hand!
So what, then, is the purpose of intercessory prayers?
God’s answer was clear: We are involved in a spiritual war (“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Eph. 6:12 NLT), one that we know God has already won: “Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.’” (Matt. 28:18 NLT); and “In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.” (Col. 2:15 NLT). Nonetheless, we are told over and over again in Scripture to pray for one another: “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” (Eph. 6:18 NLT).
Why?
Because our prayers play a role. It isn’t to “convince” God that He should “do” something for us, for isn’t God the almighty father? “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” (Matt. 7:9-11 NLT). Rather, it is that God wants us to join in the fight. Every prayer is like a bullet entering the enemy line. Every prayer makes a difference, every prayer helps to bring the fight to its conclusion.
When we pray, begging God for what we hope to convince Him we need, our prayers demonstrate our LACK of FAITH in Him as a giver of gifts, a lover of our souls. When we pray with the idea that each pray will help to unleash God’s power into the situation, will shatter the hold of the enemy on the situation, our prayers demonstrate our FAITH in Him as the all-mighty, all-powerful God. And we are told that every prayer offered in FAITH will: “…will heal the sick…And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.” (James 5:15 NLT).
I don’t know about you, but this changes the way I pray!
God loves you, friends! He needs our prayers in faith to unleash His power against the forces of evil that have already been conquered! What about it? Let’s change the way we pray to reflect FAITH in what He has already done!
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Author, Moderator, Acting Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries
