Posts tagged C.S. Lewis

Prayer is such a curious thing to examine and ponder. I have so many questions about how it works, considering God’s foreknowledge, sovereignty, and man’s free will. It is one of the more perplexing and fascinating aspects of the faith. It is incredibly complex, yet wonderfully simple. I do know that it works, though not always with the results I might have liked.

We are reminded in scripture to “pray without ceasing”, “let our requests be made known to God”, and that “we have not because we ask not.” Prayer is an important part of the Christian life and can be discussed from many different angles. In the future, I would like to explore the topic in greater detail, but for now let’s focus on a single aspect.

Have you ever examined your prayer life? What are you asking God for? I think sometimes I get it all wrong. I know God wants me to pour out my heart. I understand that nothing is off limits, but sometimes I think I approach prayer incorrectly.

If multitudes of people are praying for their favorite team in the World Series to win, whose prayer does God answer? Is it the team with the most advocates? What about the teen who is praying he gets accepted in a college out of state while his mother prays for him to remain at the local college? Who wins that prayer skirmish? Who wins when one job position is available and several people are all praying to land the job? Does God simply Eeny, meeny, miny, moe it?

Sometimes I pray the opposite of what other people pray. Is my prayer better than your prayer? Is there a hierarchy? Does God pick up the phone quicker and respond in a more expedient manner for some than others? I don’t think so. I know God hears everyone. I know God loves for us to speak with Him regularly. I also know that at times God loves to answer prayers with a resounding yes, and at other times deems it best to say no.

So who does God hear when people pray for different things? Why does He say yes and at times say no? Does God already know the answer before we ask Him? Sometimes it can all seem very confusing.

This is where I think we get confused and misunderstand much of the purpose behind prayer. Sure, God wants us to ask for things and tell Him our needs. But often, I think we approach God with a wish list and that is that. We call on Him as if He is some celestial genie ready to respond to our whims. Seems sort of narcissistic doesn’t it?

What if one of the biggest reasons for prayer were to get our wants, wishes, and desires in line with His own? What if prayer were more about affecting who we are than getting God to intervene? Perhaps approaching prayer that way would change the way we pray. Maybe then who wins the game wouldn’t matter so much. Maybe then Mom and Son would ask what God wants instead of what they want. Maybe then, we would consider whether taking a job pleases God and is beneficial in Him using our lives than simply gratifying for ourselves.

What if a big aspect of prayer were simply having a conversation and pouring out our hearts, and less about our wish list? Prayer is personal. When I talk to my wife, I don’t assail her with everything I want or things I need her to do. Much of the time I talk to her about my dreams, hopes, fears, wishes, happiness, sadness, regrets, concerns, etc. I talk to her about life and our closeness and intimacy grows. Maybe that is what prayer is supposed to be about more than anything else.

I am not saying we should stop asking God for things. I don’t feel like anything is off limits when it comes to talking with God. Yet, I think we would do well to remember that He is the all-powerful Creator of the universe and already knows ahead of time what we will be discussing with Him. Perhaps a large part of prayer is simply relational, just us spending some time talking to the One that loves us deeply. Also, just maybe, prayer has a lot to do with changing ourselves.

“I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time- waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God- it changes me.” –C.S. Lewis

Walk good. Live wise. Be blessed.
Josh

What have you learned about prayer? Please share.