10-20-05
Why don't we pray more? We are told to be constant in prayer and to pray without
ceasing but most of us would not consider our own prayer practice to be so
described even with the most generous evaluation. Undoubtedly there are many
things that interfere with our prayer but there are two that might be easily
overlooked, though they are among the most damaging.
Most of us don't really have much of an intercessory prayer life. I say that because
of the time people tell me that they spend in prayer. I hear things like, "I don't know
how people pray for more than 10 minutes or so, because I get everything said and
would just be repeating myself!". The real problem for most of us is that
intercessory prayer is just plain hard work and we are just plain not willing to take
on the job. The concentration required is hard work. Maintaining the list of those
in need is hard work. Praying fervently is hard work. Keeping our schedule clear
for the time of intercession is hard work. Praying for missionaries we do not know
and politicians we do not like is hard work. Thank God that He is gracious and
provides much without our asking, but we know there are things we lack because
we do not ask. We usually think of that scripture and figure we are personally
lacking for not asking and so we bear down to make sure we ask for everything we
might possibly need - or want. Perhaps our loved ones have not salvation because
we ask not for it. Maybe far away people have not relief from persecution because
we ask not for it.
The other side of prayer is the time with Jesus. That time described so well in the
old hymn, In the Garden, when "He tells me I am His own". I fear many Christians
have none of this in their prayer. The 10 minutes of intercession is it for most of us
(though we probably do have the habit of thanking God for this day before we jump
into our list). Surely this time is the most important and surely it should inform the
remainder of our prayer in every way, especially in building our faith. We do not
engage in intimate prayer because our affections are not set on Jesus. We surely
must love Jesus in some fashion, but is He our consuming passion? Before you
would say yes, consider the evidence in your life including your prayer life. Is the
evidence not rather that your affections are set on sports or entertainment or your
children's future success or your own future success? Maybe just your own
present comfort is where your true heart could be found.
What can we do? Confess as sin all the above that applies and all else that we
know we would have to add that is personal to us. Ask God to change us and
begin to pray as though God would actually answer such a prayer for why would he
not? We know we can ask God to help our unbelief, why not our laziness and our
wrongly placed affections? Then, prepare for a battle. Satan will not give up his
ground easily. If you don't really know what Paul meant by "the flesh" you will when
you try to change to a Biblical life of prayer.
Dale
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