Prayer: 1 Timothy 2:1

Prayer is supposed to be an integral part of a Christian's life. We're urged to pray on a regular basis. A lot of questions could be asked about prayer: Why should I pray? How often? For whom? And more. But these are trivial compared to this: Does God hear my prayers?

Let's discuss...

 At God Search, we talk about things that could matter, like...

Prayer

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men," 1 Timothy 2:1

"Proseuche" is the Greek word for prayer, and in addition to personal communication with God, it also indicates an exchange of wishes! So in this, the purpose of prayer is to exchange wishes with God.

Throughout the Bible, we're reminded of the many ways that God favors us; the wishes that he has for us. I found a really comprehensive, moving, and effective Youtube video on this topic. I hope that you'll take a few minutes to watch it (see Sources). Here are just a few reminders from God:

        You were made in My image.                                              Genesis 1:27
        I chose you when I planned creation.                                   Ephesians 1:11-12
        You are fearfully and wonderfully made.                             Psalms 139:14
        I am not distant and angry.                                                   1 John 4:16
        I desire to lavish my love on you.                                        1 John 3:1
        I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.          Matthew 7:11
        I meet all your needs.                                                           Matthew 6:31-33
        You are my treasured possession.                                        Exodus 19:5
        If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me.          Deuteronomy 4:29
        I can do more for you than you could possibly imagine.     Ephesians 4:20
        I am waiting for you...                                                          Luke 15:11-32

This is less than half of what's presented in the video, but it really is a good reminder of the fact that God wishes only good things for us. In exchange, we are expected to wish for the good of others, and we do this in prayer (1 Timothy 2:1). This is the exchange of wishes indicated in the Greek meaning of prayer. We are expected to pray for the well-being of others, and we're to pray for ourselves (2 Chronicles 1:10). And when we pray for others and for ourselves, we are trusting that His response will put others and us in a new position and that that new position will then serve to glorify God, which is what He wants more than anything. (Psalms 34:3).

"Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17) This certainly addresses the question, How often should I pray, but the natural response is how is this possible? I have other things to do...like sleep! Charles Ellicot, an English Christian theologian, said this: Though a man cannot be incessantly praying in words, the mind may be held continuously in an attitude of prayer, even in sleep. (Song of Solomon 5:2) Matthew Henry, the famous Bible commentator, minister, and author, said: A truly religious life is a life of constant joy.  And we should rejoice more if we prayed more. Philippians 4:6 says, "In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Continual, persistent, incessant prayer is an essential part of Christian living and flows out of humility and dependence on God. In other words, constant prayer is, by definition, an indication of our need for God. If we aren't constantly seeking Him, we are in a state of self-dependence rather than God-dependence.

Does God hear my prayers? That's a question that can be answered, but can it be proven? No. Whether or not we believe that God hears our prayers is dependent upon our faith. Some might say, "I know that God hears my prayers because....this...happened when I prayed." How do we know that "this" isn't simply coincidence, timing, or luck? I've become bitter over the last year or so over what I see as unfair things that have happened to me. I've prayed about them, and I can't say there's much to share that might indicate that those prayers have been answered. I think it may have just about everything to do with my perspective and with God's expectations of me. Here's a great video that caused me to think about my prayers:


And that's today's talk. I hope that at least something I've said has been impactful, meaningful, worthy of contemplation. Please subscribe to my channel, and be sure to comment if you feel so compelled.

Thank you for listening. See you soon. Take care.

Sources

https://biblehub.com/interlinear/luke/15-7.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsBhvSMQUk4

https://biblehub.com/commentaries/1_thessalonians/5-17.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuyWAMZphvY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbpE8NMtae4


        

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Trust: Proverbs 3:5

Image
"I trust you," is a very impactful phrase. It accompanies vulnerability, doesn't it? In trusting, we decide that the one or ones within whom we put our trust won't let us down. But at what point does one determine trustability? Let's discuss... At God Search, we talk about things that could matter, like... Trust " Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5 The word for "Trust" in this verse in Hebrew (Batah) means to have a kind of careless confidence. In other words, it isn't necessarily a trust that's earned, like "I trust that you'll get that job done since you've proven reliability in the past," but rather a kind of blind trust: I trust you because you are asking me to trust you, period.  According to Pastor Creflo Dollar of World Changers Church in Georgia, "Trust is reliance on the integrity, the strength, the ability, the surety of God. It is a confident expe...
Read more

Hope: Psalms 130:7

We all hope for one thing or another every day. This is human nature. But did you know that there is more than one meaning to the word HOPE? More importantly, did you know that God desperately hopes for our hope?  Let's discuss...   At God Search, we talk about things that could matter, like... Hope "Oh, Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is loving devotion, and with him is redemption in abundance." Psalms 130:7 Yakhal The word 'hope' in the Hebrew language often translates to what one might expect, i.e., to wait, to tarry. This type of hope is "Yakhal" in Hebrew. It's thinking about something, be it a thing, a person, a condition, and sort of without a plan, attempting to wish it into being. This kind of hope is usually directed toward the uncontrollable, and it is very closely related to optimism. When I was a kid, Don Williams was a popular country music artist, and one of his most popular songs, "Lord, I Hope This Day is Go...
Read more