For the week of Jan 6, 2025
There are several passages in the Bible that encourage us to pray. We are encouraged to pray … without ceasing (1 Thess 5:16-17) … with thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6) … in secret (Matt 6:6) … asking for whatever we need, in Christ’s name (John 14:13-14) … with the help of the Spirit (Rom 8:26). I wonder, though, how many times we pay particular attention to the “whatever you (aka “I”) need” passages.
I have no doubt that all of us pray for others. It must be the case, because I often hear folks say, “I’m praying for you,” or “sending thoughts and prayers your way in your time of need.” I know, from personal experience, the power of prayer, not because I always get what I ask for, but because I always feel better when I intentionally enter into God’s presence in pray by way of the Holy Spirit. It may not change the situation, but it changed something inside of me.
Recently, while driving to an appointment and listening to a Christian radio station, I heard the announcer offer a prayer challenge that got me thinking. She asked, “if all your prayers were answered, would it change the world, or would it just change yours?” I’d like to say that my immediate response was that it would change the world, but knew I needed to think about that a little bit. Answering one way or the other might make me feel good about my prayer life, but ultimately, this wasn’t about making me feel better. It was about making me be a better disciple.
In the days since hearing that challenge, I have spent some time considering whether or not my prayers fit with what I believe to be the key directives regarding prayer … that God’s kingdom would come in all its fullness, that God’s will would be done (Matt 6:10), and that my asking was done in Christ’s name. Knowing how biased my own will can be on things, I long ago gave over to intentionally praying for God’s will to be done, and most of the time meaning it … all of the time if you take into account those instances when I was absolutely sure that my will was aligned with God’s. Admit it, we’ve all been there … even when we weren’t!
The toughest directive, however, is the “in Christ’s name” part. Most of us end our prayers with some form or expression that means “in Christ’s name,” even when the content of our prayers might not be in alignment. In that regard, I think the prayer challenge asks a question we ought all to consider… if all our prayers were to be answered … as submitted … would it change the (whole) world, or just our own. Remember, if the whole world is changed, so will ours be!
Blessings,
Blake