This may sound like a presumption on my part, or, minimally, a stupid question but when you pray, do you pray believing? Or do you pray, hoping? Maybe you pray, unthinkingly and/or rote-like? Do you pray that God will ‘do something’ to change some one or thing? The point is – when you pray, what’s your attitude? A tangential question is – do you think God hears prayers by those who do not pray… believing? These really aren’t speculative questions because they go to the heart of who you are as a pray-er. And my bias is first, that who you are determines what you expect when you pray. Secondly, I believe we ALL are called to pray, that is never a question as it is part and parcel of who we are as Christians.
In terms of context, look again at two specific scriptures (remembering that there are a vast number):
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in
health, just as your soul prospers.” (3 John 1:2 – my underlining)
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who
comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a
rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Both scriptures speak to our soul and they both speak to how we should approach, our attitude, about prayer. If we are praying for someone or even ourselves, how can we pray if we don’t believe the Lord is and will answer? Or maybe we believe He is but don’t believe He really wants to be involved in our lives? Therefore we are at the ‘mercy’ of whether or not our prayers are answered. But it says that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. Do we believe? Do we come confidently seeking?
And are we praying for prosperity for the ones we are praying for? Prosperity is far more than material and financial – prosperity affects every aspect of our lives. Even Webster seems to have difficulty giving a full definition but part of this definition is, “… the state of being successful, the condition of being successful or thriving…” Do you pray that the person you are interceding for is successful and thriving? And again, successful and thriving is far more than material and financial, it is in terms of all the components of our lives.
The encouragement should be James 5:16
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another
that you may able healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a
righteous man avails much.”
It is important to understand that ALL prayer is answered, just maybe not how we expect. No one is likely to pray if they don’t think it is useful. However, our responsibility is to be fervent in order to be effective (both words are individually defined). When you focus on your assignment – praying – coming with the ‘right’ attitude – believing and expecting – then we can move into thanksgiving to God for Who He is and what He does.
