Prayers that availeth much (Part IV)
Posted By admin on January 3, 2012
And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living (St. Luke 15: 11-12).
There is a great difference between asking and demanding. When you pray do you demand from God or do you ask? Many of us have been deceived to believe that it is a good thing to demand from God when we pray. Let us ask ourselves if the scriptures teach so. It is not a good thing to demand because demanding involves some kind of force. So the Prodigal Son demanded, he did not ask. Unfortunately, this is our approach too when we pray. We go to God feeling entitled to receive from him, and give God a list of our qualifications justifying and claiming our demands like the Pharisee did (St. Luke 18: 9-14).
Blemished Sacrifices
Our demands greatly mar and deform our prayers. We do not make room for God’s will in our prayers. Prayers that availeth much, prayers that produce favourable results are based on a meek and humble spirit. That meek spirit acknowledges God’s will above our own will. Even though Jesus desired otherwise, but he acknowledged God’s choice and prayed thus: “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (St. Matthew 26: 39).
A Thankful Attitude
We must realize that God does not owe us anything. Instead we are the ones who owe God. Yet we approach God as though he is indebted to us. We should be thankful for what God has already given us: life, health, food and shelter among other things. The other things we receive are just life’s accessories. Whenever we pray we must realize that we are asking for a favour from God. Asking for favour is asking for mercy. There is not a deserving or merited mercy. Then it ceases to be mercy if we are deserving. In our prayers no matter what we are asking for, even if it is life itself, we must realize that His will not our will must be done.
Thy Will be Done
Although hard and contrary to the flesh, yet we must learn to make room for God’s will to be done. It is when we disregard this reality and this fact that we get spiritually weak and disappointed in prayer and in God. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego made room for God’s will in their lives. They did not only mention their desires. But they also acknowledged God’s will which could be different from their will, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up (Daniel 3: 17-18).
Esther too realized that her prayer and fasting can yield one of the two results. She proceeded with prayer and fasting although she knew that her desires may not be granted “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day:I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish (Esther 4: 16).
Unconditional Prayers
Often our prayers have stings attached. We do not pray with a clean heart. We do not pray because we want to fellowship with God. Most of us when we pray, it is because we need something from God. Besides the need for our prayers to be subject to the will of God, our prayers need also to be unconditional. Sometimes our desires though noble may be contrary to the will of God. David greatly desired to build the temple but it was not God’s will, “And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. And the Lord said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart. Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name (I Kings 8: 17-19).
Receive More by Asking for Less
In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee…Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? (II Chronicles 1: 7; 10). King Solomon received more by asking for less.
It is our prayer that we will continue to seek His face and desire to be taught of Him in all things, including how to pray so that our requests will be acceptable: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalms 19: 14).
Thanks once again for this. It is my prayer mostly that I pray for GOD’s will in my life, that i removed conditions and strings from prayer and use it as a tool to receive from HIM wisdom and knowledge and not only those things I think I need.
Happy Holy Days!
Peace