Prayer.
To some, a beautiful word. To others, a begrudging task.
I’m currently reading through the book of Numbers in the Bible. It was written by Moses a very, very long time ago. Yeah, I know what you are going to say. Numbers? What can you get out of the book of Numbers? If that is you, then my first challenge of the day is for you to try it. My favorite verse of the Bible is Psalms 34:8- “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” If you never taste, you’ll never know what you’re missing. Trust me, the Lord’s path is delicious, and my walk through the book of Numbers has been nothing short of enlightening. I’ve really learned a lot this time through. I could probably write a whole book on what we, as a people, could learn by gleaning from the Israelite’s mistakes. At their misfortune, at least we can find out what NOT to do in life. There are also big lessons written in Numbers about God’s incredible relationship he was trying to foster with his children. Of course, the giant elephant in the room is the subject of obedience, something God’s people lacked, and Numbers drives that point home deep and hard. After reading it this time, I can now see that the book of Numbers is also a book that shows us how to pray, and the importance of solid one-on-one relationship with God. One thing in particular jumped out at me the other night.
Before I get that far, for those of you struggling with prayer, maybe it is because you see little results. I’ve had periods of my life that I’ve struggled in that way myself. We are human, aren’t we? We tend to invest into things in which we will be rewarded. If we don’t see results, we tend to lose steam on the investment end.
There were many times in my life when I put the time in. I made the effort to be faithful to talk with God. I made a list and ran down through it, reminding the Lord why he needed to listen to me about each item. I expected results on my timetable. Again, it was silly. But aren’t we all like that? If the condition of your prayer list looks about the same as your shopping list, you are not alone. I’ve been there, done that. God has seen my list. I’ve used it until it was wrinkled and torn.
Are we missing something?
If prayer time is not supposed to be a shopping list, then what should prayer look like?
It was just this week that I was spending some time with someone when they told me that they didn’t know how to pray. I thought about it for a second; it seemed like such an interesting question. What would I say? I’m not a zealot that is so high-minded to think that I’m the only person on earth who knows how to pray. I don’t think I have it mastered yet either. I have so much to learn myself. But naturally, the answer just came out. Well. . . you just do this: I proceeded to pray in the terms and language I usually speak when I pray. I don’t use “Thee’s and Thou’s,” that would be silly, wouldn’t it? I have never called a friend on the phone and used those terms talking with him or her, so I don’t suppose prayer should be any different. I don’t change the intonation of my voice or composure. I don’t use the deepest voice I can muster up. No, I simply talk to God the same as I would talk to a best friend. Why? Because God is my best friend!
How does Jesus tell us to pray?
John 14:12-14
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
In his name? What on earth does that mean?
This is where the shopping list comes in.
If the time we set aside to spend with the Lord is only a reiteration of our shopping list, the long-itemized checklist that we feel is desperately essential to the ears and heart of God, then how on earth would we ever figure out what is something that qualifies as “in his name?”
We could go into the theology of it. Or we could skip to the point.
If you were to ask me for something “in my name,” then you would be asking me something that falls into the typical realm of my own character, my values, my perspective, my desires, and quite frankly, the things that I would be wanting to give you anyways. To ask me for something in my name would mean to petition me for something I’m already about to do, about ready to give you, due to my love and affection for you. Sometimes I’d want to give you that thing because it would be the best thing for you.
God is really good at doing this.
Let’s play a game; it’s an illustration, really.
If you came to my house and asked me for a carton of ice cream, would you likely get it? Of course! I love ice cream and readily have it available. I go on runs and buy ice cream when it’s on sale. One day I saw a great price and bought so many cartons that my son Justin laughed and would hardly stand beside me at checkout. I love ice cream. I guess it’s my thing. I eat ice cream because it tastes good. It brings a smile out on the face of people young and old. I eat ice cream to be social with others. I love to have people over, ask them if they want ice cream, and bedazzle them with as many flavors as possible. My favorite is Moose Tracks, but you rarely can find that at a store.
I’m a graduate of Penn State University. For those of you who have had their ice cream, well. . . enough said, the case is closed. There is nothing like Penn State Creamery ice cream. On one occasion, while visiting the University, I bought so many cartons of Penn State ice cream that I could hardly carry them to the counter. I struggled and labored to get them all set up for the clerk to scan, only to turn around and see our two oldest boys laughing and taking pictures of me from the side. They thought it was hysterical. Hardee-har-har, boys.
Anyways, I said all that to get to this: if you came and asked me for ice cream you most likely would get it. It’s really simple, actually. It’s in my nature. It’s a piece (although a funny one) of me, and I like to share it. It’s more or less “in my name.” It’s how I like to show my love and care for others.
If in the same way, let’s take this message into the realm of prayer. If you don’t come to God with a shopping list, but instead simply reach for the heart of God and ask him for something he most likely would love to do for you anyway, the chances of receiving that prayer in those terms are high.
Here’s the account in Numbers that stood out to me:
Numbers 21
When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive. And Israel vowed a vow to the Lord and said, “If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction.” And the Lord heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction. So the name of the place was called Hormah.
Beautiful, isn’t it?
I read that verse and was like wow! They nailed it. They finally got to the heart of God. But what was different? Why was God so eager to answer that prayer? Why did God jump on this prayer and seem to halt or hit the pause button on others? Does he do the same for us?
Well let’s think of what happened. Did God already declare to Moses that they were to go in to the conquest of Caanan and wipe out the other nations already living there? Didn’t the Israelites already know God’s desire for them to receive his blessings? Didn’t God order them to do this long ago?
Remember, prayer is relationship. Prayer is spending time together. Prayer is nurturing the special thing you have going for you, that unique place where you and God commune without the interference of other noise. This prayer, the prayer the Israelites uttered up to God may have seemed like a desperate plea for help at the time, but in reality, it was what God desired for them all along.
If you knew God’s heart, would your prayer life change?
My challenge for you today, is that at least for a little bit, put your shopping list down. Instead of the usual rhetoric. . . just show God your heart. Let him show you his. When we become closer to him, then we realize what he wants for us. Become so close to him that you don’t need to ask. In these moments of intimacy and prayer, we can reach the heart of God and find out what is in his name. Sometimes it’s what we would want to begin with, sometimes it’s something else, something for our own good. But when we align ourselves with him, his desires, his heart, his name. . .
You will be amazed how fast God will release the answer you are looking for.
Pray today, “in his name,” and let your prayer life be transformed.
By Chuck Carr