Prayer, then, is an exercise of faith, in faith, and for faith.

It is an exercise of faith in our acknowledging God as GOD. He is the Subjector and Placer of all, Who knows and has set out all. He it is Who carries out all, everything without exception, in accord with His Own intention and counsel. He is El Shaddai, the All-sufficient One for Whom nothing is too hard. He can grant or withhold any blessing through Jesus, His Son and His Christ.

It is an exercise in faith, believing that we are His sons through Jesus Christ, our Lord, because of holy spirit which He gives us so that we will believe in Him. This holy spirit produces in us the disposition Christ has, an attitude which He exemplified in His absolute obedience to His Father's will even to His death on the cross. There is no other possible Mediator outside of Christ Jesus, our Lord.

We do not know what God's will for us is in any given situation. But, through holy spirit, and the exercise of all the faculties God has given each of us individually, we attempt to discern what that will is so that we may pray accordingly. Because we are God's sons, He hears our prayers and will readily grant us all that we ask that accord with His will. If He has given us His most precious possession, His Son Jesus Christ, what will He withhold from us (Rom.8:32)?

If we do not receive an answer that we expect and when we expect it, it may be that what we ask for is not according to His will. He will not give His children anything that will prove detrimental to their well-being in the overall perspective. Again, it may be, perhaps, that it is not in accord with His will for that time. It could be that He intends to grant what we request a little later to synchronise with His schedule.

We may not have our prayer answered in the way we expect, but God may be blessing us in ways that are more in line with His pre-determined plan. 

We must realise these facts and train ourselves to whole-heartedly thank Him for His 'Yes!', or for His 'No!', or even for His 'Wait a while!'. As His mature sons, how can we even think of demanding anything; how can we disrespectfully pester Him; how can we presume to coax Him; how can we do anything that even faintly resembles twisting His arm?

Prayer is recommended to make us focus our attention on our needs and the needs of those around us so that we may see and realise God's providence and intervention when we do receive what we ask for. Prayer should, therefore, increase our appreciation of God and should be filled with sincere praise and thanksgiving.

Too often, however, our prayers have been limited to making requests for things we like. This should bring to our attention, expose to our own consciousness, just how narrow and shallow our vision has become. God knows what we need even better than we do. He does not need us to draw His attention to these things.

Let us, rather, exercise ourselves in the counting of our blessings, blessings He so freely bestows on us - even without our asking.

Prayer is an exercise for faith, training us to test out what God's will for us is, allowing us the opportunity to align ourselves with His overall plan for humanity as well as for the universe! Because God has been doing what He has said He would be doing, we have the ever-strengthening conviction that He will do everything He says He will! Nothing can change God's intentions - not even heart-felt, persevering, prayer for what is not in line with His will! He declares that we are His achievement, His workmanship. He is the Potter; we are the clay. How can there be failure when we are in His loving hand? Knowing God, we do not merely hope for a favourable answer to our prayers; we can expect the best answer possible!
 

Back to:
....Main menu of articles

... List of Questions on Prayer