In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings to deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. - Romans 8:26-27We just don't know what we're talking about. No offense, but we're all clueless.
An artistic genius decides to pain a mural the size of the Empire State Building and we go and watch her work. This artist, renowned for her extremely large mural knows exactly what she's doing. How arrogant would it be of us, after she makes a certain brush-stroke, to say 'I think you messed up' or 'Can you do this next' or 'That doesn't make sense to me at all'?
But that's what we do to God all the time! God, the master architect and chief designer of this project called Universe knows all, sees all, and is everywhere, and therefore is completely confident in His design for excellent reasons. We, on the other hand, are smaller than small, short-lived, and present in only one place at one time. So God's "brush-stroke" usually isn't going to make sense - I can't see the big picture.
I think it's important that this verse says that we don't know how to pray without any qualifiers like sometimes or once in a while or anything like that. We just don't know how to pray. We try, and God admires that and wants that, but I think most of us need an attitude adjustment about prayer. If I pray for a relative to be healed and they aren't healed, too many Christians would tell me I'm lacking boldness. It is indeed possible that had I enough faith to keep praying or boldness to keep asking that God may provide in light of my perseverance. However, that's not the only possible route. God has a purpose for the illness and it might be to test my faith a prayer life but it could be any number of other things. I might need more boldness but I also might need more humility. Maybe God isn't going to heal this time - after all, everyone dies eventually. Maybe God's waiting for something specific like that person's repentance before healing which means my energy is being spent in the wrong prayer. Maybe God's letting medicine, which He allowed us to develop, to do its job rather than sending a miraculous healing.
God isn't running this universe willy-nilly. It's high time we remembered that. When we pray, it's a conversation, which means I need to listen at least as much as I talk. I need to learn to let the Holy Spirit lead me into what to pray. And when I don't know what to pray - which should be more often than I think it is - I should really learn to just spend time in God's presence, trusting Him to act as He should. More boldness isn't a cure-all for unanswered prayer, but humility and patience just might be.
These two quotes from Jon Courson's commentary sum it all up brilliantly:
"Let us ever remember that while prayer is to be directed to God, it is not to be directing God."
"Prayer is not getting my will done in heaven, prayer is getting God's will done on earth."Lord, forgive my impatience and self-centeredness in prayer. Teach me to wait on Your answers, to be still in Your presence, and trust in Your goodness. I do not always know exactly what to pray Lord, but You always know exactly what to do. Teach me to pray in a seeking way, seeking Your will rather than designing it. Remind me that I am on my knees before the Sovereign Lord. Amen.
Perhaps this is an odd question, especially coming from someone who used to pray, and perhaps this is the wrong question to ask, but I am curious and I feel that this is what your blog is all about; asking questions that are difficult to answer in the hopes of finding ever more questions to ask! Anyway, my question is this, what is prayer and how do you pray (not you specifically, more of a holistic "you")?
ReplyDeleteWhy is that a wrong or odd question? I don't think it's either, and personally I think too few people ask it.
ReplyDeletePrayer is - to put it simply - conversation or communication with God. Any healthy relationship needs conversation, and relationship with God isn't any different. It involves talking and listening - and that's the part most people feel weirdest about.
As to how you pray, there aren't a whole lot of 'rules' and there certainly isn't a perfect formula. Ideally, particularly when starting out, you should pray somewhere quiet, where you'll be undisturbed. Talk to God, share with Him what's on your mind and how you feel about it. Learn to sit quietly so that He can speak back - it probably won't be an audible voice since God only does that infrequently, but He can speak to your heart, or guide you to a Scripture that will help you, or sometimes even speak through other people. There's no set structure or key words for prayer, but look at the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6 to see the categories of things that you could cover in prayer. I've also heard the following acronym for prayer before, and it's not half bad:
ACTS
Adoration - talk about what you've seen God doing in your life and praise Him for who He is
Confession - talk about your sins with God and seek a way to avoid recurrence
Thanks - thank God for specific things that have happened/answered prayers etc.
Supplication - talk about your needs or others needs
I hope that helps and feel free to ask any questions that this brought up!
That..was not only helpful, it was quite beautiful. I have been to many a church service and heard many a pastor describe prayer (this is years ago now mind you, but still) and this is probably the first time that it actually made sense. I am not sure if this is something I can do as of right now, but having it explained this way makes it seem like a more attainable "thing" to participate in.
ReplyDeleteSeeing as you answered this one too, I have one more, and this one is quite strange, so I apologize in advance: what if when a person prays he/she does not hear or feel what He has to say, what is he/she to do then? What if He cannot provide for that person?
Not meaning to interject here but heres a quick question. Does God ever speak audibly to us? I have never experienced anything like this and I wonder what the point of faith would be if He were to reveal Himself so openly.
ReplyDeleteI suppose that is a valid question, but then again, I did say "hear or feel," not necessarily just an audible response..that is, what if one cannot experience anything similar even to a presence of a God? I understand the concept of faith that you are getting at, but without any connection at all, physically, metaphysically, emotionally, or otherwise, what is there then? Can faith for that which does not truly "be" exist would be my question back to you?
ReplyDeleteMy question was directed more towards Scribes comment above where he says that God "probably" won't speak audibly but to answer your post, I already believe there is a connection between a person and God so your question there is derived from a misunderstanding.
ReplyDeleteTo the smaller point: I have never personally heard God audibly. However, I have read Scripture where God does speak audibly. Has He done it? Yes. Will He do it? I can't say for certain but it doesn't happen often in Scripture so it won't happen often (if at all) now.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, there is an answer to what you're asking, but depending on what is driving you question it may not be helpful. If that is the case, please feel free to e-mail me (mlitchfield@umassd.edu) with more specifics so I can be of help.
The Bible tells us that sheep always recognize their Shepherd's voice (John 10:27), so the first reason someone may not hear God's response is that they don't have a relationship with Christ yet. If that's not the case, then the person may not be hearing because they're not listening enough, or listening willing to hear any answer. If we ask for something and God says 'no,' that's still an answer. Or, God's answer may still be coming, as happens with Daniel (Daniel 10).
at any rate, regardless of the reason, the person should keep praying in humility until God answers them or gives them an understanding as to why He isn't providing. God always can provide, but He won't always provide. We have to remember that if the Bible is to be believed then God has a purpose for everything that happens. We may not like it, but our attitude ought to be like that of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane: "Take this cup from me if you will, but not my will but your be done." (Mark 14:36) We can ask for things to happen a certain way in faith, but must remember that God is still sovereign.
Hope that helps!