Pray For What?

Tags

anti-religion, faith, lifestyle, prayer, prayforpeace, religion

 

When someone tells you that they will pray for you, do you secretly think they are lying?

Yes, I do.

They may mean well. Some may even spit out a quick ‘God bless you’ to keep themselves honest. Yes, I have done just that. But I have stopped making those promises. I do not pray that you will pass your test or that God will raise your mother from the dead. Nope.

My prayer, if any, is simple: Thy will be done.

I am just sick of hearing these people who just want to be seen and heard, belting out these beautifully crafted poems and speeches masquerading as prayers. Yes. I am the girl in the back of the church rolling her eyes, waiting for the curtain. From what I gather from this situation, Jesus was with me on this one.

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Matthew 6:5

I’ve gone to some churches and I can recite their prayers. I know exactly what they are going to say when the stand to deliver this “prayer”. Really, it’s a well-rehearsed speech filled with commands and begging followed by some thankfulness.

I was bored. I wondered if God shared that sentiment.

The truth is that we don’t know for what to pray. We already have everything we need. Jesus left us with the holy spirit, the comforter, the reminder, that internal peace that assures us that paradise is ours one day.

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Romans 8:26

Yes, Jesus gave us the “Lord’s prayer” but remember this was before He gave His life for our sins. Plus, note in that prayer, Jesus says “thy will be done”.

Thy will be done. The Lord’s will be done.

There is no harming in asking for anything. But know that God’s plan will always prevail. So, if it is not in God’s plan, your request will be denied. Not because you didn’t pray hard enough. Not because you didn’t have faith but simply because it was not part of God’s plan.

The Apostle Paul prayed three times for God to take away his sickness (2 Corinthians 12:8). But, God did not. Why? Because it was not God’s plan. Instead, God reminded Paul that there is a reason for every affliction, every situation.

 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Paul accepted this as we should. Our omniscient God has an excellent plan. We have everything we need, if we have trusted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who died for all of our sins. Simple. Again, there is no harm in praying and asking for what you want. But, know that God has a righteous plan that is set and intended for the good of all people.

Now the question is, do you trust God’s plan?

 

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A Higher Loyalty

Have you every questioned someone’s loyalty? Quite discomforting, isn’t it? The sheer torture of dealing with the fact that someone dear to you may not have your best interest in mind, especially when it counts the most. How do you find out for certain? Do you test them to see where their allegiance truly lies or do you just trust?

Some people just trust that the person is indeed loyal and most of the time, that loyalty is reciprocal. But, most people would test. And some people suffer a bit of disappointment when those results are revealed. Sure, you may say ‘At least now I know the truth’ or ‘Well, that’s a load off’, but you are still disappointed.

And what about you? Who or what has your absolute allegiance?

My sons and I were reading about Paul of Tarsus’ last letter to Timothy and the churches in 2 Timothy. One of the most touching parts of the letter comes when Paul says his goodbye knowing he is about to be put to death. This part shows that Paul is so certain that his placed unequivocal faith in Christ and that his loyalty to the gospel of Christ has been unquestionable that he is at peace with dying.

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:6-8

It brings tears to my eyes every time I read it. The verse made me wonder how many of us can say the same as Paul? How many of us can say that we have placed our unquestionable, untarnished, blind faith in Jesus Christ? How many of us can say that out loyalty is to Jesus? Could we too withstand being tortured, exiled, and even suffer death and remain loyal to God?

Have you trusted that it is Jesus Christ alone who is the way to the Kingdom of God?

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6

It is through Jesus Christ’s suffering and dying and been raised again from that brutal death that guarantees our destination is Heaven. That is, if you believe.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Have you trusted in Jesus, solely Jesus?

How loyal are you to that belief?

You are not trusting that your own merits, deeds, good intentions or love for humanity will get you to Heaven, but your faith in Jesus and only Jesus is the way.

If He chose to do so, would Jesus Christ question your loyalty? We cannot question His loyalty? He offered the gift of eternal peace and has never taken it away. Can we say the same about our faith in Him?

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

John 8:36