By John Warren

 

Christians are given the gift of prayer.  We are given a line of communication that enables us to know the very heart of God.  

God sent Jesus to us in order that God might understand the human condition.  

So we have Jesus fully human, fully God, so God knows us through and through.  But how do we communicate?  That is where prayer comes in.  

Many times we will pray to tell God what we want or need in a one-way conversation because we either do not wait and listen and watch for an answer and give up.  

Notice I said listen and watch. 

I believe that God works through other’s actions and words to speak to us.  Our answers come in our ordinary lives each day if we are have trained our eye and ear to be in observation mode.  

Jesus often said to his disciples and listeners “if you have ears to hear, hear.”  

Of course, they had ears!  We all have ears but sometimes we do not use them to listen.  

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, said, “God does nothing but in answer to prayer.”  Prayers do not go unanswered.  Rather I think we too often give up before the answer comes to us because we are very impatient.  Or we do get an answer that we do not like.”

Does that mean that God says “No” to us?  

Yes, like any good parent there are times for our own good they will say “no.” God wants the best for us.  The “no” may come because we are not mature enough to handle the situation.  The “no” may come because God has something better in store for us.  Or it may come to us as a not yet, maybe later.  Or maybe we are not praying effectively.  

Let me share with you what I mean.  I think when you pray you should be very descriptive, describe everything to a ‘T”.  Be sure to express why you are praying this way, how it would benefit in improving your life, how it would make you a better person and how it would be used to glorify God. 

Then again, if in this practice you may come to a point of maturity or clarity and learn that this is not what is best for you and begin to adjust your plea.  At any rate, keep praying until you pray through the situation. That means you pray until you get a clear answer.  

Ephesians 6:18:  “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

 

John Warren is Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church, 502 North 6th Street in Orange.