Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.- – Heb 4:16
What is Prayer really? A comic dictionary defined prayer as a request (by
a confessedly unworthy petitioner) that the laws of the universe be annulled in
his/her behalf.
Lisa Simpson (of The Simpsons fame) saw prayer as “the last resort
of the scoundrel”.
Derisive as these definitions may sound, they express one of the
mysteries and obstacles of prayer: “Why Would God Bend the
Laws of Nature to Favour One Person?”
This is one area that Atheists hold against Christianity. To them, it’d
be unfair for a ‘God’ to suspend His own laws at the request of one creature.
I do not know all the answers to that; but I’m not about to allow that to
hinder me from partaking of one of the blessed means of supernatural succour in
this wicked world.
Take, for example, this strange phrase at the end of the Lord’s Prayer:
“...And lead us not into temptation; but deliver
us from evil”. Lk 11:4
Whatever happened to the accountability of man (on one hand) and the
impartiality of God (on the other)?
It is scandalous enough to ask God not to make YOU fall into temptation.
(Some would contend that if you have enough sense to make that prayer, then you
have enough sense to stay out of trouble); but to ask Him to deliver you from
evil at the same time seems to be stretching it too far. Evil is a part of this
fallen world, why should you ask to be exempted?
However, I didn’t cook up those words in a moment of puerile selfishness;
it’s our Lord Himself that gave them to me. He actually prefaced them with, “After
this manner therefore pray...” (Mat 6:9).
I therefore have TWO options:
Look at prayer as something for weaklings, and decide to slug it out in
life in whatever way I can.
Or look at prayer as a means to get divine succour to go through life in
this in this fallen and evil world.
Which is yours?
AMEN.
More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus Name.
GREG ELKAN
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