The Prayers That Matter
2015-12-16
I had a great conversation with a friend today about what it means to have an effective, meaningful prayer. It was good that this came up, because it is a challenge that I have faced over the past several months. The best prayers I think are comprised of two things: a confession of weakness, and thanksgiving. I struggle of which to place first, because they are interrelated.
First, why a confession of weakness? Because apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5). We were helpless before God’s wrath, and He had to reach down and snatch us from the fires of hell. Now, for us saved by His grace, we are still powerless in our own flesh to do anything; if we are to do anything in this life for His glory, it is going to be by faith in the risen Christ.
Second, we must be seasoned with thanksgiving. Everything we are, everything we have, everything we do that is for God is because of His grace. We have every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). We have eternal life (John 3:16). The work He does in us is from Him alone (Philippians 1:6). We bring nothing into our salvation, and everything we have received is from the Lord Jesus Christ.
But what about asking Him for things? First, it is important to note that our biggest problem, our enmity with God, is removed in Jesus Christ. But what about legitimate needs and longings? We definitely bring them to God, in honesty and humility. But we do not want to think that we can manipulate God into getting what we want (James 4:3). He is going to do what He wants. We had two miscarriages this year. When we went to the doctor’s office both times, there was no heartbeat. I prayed that God would do the miracle, and He did not perform it. I do not know why. But we trust God anyway with the results, because He alone is good.
Prayer, most importantly, brings us to the place where we see the need to thank God and trust God more. Jesus Christ is our life. We lack nothing in Him.