Psalm 41
Today I would like to start with the question, 'Why do we want our prayers to be answered?'
I believe that how we answer that question is a pretty good indicator on whether or not our prayers will be answered. In Psalm 41 David lays ill before God and he prays that his illness might be lifted off of him, and while he seems to start in a good place, I don't believe that he ends in one. In the end David says that the reason he wants this illness lifted off of him is so that he can repay his enemies and friends words and deeds. In essence David says, bless me Lord so I can lord it over another.
Give me a bigger house so that way people will know I'm better than them.
Give me the promotion so that way I can put my co-workers in their place.
Give me the girl/boy so that way the class bully will be jealous.
We pray prayers like this all too often and we wonder why our prayers never seem to be answered, but our prayers aren't this exaggerated so we don't seem to realize the absurdity of them. It would be so much better if they were this exaggerated, so that way we wouldn't delude ourselves into thinking that we have pure motives when we do not.
Asking for healing is not the problem for David, or for us, but what we, and David, need to pray is for healing so that we can accomplish what God has for us to accomplish. We need to pray to be blessed so that God will get the glory for our blessings. We need to pray for opportunities so that way God may use us in new ways. We need to pray for relationships in order to spread the love of God to those who are in need of it. Changing the attitude of request changes the altitude of response, because we may get our way when we are selfish, but it is not God answering our prayers.
+ What type of prayers do you pray?
+ Why do you want your prayers answered?
p.s. don't get me wrong, having the right attitude does not guarantee that our prayers will be answered, if it guarantees anything it is that we will begin voicing the right prayers in the first place
Kenny, I know you don't mean it this way but why do, ministers especially, always point out that our prayers may not be answered. I believe there is a right attitude and that starts with believing and having faith that God will take care of us. I think most people fail to speak of how God does answer our prayers yes the way we want sometimes and instead dwell on the negative that our prayers may not be answered. -elisa
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