Normally, I write a devotional in parable form. A parable is an earthly story with a Heavenly meaning. I will give an opening story either from history, the National Day calendar, or some life event. Then, I will spin it into the spiritual significance. Well, today, I just don’t have time for that or the devotional is going to be too long!
A thought hit me while writing this devotional and it’s about prayer. By the time you are reading this, I’ve already preached on it because this has been an all-consuming thought in my heart for the last few weeks. Here’s the thought —
Why do we pray? Why do I pray? Let’s be honest. Doesn’t most of our prayer time consist in either asking God for something or confessing sin?
Let’s be clear about something. We ARE supposed to confess sin. (1 John 1:9) And we ARE supposed to ask God for the things we need. (Philippians 4:6) Consider this analogy made by Jesus in Luke 11:9-13. “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (10) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (11) If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? (12) Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? (13) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”
We all had earthly dads. Suppose the only time we talked to our dads was when we wanted something from them? We buttered them up with praise, telling them how wonderful of a dad they were before hitting them with our want. How would that have made our dads feel? The word that comes to mind is “used.”
Do we “use” our Heavenly Father? Is prayer treated as an opportunity to get something off our chest or as a means to an end?
If we get what we wanted in prayer, He is the greatest Heavenly Father EVER! We can hardly wait to sing His praises and tell everyone how great of an Abba Father we have. If we don’t get what we want, we get a little miffed with Him, wondering why did we even bother talking to Him. The more we get a “no” answer, the less we pray.
I think we (I) have missed out on the importance of prayer. While it is true that prayer is the means through which we confess or ask for things we need and a way to unload our burdens, that just can’t be the biggest benefit, blessing, or purpose for prayer.
Let the truth of Hebrews 4:14-16 saturate and change your thinking for a moment. “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” The greatest blessing of prayer is that I am welcome into the throne room of God and I get to be in His presence.
There are plenty of celebrities and people of notoriety we could meet. If we did, we would get so excited about it! How thrilling it was to talk to them! We got our picture taken with them and it hangs in a prominent place in our home or office. We would freely and gladly tell anyone who would listen about the great experience we had meeting them.
When I pray, I don’t get to talk to a celebrity whose star of fame will burn out after they’ve died – or sooner. I get to talk to the Creator of the universe! I’m in the presence of the One who made angels and man. I’m welcome to be as close as possible to the One who controls all things. I approach God through Jesus Christ and without fear of being scorched into a little black burnt spot on the pavement.
The answer to my prayer request isn’t nearly as important as the One to whom I’m praying. And the requests of my heart, even the good ones like praying for the salvation of another, cannot compare to the fact that I – I get to be in the presence of this awesome, mighty, sovereign, omnipotent God without fear. I get to be in His presence with the comfortableness of a little child crawling into their daddy’s lap and being held by his big, strong arms.
Ephesians 2:13-18 says it all! Think about this today as you pray. “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (14) For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (15) Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; (16) And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: (17) And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. (18) For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”
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