I've Prayed About It    (02/13/09)

The words, "I've prayed about it" can mean many different things.  I want to talk about one context that, as a pastor, I deal with all of the time.  Usually the word "But" is in front of that phrase.  We use it as kind of a "get out of jail free" expression.  It seems that many of us have lost the understanding (or maybe never had it to begin with) of why we even have prayer.  We treat prayer as our giant wish list.  We treat prayer as a cliche.  And we don't treat prayer for what it is -- intimate communication and relationship building with the Father.  I can remember some times when we thought it better for someone to not be involved in a certain aspect of ministry and we talked with them about it.  Usually they would say, "But I've prayed about it."  What they are usually saying is, "I told God what I think."  You see, part of prayer is being able to listen and clearly hear what God is saying to us.  When we have a vibrant, regular time of study of God's Word and prayer, we begin to develop a true relationship with God.  When we have a true, intimate relationship with God, we can hear and know what He is telling us. I can have a conversation with anyone.  I can talk to them and let them talk to me, but chances are, I am not going to really know what they are thinking and saying.  I have an intimate relationship with my wife.  And many times, I can know what she's thinking, when she's happy, when she's sad, when we're on the same page or when we're not on the same page.  I won't get that from talking with the checkout guy in Publix.  I can tell the checkout guy anything I want, but we're not going to have a relationship.

That's kind of like prayer.  Let's look at what is commonly called "The Lord's Prayer" in Matthew 6.  I am using the Holman Christian Standard Bible.  Jesus prayed, "Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as holy.  Your kingdom come.  You will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.  For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen."  What does Jesus do in this prayer?  First of all, He talks to God the Father.  Secondly, He honors Him.  Third, He asks for God's will to be done on earth.  Fourth, He asks for needs to be met.  Fifth, He asks for forgiveness (NOTE: Jesus did not need forgiveness, for He had never sinned.  However, He was modeling this for us.)  Sixth, He asks to be kept from temptation and the evil one (Satan).  And then He honors God yet again.  Let's look at another prayer.  Jesus, while in the garden before His crucifixion, prayed this in Matthew 26:39.  He said, "My Father!  If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me.  Yet not as I will, but as You will."  And again in verse 42, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, Your will be done."  Notice that Jesus always deflects away from what He desires and looks only for what God the Father desires.  In Nehemiah 1, Nehemiah prays, "Lord God of Heaven, the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant with those who love Him and keep His commands, let Your eyes be open and Your ears be attentive to hear Your servant's prayer that I now pray to You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites.  I confess the sins we have committed against You.  Both I and my father's house have sinned.  We have acted corruptly toward You and have not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances You gave Your servant Moses.  Please remember what You commanded Your servant Moses: 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples.  But if you return to Me and carefully observe My commands, even though your exiles were banished to the ends of the earth, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I chose to have My name dwell.'  They are Your servants and Your people.  You redeemed them by Your great power and strong hand.  Please, Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and to that of Your servants who delight to revere Your name.  Give Your servant success today, and have compassion on him in the presence of this man."

Nehemiah did not pray that the king would make him governor.  He only talked about God's promises and wanting those things to happen.  He humbled himself.  He asked for forgiveness.  He desired God's will to be done and for God's name to be glorified.

What about us when we pray?  Do we desire God to be glorified through us?  Or do we desire for God to just to what we want?  When we pray, do we ask God for things?  Or do we tell Him what we want?  How do you pray?  What is prayer to you?  Prayer should be a time of affirming our obedience to God's will, no matter what it is, no matter what it will require of us, and no matter how it will change our plans or dreams or goals.

Allow your prayer time to be a sweet, intimate time of fellowship, of expressing your love for God, or being connected with the Father.  Don't let it be a time of just rubbing a genie's lamp.