Prayer - much more than words

232 is more than just a prayerI assume you've also had times of desperation, begging for God's intervention. You may have prayed for a miracle, but apparently in vain; the miracle did not happen. Likewise, I assume that you were delighted to learn that prayers for a person's healing had been answered. I know a lady who grew a rib after praying for her healing. The doctor advised her, “Whatever you are doing, keep going!” Many of us, I am sure, are comforted and encouraged to know that others are praying for us. I am always encouraged when people tell me they are praying for me. In response, I usually say, "Thank you very much, I really need all your prayers!"

A misguided way of thinking

Our experiences of prayer may have been positive or negative (probably both). Therefore, we should not forget what Karl Barth observed: "The crucial element of our prayers is not our requests, but God's answer" (Prayer, p. 66). It's easy to misunderstand God's reaction when he hasn't responded in the way you expected. One is quick to believe that prayer is a mechanical process - one can use God as a cosmic vending machine into which one throws one's desires and the desired "product" can be withdrawn. This misguided mindset, which amounts to a form of bribery, often creeps into prayers about gaining control of a situation over which we are powerless.

The purpose of the prayer

The purpose of prayer is not to get God to do things he doesn't want to do, but to go along with what he is doing. It is also not about wanting to control God, but rather recognizing that he controls everything. Barth explains it this way: "With the folding of our hands in prayer begins our rebellion against the injustices of this world." Through this statement, he confessed that we who are not of this world engage in prayer in God's mission for the world bring in Instead of taking us out of the world (with all its unrighteousness), prayer unites us with God and his mission to save the world. Because God loves the world, he sent his son into the world. When we open our hearts and minds to God's will in prayer, we cast our trust in the One who loves the world and loves us. He is the One who knows the end from the beginning and who can help us to see that this present finite life is the beginning and not the end. This type of prayer helps us see that this world is not how God wants it to be, and it changes us so that we can be bearers of hope here and now in God's present, expanding kingdom. When the opposite of what they have asked for occurs, some people rush to the deistic view of the distant and unconcerned God. Others then want nothing to do with believing in God. That's how Michael Shermer, founder of the Skeptic's Society, experienced it. He lost his faith when his college friend was badly injured in a car accident. Her spine was broken and she is confined to a wheelchair due to the paralysis from the waist down. Michael had believed that God should have answered prayers for her healing because she was a really good person.

God is sovereign

Prayer is not a way of wanting to direct God, but a humble acknowledgment that everything is under his control, but not us. In his book God in the Dock, CS Lewis explains it this way: Most events that take place in the universe are beyond our control, but some are. It is similar to a play where the setting and general plot of the story are set by the author; however, there remains a certain leeway in which the actors have to improvise. It may seem strange that he allows us to trigger real events at all, and even more amazing that he gave us prayer instead of any other method. The Christian philosopher Blaise Pascal said that God "instituted prayer in order to grant His creatures the dignity of being able to contribute changes."

It would perhaps be more true to say that God considered both prayer and physical action for this purpose. He gave us little creatures the dignity to be able to participate in events in two ways. He created the matter of the universe in such a way that we can use it within certain limits; so we can wash our hands and use them to feed or kill our fellow human beings. Similarly, God took into account in his plan or storyline that it allows some latitude and that it can still be modified in response to our prayers. It is stupid and improper to ask for victory in a war (if you are expected to know what is best); It would be just as stupid and improper to ask for nice weather and put on a raincoat - doesn't God know best whether we should get dry or wet?

Why pray?

Lewis points out that God wants us to communicate with him through prayer and explains in his book Miracles that God has already prepared the answers to our prayers. The question arises: why pray? Lewis replies:

When we pray the outcome of, say, an argument or a medical consultation, it often occurs to us (if only we knew) that an event has already been decided one way or the other. I don't think that's a good argument to stop praying. The event is certainly decided - in the sense that it was decided "before all time and all the world". However, one thing that is taken into account in the decision and that really makes it a definite event may be the very prayer that we offer now.

Did you understand that? God may have considered in his response to your prayer that you will pray. The implications of this are thought-provoking and exciting. It shows all the more that our prayers are important; they have meaning.

Lewis continues:
As shocking as it sounds, my conclusion is that in the afternoon we can become a part of a causal chain of an event that happened as early as 10.00 a.m. (some scholars find it easier to describe than to put in common terms). Imagining this will no doubt feel like we are being tricked now. So I'm asking, "So when I've finished praying, can God go back and change what's already happened?" No. The event has already happened and one of the reasons for this is the fact that you are asking such questions instead of having prayed. So it also depends on my choice. My free doing contributes to the shape of the cosmos. This involvement was laid out in eternity or "before all times and worlds," but my awareness of it only reaches me at a certain point in time.

Prayer does something

What Lewis wants to say is that prayer does something; It always has and always will. Why? Because prayers give us the opportunity to engage in God's actions, doing and doing what we did now. We can not understand how it all works together and works together: science, God, prayer, physics, time and space, things like quantum entanglement and quantum mechanics, but we know that God has determined everything. We also know that he invites us to participate in what he does. Prayer is a lot.

When I pray, I think it is best to put my prayers in God's hands because I know that he will assess them correctly and incorporate them into his good intentions appropriately. I believe God turns all things for the better in His glorious purposes (this includes our prayers). I am also aware that our prayers are supported by Jesus, our high priest and advocate. He accepts our prayers, sanctifies them and shares them with the Father and the Holy Spirit. For this reason I assume there are no unanswered prayers. Our prayers combine with the will, purpose, and mission of the Triune God - much of which was determined before the foundation of the world.

If I can not explain exactly why prayer is so important, then I trust God that it is so. Therefore, I am encouraged when I learn that my fellow human beings pray for me, and I hope you are encouraged because you know that I pray for you. I do not do it to try to direct God, but to praise the One who directs everything.

I thank and praise God that he is the Lord of all and our prayers are important to him.

Joseph Tkach

President
GRACE COMMUNION INTERNATIONAL


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