Prayer

Prayer is an implicit part of the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. There are powerful mighty prayers in the text. Solomon dedicates the temple in prayer and celebration. His prayer goes on for 29 verses it is a prayer written and delivered by the wisest man who ever lived.

Examine the gospels, make a note on how many times Jesus went off to pray. He does it frequently, often, and with out end. His dying words were a prayer. "Forgive them Father." The disciples implored him to teach them to pray. Paul says to pray without ceasing.

Why then is it so hard to pray? The Pharisees would pray often, yet it seems the only benefit to their prayers were people thought them holy. They had daily prayers one which was something like this: Thank God I am not woman, slave, or gentile (non-Jew/sinner). That doesn't seem like much of a prayer.

Is it possible prayer is confused with a shopping list for God we say in desperation? Please God, don't let him/her/my parents find out what I've done. Please don't let me be pregnant, please don't let the drugs show up on the test, please hide my failings without consequences. Almost as if we want God to hide our misdeeds from those they will hurt so we will not be forced to deal with the damage the truth will cause.

Prayer is difficult. It confronts us with a Just and Holy God, whom we have nothing in common. He is perfect we are flawed. He is righteous we are unrighteous. He is just and we are unjust. Prayer brings us into a holiness we do not deserve to enter into. In prayer we pray for patience, we don't get it though. Instead God gives us situations to be patient in so that we mature. We ask God to change someone, he says no, you're the one who needs to change. We say yeah but look at them, they need to change. God says let me take care of them.

Prayer causes flaws to be illuminated. We are allowed in His presence by grace, that grace is given freely. His presence is where prayer takes us. In his presence we are confronted with two truths. We see the truth about us, more importantly we see the truth of Him. If we are truly listening all prayers are always answered, sometimes we don't like the answers, yet they are answered.

Prayer allows growth.