08/13/2018
What is it about prayer that we value the most? Is it the time spent with God? The comfort it brings us? Knowing that we are heard? Realizing that we are never alone? Finding joy in praying for others? The list goes on and on doesn’t it... but the one thing that stifles our spiritual lives more than any other is making the answer to our prayers paramount in gauging the success of our prayer lives; and not just answers, but those we have dictated, or in other words, when we want OUR will to direct God’s answer to our prayers.
“Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.”
John 6:15 ESV
This mention of Jesus praying seems to us to be a big one. If we thought that the people around us wanted to make us their King, President, or ruler, that would be a huge event in our lives, wouldn’t it? Yet the Bible mentions that Jesus withdrew to the mountain alone, and then there is no record of His exact prayer... or the answer to it. To the best of my knowledge this incident isn’t spoken of again.
There are many different ways to count and look at the prayers in the Bible, but it amazes me how in most every way that we can count them, the number of accompanying answers is significantly less than the number of prayers... in merely counting total numbers it is a little fewer than half as many times that we find answers to prayers. So why is that? Listen to these words that were written by Andrew Murray...
“In the life of a Christian, one of the deepest lessons to learn is that the Word without the living God avails little; that the blessing of the Word comes when it brings us to the living God; that the Word from the mouth of God brings with it the power to understand and to obey it.” - Andrew Murray
In other words... being with God is the blessing, and it brings us understanding of His Word (will), and gives us the ability to obey it. So let’s revisit the fact that Jesus simply went to the mountain in our scripture reference. He knew why He had been sent, and He knew by the Word that being an earthly King wasn’t the reason. We know this too. Thus the trip to the mountain was so He could be close to the Father, and the prayer there was not about establishing Him as King, but more than likely about opening the eyes of those who wished for this to occur. This particular event and prayer, that seems so important to us, goes unrecorded... and the answer to it is never mentioned.
I haven’t done this, but I conjecture that the unrecorded answers to many prayers come as a result of their obvious diversion from the written Word of God; from His will... or perhaps in a positive light, because they spoke from the previously written will of God, and the answer came without the need for further comment.
Some though remain a mystery, while others are accompanied by an explanation of God’s will (as the request is contrary to that will). Listen to Paul as he prays three times for his own will to be done...
“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
2 Corinthians 12:7-9 ESV
Eventually Paul came to understand that God’s will was supreme, but it took three sessions of prayer, and a Word from God, and only then did he realize that the power of Christ should rest upon him.
God’s will surpasses our own, and what about those things we ask for in the name of Jesus... did Jesus do anything in His life that was outside the will of God? No, nothing has ever been written to indicate this. So when we ask in prayer that God grant us something... how should we expect to be answered? In our own will, or in God’s?
As they were growing up my children asked me for many things, but I didn’t give them every one. There were those requests that fell within my will for them, and there were other things that I knew were not good, or were against my will for them. My understanding was greater than theirs, and to have given them certain of their desires would have ultimately brought them harm, or not been good for them in some way. Sometimes I would describe my reasoning to them, while at other times I just said no, or nothing at all. If you are a parent does this sound familiar to you?
If you are a child how do you react to not getting what you ask for? Do you say yes father and accept it, do you disobey, pout, throw a fit, or maybe even run away? This relates back to our prayer life because it is in prayer that we make requests of our Heavenly Father, and it speaks to how we expect for Him to honor OUR will... not for us to honor His. My, but this sounds biblical... it sounds a great deal like something that is worthy of becoming a commandment doesn’t it?
“"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
Exodus 20:12 ESV
So placing the answer to our prayers above the relationship that prayer should foster is a huge stumbling block in our spiritual lives. We are told that we will receive what we ask for, but is that thing you have requested within the will of God? Is it the thing Jesus would have expected? After all, the works Jesus did were those of the Father...
“Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.”
John 14:10 ESV
How does the will of God play into our prayer life? Is it the all in all of prayer, or just a loose guideline? Perhaps it is time to step back and reevaluate our prayers and examine why we are so often frustrated.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for our relationship and the way it is fostered through prayer. Thank you for walking with me, and speaking with me as we travel the way together. Help me Holy Father to draw closer to you with each step, and to understand your will for me. I will suffer hardships and needs along life’s path and will come to you with many desires, but show me your will Father so that my wishes will be guided by your plan for me, and bordered on either side by your Word. Help me to be like Jesus who sought your will, and obeyed it. Teach me to pray as He did when in His most dire moment, He prayed “ thy will, not mine be done.” If I should pray, and ask for something outside your will Lord, and even ask it in the name of Jesus... forgive me Merciful Father, and lead me to ask as I should. Hear the prayer of Jesus in that moment Gracious Father as He prayed from the cross.... “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” In that moment when my will has been placed before yours, teach me Father to hear your Word, and recognize your voice, as I seek your will. I praise you for the times you say “Yes” to my prayers, but I will also honor you in those times when I hear “No”, or sit in silence. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God, and perfect is your provision for me, for perfect is your will.
Rich Forbes