Prayer is a self-disclosing exercise when we listen. As we or others are praying, we learn. On occasion I am startled with the way we boss God around, sending the Almighty to fetch. I am embarrassed when I hear myself, and others, informing God in prayer as if He were unaware of what was happening in the world He created. I am also ashamed when prayer is reduced to mindless repetitive phrases with little thought or deliberate movement toward human wills submitting to an all-knowing Father in heaven.
On the occasion when he disclosed his true identity, Joseph told his brothers, “God sent me ahead of you to preserve you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” (Genesis 45:7) Nothing is left to chance with God. Slavery is not the traditional route to blessing. Years of unjust imprisonment is not the preferred way to spiritual leadership. But, Joseph was molded, formed, prepared all lifelong for the redemptive task.
Like Joseph’s brothers, I can present a pretty strong case for being anxious, edgy, tense, and fearful. Reuben and I could be soul mates! But, feelings of insecurity and fear find fertile soil in the vacuum created by being inattentive to God’s Word, the Spirit’s witness, the knowledge of His presence, and a fundamental flaw of carelessly overlooking the obvious truth of God revealed in all of nature’s order. Joseph’s insight to the ways of God is superior.
St. Paul’s Holy Spirit inspired doxology reminds us that there is One who knows all, determines the order of all life. Those who best understand and experience the Apostle’s hymn to God are awed in His presence. Praying people become worshipers! Their prayers overflow with descriptions of Might, Authority, Compassion, Wisdom, Affection, Mercy, Justice … God is enlarged. Worshipers bow in awe. There is no need for the contrived or orchestrated. God appears and worshipers are flooded with awesome respect in the Presence. Prayer is the vehicle for the Spirit to flow through humanity revealing Divinity.
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 12)
God’s perception of our experiences, both positive and negative, are not formed as we go along. God thinks, knows and acts from the very foundations of the world. The Almighty has never said, “Oops!” Nor, has the One who made sun, moon and stars sought counsel. (Can you believe it, God has never had to read a book or surf the internet to learn!) Running short has never been His experience. When we pray, we would be wise to remember, rejoice and be renewed in truth revealed in Him.
Joseph’s words to his brothers remind me of Jesus’ instructions on prayer, “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6) If our Father knows what we need before we ask, why pray? Because,
• As we pray our Father hears and will confront us with, “Is your spirit broken and contrite, or boastful and arrogant? Is your desire to be blessed rooted in being an instrument of blessing others, or will my blessing stop you?
• As we pray we express priorities and assure our Father that His will has become ours. Prayers meant to bring us affirmation and sense of self-importance rather than to make the glory of God known in the earth are pagan. In this way we grieve the Holy Spirit.
• As we pray, we are exposed to our heart’s condition. More often than I would like anyone to know, I can be selfish and self-centered in prayer. It is possible to pray asking God to help us break His commandment to not covet something belonging to another. The thing we covet is usually something big, pleasant and full of creature comforts! We can pray to embellish our reputation rather than the glory of His Name. Listening to prayers has tremendous power to sanctify, better equip us for God’s purposes. We are confronted with ourselves, that which obstructs the ways of our Father being fully known and appreciated.
• As we listen we become aware of new material for celebrating the transforming grace of God which has taken place in our lives. Worship happens in intelligent, spiritual prayer.
There is so much more about prayers which are in harmony with our Father. His Sovereignty will not be fully understood in this life. Because of that, we keep praying because prayer changes us, not God!
I hope to meet you at a prayer meeting soon. Your prayers instruct me and sanctify me for service.
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