If God is all-knowing, all-powerful and already in control of all things already, then why pray? So much of our prayers seem to focus on things we would like God to change in our lives, but if God already knows our needs and has already put a plan in motion for our lives, then what's the point of praying? God bids us to pray by telling us in to "Let our requests be known to God, with prayers and petitions..." But why? If God has put his unstoppable plan into place, why pray for anything else?
This week I will be speaking from 1 Samuel, chapter 8. In this chapter, the Israelite people reject God has their King, and tell their prophet, Samuel, that they want an earthly king. Samuel is quite upset, tells God and conveys God's word of caution to them. Nonetheless, the Israelites do not pay heed to God's word. Verse 21 of chapter 8 records "When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it all (or rehearsed it) before the Lord." In other words, Samuel prayed to God and rehearsed all the words the people said to him. Why did Samuel rehearse all those words? Surely God already knew what they had said. Clearly God already knew what their response would be. Obviously God anticipated this response many years earlier. So why does Samuel pray by repeating everything the people had said?
I think Samuel was having a moment. Samuel was ticked off! Samuel was having a cathartic experience. Samuel was praying to God, who knew everything already, for the same reason we pray to God. Samuel was praying to God, not to change God, but he was praying to God, so that as he was praying, God would change him. Therein lies the answer to the question, "Why pray?" We pray, not to change God, but we pray so that God may change us, as we pray.
There are many times I have gone to God in prayer feeling a certain emotion, but had come away from prayer with an entirely different emotion and perspective. Prayer changes things, namely me.
I wonder if this can be generalized to all things God calls us to do. I wonder if we are to be obedient to God in order to change the world, but the change of the world occurs as each of us allows God to change us. More specifically, I pray so that God changes me. I give money generously, so that God changes me. I share my faith, so that God changes me. I read the Bible, so that God would change me. I go to church, so that God changes me. I sing in church, so that God changes me. I live ethically and morally, so that God changes me. I serve others, so that God changes me. And as each of us lives in obedience to God, God changes each of us and thereby God changes the world.
I need to be increasingly obedient to God so that I may be change by God. This is my ultimate prayer.
Beams Away!
This week I will be speaking from 1 Samuel, chapter 8. In this chapter, the Israelite people reject God has their King, and tell their prophet, Samuel, that they want an earthly king. Samuel is quite upset, tells God and conveys God's word of caution to them. Nonetheless, the Israelites do not pay heed to God's word. Verse 21 of chapter 8 records "When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it all (or rehearsed it) before the Lord." In other words, Samuel prayed to God and rehearsed all the words the people said to him. Why did Samuel rehearse all those words? Surely God already knew what they had said. Clearly God already knew what their response would be. Obviously God anticipated this response many years earlier. So why does Samuel pray by repeating everything the people had said?
I think Samuel was having a moment. Samuel was ticked off! Samuel was having a cathartic experience. Samuel was praying to God, who knew everything already, for the same reason we pray to God. Samuel was praying to God, not to change God, but he was praying to God, so that as he was praying, God would change him. Therein lies the answer to the question, "Why pray?" We pray, not to change God, but we pray so that God may change us, as we pray.
There are many times I have gone to God in prayer feeling a certain emotion, but had come away from prayer with an entirely different emotion and perspective. Prayer changes things, namely me.
I wonder if this can be generalized to all things God calls us to do. I wonder if we are to be obedient to God in order to change the world, but the change of the world occurs as each of us allows God to change us. More specifically, I pray so that God changes me. I give money generously, so that God changes me. I share my faith, so that God changes me. I read the Bible, so that God would change me. I go to church, so that God changes me. I sing in church, so that God changes me. I live ethically and morally, so that God changes me. I serve others, so that God changes me. And as each of us lives in obedience to God, God changes each of us and thereby God changes the world.
I need to be increasingly obedient to God so that I may be change by God. This is my ultimate prayer.
Beams Away!
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