And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking. ~Matthew 6:7 (AMP)
We all need to have confidence in a simple, believing prayer. We need to know in our hearts that prayer is just a conversation with God. It’s important that we understand that even if we say, "God, help me," He hears and will answer. We can depend on God to be faithful to do what we have asked Him to do, as long as our request is in accordance with His will. Too often we get caught up in our own works and a lot of legalism concerning prayer. We think if we do this or if we do that then God will do what we ask Him to do, but that isn’t how the Lord says He operates. He tells us in 1 John 5:14-15 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.” (NIV) It’s not as difficult as some might think to ask according to God’s will because God’s word and His will are one. But we do need to remember there is a season between sowing a reaping. You don’t plant a pecan tree seed in the ground and then go out the next day and harvest a crop of pecans. There has to be time for the tree to grow and develop and mature, just as we need time to grow and develop and mature. Sometimes we ask God for things we are not ready to receive. Oh, we think we are ready, but it takes a lot of character to walk in integrity and we really don’t know what kind of fruit or character we have in us until we feel some pressure of waiting. You might be asking God to build or restore a relationship in your life, and you might think you would be the happiest person in the world if God did, but you just can’t seem to not “bump heads” with those who don’t see things the same way you do. Maybe you have trouble with being patient, so God is going to help you with your character before He brings you into a relationship that you can't handle emotionally. We should thank the Lord for not letting us put the cart before the horse when it comes to maturity. God tells us in James 1:4 “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (NIV) The Lord promises to answer our prayers but we need to be prepared for Him to do that in His time and in His way.
Just because God isn’t going to always do things when and how we want Him to does not mean we should stop praying. Lots of people get mad at God because when they don’t get what they want they think He isn’t listening or even worse, they think they need to put a little religion in their prayers, like the Gentiles do, thinking they will be heard for their “much speaking”. Let your prayers be a simple conversation with your Heavenly Father. That’s who He is you know. The length or volume or eloquence of our prayer is not what is important to God, it is the humility and sincerity of your heart that counts with Him. The Lord says man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. He sees past our words and directly to what is motivating them. Ask God to show you if your motivations do not line up with His will. Ask God to help you to want what He wants for your life. His plan is much better than anything we can come up with. Let God transform your hearts desires to line up with His heart’s desires. We don’t need to try to impress God with our knowledge or persuasiveness when we go to Him in prayer. He already sees us as amazing because He sees us in Christ who has redeemed us and covered us with His blood. Go to God with a grateful heart today full of faith in His great love for you and trust that He hears every prayer!
The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous. ~Proverbs 15:29 (NIV)
Do you have trouble waiting for the Lord to answer your prayers?
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