Are We Really Serious When We Pray or Just Pretending?

I have been thinking about writing about whether prayer really works or not for some time now. I found myself studying a great deal about prayer from scripture and books I haven’t read in years. I wanted to, as it were, “Hit All The Bases” on the subject rather than giving some flash-in-the-pan quick answers.

Prayer should be one of the most important topics for true seekers of God. Yet, after 45 years as a Pastor and teaching on the subject, I find I am more convinced that the average professing Christian knows little about prayer, and exercises even less in any meaningful way. I’m not trying to be judgmental or overly critical, but by my experience, the average believer in Jesus engages poorly. When praying with individuals and groups most seem to struggle being open and honest and are far more concerned with how they sound to others rather than how they sound to God.

Let me use an illustration from my background as a master mechanic. A man came into the shop I was working at, who was very mad at the performance and outcome of the car he bought two years before. He had bought a very nice, well equipped diesel car. He was told this car would give him more miles of service compared to a gas engine model, so even though the car cost more up front the longevity of the car made it worth it. I at the time was trained by the manufacturer on diesels so that’s why I got the job. After reviewing the problem with the car (it was indeed running poorly) I had a consultation with the owner. I asked him how often he changed the oil and filter, at which he “Barked Out Angrily,” this is a diesel, you don’t have to change the oil! I then asked him where he got the notion that he didn’t need to change to oil. He said a friend told him. I then asked him if he read the “Owners Manual” and he said he didn’t need to because he has owned other cars before. That man ended up paying thousands of dollars to rebuild his engine, because he acted on false information about how to handle his new car. Can I tell you he was not happy and blamed the car and our dealership for the mistake and not himself.

People who come to a saving knowledge of Christ are often just like this diesel car owner. They say a sinners prayer and then are told they are a Christian who is “Eternally Secure” and when they die will go to heaven. They think they know how to walk as a Christian, and feeling over confident, that they “Can’t” lose their salvation, they rarely read their bible which is their owners manual. Had the person leading them to Christ explained that they needed to “Work Out Their Salvation” (Philippians 2:12) They would have applied more effort and discipline to their new relationship with God rather than letting that relationship fall apart.

Prayer is one of those Christian subjects that many believers assume they understand, and go about their daily lives practicing a meager prayer life that God often doesn’t seem to reply too. To be honest, I still find prayer to be somewhat of a mystery even though I have studied the subject a long time. The more I dig into scripture, and yes pray, the more I find my way in understanding the mind and will of God in prayer, and thus my relationship is built stronger and my prayers are directed by him rather than my circumstances.

Prayer at its core is “Communication“, meant to be a bridge between the natural world and the spirit world in which we can connect with God. From my experience, in many different situations, from just two people praying together to thousands, prayer seems to be is modeled after giving a speech rather than having an intimate conversation with God. Ever since giving my heart to Christ many years ago, I have disliked people who write down their prayer for praying before a crowd. That prayer often becomes what I term a “Horizontal Prayer”, that really instructs people about themselves and God rather than a heart to heart conversation with the Almighty. I would much more prefer a person stumbling through a prayer that is heart felt rather than an eloquent preach used to impress people rather than God.

Let me illustrate. When I first went to Europe in the early 70s I was afraid to use basic words in the language of countries I visited. I felt foolish stumbling with basic words so I would only speak in English. I soon learned that most average and normal people from other countries are delighted when you struggle to use their language, even though it may sound bad. The exception to this would be with the elite class who think it’s beneath them. The same may be  compared to the religious people who are more like Pharisees that want eloquent prayers not simple ones.

When I moved to Sweden in the 70s, I became Pastor of two small churches. I told my personal translator not to speak to me in English for two whole weeks so I could at least learn how to understand Swedish. I told her not to speak English even if I threatened her with bodily harm! Sure enough, 2 weeks later, I could pick out six out of 10 words in a sentence. I still was afraid to speak the language but the people appreciated that I could, for the most part, understand them. Prayer is learning to speak the language of God. Part of that language includes the desire to approach prayer with humility of heart. King David learned this while shepherding sheep all by himself alone with God, as dis James the brother of Jesus.

Psalms 10:17

 O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble;

You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear

James 4:6

But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” 

I intend to write a series of articles on prayer because there are many aspects we should cover on learning to pray the way God desires, and ones in which he moves by his mighty power. Consider that Jesus was mad when he saw that the house of God had turned into a market for selling animals. Consider how the modern church is more about worship and teaching than it is about prayer. I’m all for worship and teaching, but when we abandon one of the most basic elements of the Christian life called prayer, because we don’t understand it or don’t have confidence doing it, we have lost our way and need genuine revival.

Matthew 21:13

And He (Jesus)  said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” 

If our churches don’t reflect what Jesus says are we really attending God’s house each week?

Questions:

1) How would you describe you prayer life, good, fair or poor?

Read God’s word and do the hard work of study to discover God’s heart for prayer and his power released in it.

2) If your prayer life is weak and ineffective consider asking the Holy Spirit why. Jesus said the Holy Spirit would be our counselor and guide. Let him help you.

Loving God and loving to think!

Pastor Dale