Posted on 02/20/2018 5:06:54 AM PST by Gamecock
Sometimes we all feel as if our prayers lack the power to penetrate our ceilings. It seems as though our petitions fall on deaf ears and God remains unmoved or unconcerned about our passionate pleading. Why do these feelings haunt us?
There are several reasons why we are sometimes frustrated in prayer. One is that our expectations are unrealistic. This, perhaps more than any other factor, leads to a frustration in prayer. We make the common mistake of taking statements of Jesus in isolation from other biblical aspects of teaching in prayer, and we blow these few statements out of proportion.
We hear Jesus say that if two Christians agree on anything and ask, it shall be given to them. Jesus made that statement to men who had been deeply trained in the art of prayer, men who already knew the qualifications of this generalization. Yet in a simplistic way we interpret the statement absolutely. We assume the promise covers every conceivable petition without reservation or qualification. Think of it. Would it be difficult to find two Christians who would agree that to end all wars and human conflict would be a good idea? Obviously not. Yet if two Christians agreed to pray for the cessation of war and conflict, would God grant their petition? Not unless He planned to revise the New Testament and its teaching about the future of human conflict.
Prayer is not magic. God is not a celestial bellhop at our beck and call to satisfy our every whim. In some cases, our prayers must involve the travail of the soul and agony of heart, such as Jesus experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane. Sometimes young Christians have been bitterly disappointed in “unanswered” prayers, not because God failed to keep His promises, but because well-meaning Christians made promises “for” God that God never authorized.
Coram Deo
Do you have unrealistic expectations that account for seemingly unanswered prayers? Are you treating God like a celestial bellhop?
Passages for Further Study
Psalm 102:17 he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer. 18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:
Psalm 141:2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
Ping!
(Protestant/Evangelical Caucus and Devotional)
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Dumb question here - what is the “Protestant/Evangelical Caucus”?
I miss R.C., didn’t always agree with his take on some things, but he was great at expounding/exposition.
We have to pray in accordance with His will.
I never cease to be amazed at the number of people who *know* what’ God’s will is for everything, including me, and have no problem informing me of that fact, even when no one asked for their opinion.
You don’t pray to change hard times or a tragedy. You pray to help you deal with and get through hard times and tragedy with some degree of serenity and in a way that will make you a source of strength and comfort to others.
Prayer will bring us into His will, I do believe.
Only Protestant and Evangelicals may post on this thread.
“Only Protestant and Evangelicals may post on this thread.”
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Just curious - how would you tell if posters were atheists, Hindus or whatever, if they didn’t post anything that alluded to their beliefs/lack of belief?
Yes it will!
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>> “Why do these feelings haunt us?” <<
Because the Holy Spirit is goading us!
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>> “I never cease to be amazed at the number of people who *know* what’ God’s will is for everything...” <<
Yep, grew up in a church full of them.
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>> “Prayer will bring us into His will, I do believe.” <<
If we’re listening afterward!
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Most likely wouldn’t know unless someone was disruptive or argumentative. If that happened, we’d check their posting history and explain the caucus rules.
“Most likely wouldn’t know unless someone was disruptive or argumentative. If that happened, we’d check their posting history and explain the caucus rules.”
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Yeah, I suppose if someone isn’t acting like a donkey it wouldn’t matter much.
I haven’t followed enough to see who, if anyone, has taken on RC’s role as head of Ligonier - they go with somebody who’s senior on the staff there or ? anybody know? Just curious.
I think these folks are probably closest to what he did:
https://www.ligonier.org/about/who-we-are/teaching-fellows/
I like listening to R. Albert Mohler Jr.
Faith is the substance of things not seen. Most find it nearly impossible to go beyond what has been seen and experienced, even for centuries.
True faith is more precious than gold, and rarer. Let God be true and every man a liar. There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, whether succeeding with our efforts to obtain unto simple faith, which moves mountains, or not. The shame is not to fail trying to live up to what God says, but not to try, making our excuses, which essentially call God the liar.
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