Practicing Prayerlessness
I’ve been walking with the Lord for 45 years. I tell you that because there was a time in my Christian walk that I didn’t see the need to pray. I felt that God already knew what I was going to pray before I even said the words, so why bother saying it. Shortly after that the Holy Spirit revealed to me something I hadn’t thought of. He said to me that prayer wasn’t for God’s benefit, but mine. Huh? He continued. We pray and whenever the answer comes my faith and trust in God would be bolstered. So I pray so that my faith and trust in God is elevated. Then I wondered about when an answer doesn’t come. What then? The Spirit showed me that there is YES, NO and NOT YET. Yes, because our request falls within the parameters of His will for either us or the person we are praying for. No, not because He doesn’t care, but because for all we know God may be planning to give us something far greater as our answer. Not yet, because pray is an exercise in patience.
We shouldn’t pray just once for something or someone and when we pray we need to ask that God’s will be done. This way when the answer DOES come you can be assured that it is according to His will for you. We must be persistent with our prayers. We needn’t beg or plead to God, but rather, pray with a calm confidence that God hears you and will act at the appropriate time.
To NOT pray is to rely on something or someone other than God to solve your dilemma or simply provide what you are seeking. It’s like shopping at a Dollar Store when you could be shopping at a high end department store or eating fast food when you could be eating at a fancy steak house instead. Once again, too many people see prayer as an unimportant part of their life, while social media, work and recreational events take its place. Many of us promise to pray for someone else who needs it only to forget later what you promised them. What’s wrong with praying with them right then and there? The Lord will enable you to pray appropriately by His Holy Spirit.
Some folks see prayer as a genie in a bottle type of scenario. God is there to do our bidding. NO. You’re wrong! We are to do what He knows is the right thing to do. Scripture explains that God always does that which is most beneficial to His children and will bring Him the most glory. Someone I know once said God is an egotistical tyrant who must be stopped. Hmmm! Smacks of someone who doesn’t get the whole God thing. You’ll believe all sorts of lies if you don’t invest the time it takes to actually KNOW God. He’s there, what are you waiting for?
Some folks quit praying because they aren’t convinced that it works. You can rest assured that God hears and will act according to His will and His timing. Philippians 4.6-7 explains that prayerfulness leads to experiencing God’s peace. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
To NOT pray is to not have trust in God. Pray is a powerful tool we have at our disposal. Our prayers can stymy the works of the devil. Our prayers can bring hope where there is none. Our prayers can encourage. They can reveal truth. Prayer is communication into the spiritual realm where God resides. To NOT pray neuters our spiritual walk, leaving us vulnerable to all sorts of things that can thwart our efforts to grow and mature in the Spirit. Pray.
Next we’ll take a look at living fearfully. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.
In His Name & for His Glory,
Richard Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
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