Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
As we settle into the new year, I would encourage those who have difficultly praying to make a concerted effort to develop a vibrant prayer life. For those already in the habit of prayer, keep it up! Prayer is a means of grace for the people of God, and it should characterize the life of the Christian. The admonition to “pray without ceasing” is stated elsewhere as “be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12), “continue steadfastly in prayer” (Colossians 4:2), and “praying at all times” (Eph 6:18). In every passage, the point is the same. We should live our lives in an attitude and posture of prayer, ever ready to commune with the Lord in praise, petition, gratitude, intercession, and so on.
As the passages listed above affirm, consistent, faithful prayer should typify God’s people in every age. However, in these distressing days of increasing darkness and hostility from the world, prayer is essential to leading a steadfast life free of anxiety. In the first century, the saints at Philippi had paid dearly for their commitment to the faith. Many had been impoverished for their allegiance to Christ and ostracized by the loyal, Caesar worshipping citizens of this Roman colony. Some were facing fierce opposition, ridicule, and even physical persecution. Paul tells these saints to stand firm and united for the faith of the Gospel. They need not fear the opposition (Philippians 1: 27-28). Later, in a series of admonitions, Paul tells them to be anxious for nothing. Rather, they should, with thanksgiving, submit every concern to God in prayer. Having surrendered these concerns to the Sovereign will of God, their hearts and minds would then be guarded from anxiety by a peace that transcends all human understanding. Instead of worrying and obsessing over their concerns, they would be free to set their minds on better things by meditating on God and His goodness (4:6-8). Prayer that strengthens our trust in God is a remedy for the plague of anxiety.
Confusion over the necessity of prayer is often attributable to a misunderstanding of the purpose and effectiveness of prayer. A common objection is, “Didn’t Jesus say, ‘your Father knows what you need before you ask!’” (Matthew 6:8)? What can I tell God that He doesn’t already know? Of course, the answer is nothing. But in the context of Christ’s words, He was warning against pagan attitudes of prayer in which repetitious words were thought to move the deity. They looked at their prayers as some kind of formula. Saying the right words again and again would command the attention of their gods. Jesus says they think they will be heard for the abundance of their words. This is the context in which our Lord gives us a pattern for prayer.
Another common objection concerns God’s sovereignty. If God has already ordained whatsoever comes to pass and His will is immutable, what can my prayers possible accomplish? We will address these and other issues in upcoming posts.
A lasting commitment to prayer that doesn’t degenerate into mere duty, an attempt to manipulate God, or a notion of meritorious works requires thinking properly about prayer. What do you think of prayer? Reflect on the following questions:
- Is prayer important?
- Is prayer worthwhile?
- Is prayer necessary?
- Does prayer make a difference?
- What should I expect from prayer?
- How should I pray?
- What should my prayers look like?
Over the next several posts I will address how the Scripture answers such question. In our next post we will consider the objection, “If God is sovereign, why should I pray?”
