Do prayers reflect belief?

by Jon Walker
The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotional

“Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: ‘Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.’” (Matthew 11:25 MSG)

What do your prayers reveal about your perceptions of God?

I was thinking about this question the other day while reading a book by the great prayer warrior T. W. Hunt. In The Disciple’s Prayer Life, Hunt and co-author Catherine Walker say we learn about the attributes of God by analyzing the prayers of people in the Bible.

For instance, when Daniel knelt to pray, he knowingly violated a civil code that required he only pray to a king-proclaimed god. From Daniel’s prayer, we learn that God is the most high God, and there are no other gods above him.

When Cornelius, a Gentile, prayed, seeking salvation from the God of Abraham, we learn from his prayer that there is only one true God.

These, and many other prayers in the Bible, show us the character of God and help us know him more intimately. But then I started thinking, “What would someone learn about God if they listened to my prayers? Would they see that he is trustworthy? Would they see that he’s pure and holy?”

I have to admit that sometimes my prayers reflect more of a wishful faith that hopes God is listening and willing to answer, than a confident expectation that God will do what he has promised to do.

Prayers like that suggest a god who is not trustworthy, a god who isn’t concerned about the circumstances of my life, a god who reflects my own weak faith, as opposed to a God who is trustworthy, caring, and faithful.

So what?

• Know God – Do your prayers reveal the truth about God, his character as described in Scripture? Align your prayers with God’s great and unsurpassed character. He is El Shaddai, the all-sufficient One, able to meet any and all of your needs.
• Pray Scripture – Align your prayers with God’s Word. One way to ensure this is to pray sections of Scripture. In other words, take a passage and use it as the basis for a prayer to God, personalizing it to your circumstances and needs.
• Provision list – Thank God that he does answer your prayers. In fact, keep a prayer list that records your prayers and the answers God provides. It will supply ample, consistent evidence that God is involved in your life and constantly cares for you.
  

© 2007 Jon Walker. All rights reserved.