WHY DO WE HAVE PROBLEMS IN PRAYER?
Matthew 7:7-11

Before we leave this particular section of the Sermon on the Mount, I think we need to ask ourselves the reasons why we struggle so with prayer.  It is certainly not for a lack of reading about prayer because literally dozens of volumes on prayer line the shelves of the Christian bookstores.  It is not because we lack information about prayer because pastors encourage us to pray.  So, what is the trouble?  I think it all comes down to our attitude about prayer.

For many believers, prayer is so unseemly.  It can best be expressed with the question, Why pray?  Why is God’s giving dependent upon our asking?  Certainly it is not because He is ignorant of our needs until we inform Him, for we read these words from Isaiah, It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear (Isaiah 65:24).  It is also not because God is reluctant to answer our prayers until we have persuaded Him.  Friends, God does want to bless His children with all His resources in heaven.  So, why pray?  Prayer is our way of being ready to receive from God.  It is the acknowledgement of our dependence upon Him.  The great Norwegian theologian, Ole Hallesby, wrote one of the best definitions of prayer, stating, To pray is nothing more involved than to let Jesus into our needs.  To pray is to give Jesus permission to employ His powers in the alleviation of our distress.  I sure like that definition.

For still other believers, prayer is unnecessary.  It can be summed up with the question, What about Joe?  We look around us and see people getting along fine without prayer.  Yes, God does send the rain upon the just and the unjust.  Yes, God does provide health for the believer and the unbeliever.  God supplies these things because He is the Creator of all.  But does that give us cause to forget the blessings that God gives to us as our Father?  What about salvation?  What about forgiveness?  What about peace and hope and love? 

Finally, for still others, prayer is unproductive, being stated with the following question:  Why don’t I see answers?  Friends, God always answers our prayers.  It is just that He may choose not to answer them in a way we desire.  There is a scene in the movie Shadowlands where C.S. Lewis prays for God to heal Joy, his beloved wife, and God does not.  Did that mean that Lewis’ prayer did not work?  Did that mean that God did not answer?  Of course not!  Because of that experience, Lewis was able to write a book of his thoughts entitled A Grief Observed that God has used to bring encouragement to many who are suffering. 

It is time for us to throw our reasons for ineffective prayer out the window.  It is time for us to draw near to God through prayer so that He might empower us to live the abundant life He has given to us. 

Father, We certainly have a lot of feeble excuses for our ineffective prayer lives.  Thank You for these words of Jesus that give us hope and promise through prayer.  Make us bold in our praying.  For we ask this in the name of Jesus.  Amen.   

 

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