You must have heard the phrase, “prayer doesn’t change God, it only
changes you”. I’m always cautious when I hear ‘godly’ statements that were not
actually stated by God.
Statements like these thrive because they contain partial truths. We
know that prayer doesn’t change God, (even though many still believe the purpose
of prayer is to make God ‘change his mind’, as if that will be a good thing
(see Jer 29:11)). We also know that persons who pray extensively do change over
time. But reducing prayer to simply a mystical metamorphosing mechanism is like
saying the purpose of rain is to ‘clean people up’.
Throughout scriptures, when people prayed, they prayed so that
things would happen. Whether it be David, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Samuel or the
rest of the prophets; whenever they prayed to heaven they expected
to see change on earth.
The psalmist in Ps 65:2 calls God “thou that hearest prayer...” When we
pray just for the sake of it, without expecting anything specific to happen, we
may be trying to play it safe, fearing lest we be disappointed.
But our Lord said, “I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (Lk 11:9)
Going through the motions of prayer daily without expecting anything to
happen but feeling religious nonetheless isn’t doing you a favour and isn’t
giving glory to God either.
God’s not going to slap you for asking ‘too much,’ in fact, James
says we should ask because God is “generous and enjoys giving to everyone”
(Jas 1:5 ERV).
He did qualify this statement however. He said “But when you ask God,
you must believe. Don't doubt him. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea
that is blown up and down by the wind. People like that are thinking two
different things at the same time. They can never decide what to do. So they
should not think they will receive anything from the Lord.” (Jas 1:6-7 ERV)
Yesterday, we said it’s good to Pray Without Ceasing, today we’re
saying it’s not good to Pray Without Seizing. When you go to the Throne
Room of God to make a petition, you must seize it before coming back. God’s not
going to toss your answer back at your head on your way down. So if you’re not holding
it on your way down, you’re not holding it!
Our Lord explains it better,
Therefore I say unto you, whatever things you desire, when you pray,
believe that you will receive them, and you shall have them. – Mar 11:24.
AMEN.
More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus Name.
GREG ELKAN
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