Don’t Give Up!
August 30, 2019
If you read Four Weeks, you noticed a lot of content on prayer. This topic was a bit of an obsession with me for many years. (What am I saying? It still is an obsession!) Just ask most of my friends and family members. I asked the ones that I knew were inclined to pray these kinds of questions: “How do you pray? What do you pray for? Did you think your prayers were successful?” I got mixed responses.
In addition to my “highly scientific” survey, I read books on prayer, scanned the Bible for examples of prayer, and attended many prayer groups. The goal was to get better at it, to be more effective in my prayer life. I have certainly become more effective in my prayer life, and I intend to share with you some of the things I learned in the next few blog posts. (See the first post in this series, “Pray First, Act Second” here.)
One very important thing I learned about prayer was not to give up on it. There are several reasons why people give up on prayer. One reason is they never learned how to do it in the first place. Or they are so intimidated – afraid they will say the wrong thing or violate some prayer protocol – they never try to pray in the first place. I have done this.
Another reason people give up is that their prayers appeared to be ineffective. This response often follows a deep disappointment where their best efforts at prayer didn’t stop a disaster from happening – the relationship ended anyway, the cancer took the loved one, the ministry failed. They haven’t gotten results, so they conclude prayer doesn’t work, and they quit wasting their time on it. I have done this.
There is another type of “giving up” in prayer that we don’t always recognize for what it is. The people who pray like this think they are praying correctly, but actually, they have just given up. I am talking about the use of the phrase “Thy will be done.” This is often tagged on to the end of legitimate petition to God for divine intervention in a situation. Like this:
“Father God, please intervene tomorrow and allow the judge to be lenient with my son. His heart has really changed, so let the judge see that. But, if you think he should go to jail to learn a lesson, then thy will be done. Amen.”
This seems like a good, humble, submitted prayer, but it is not. It is a “giving up” prayer. The person who prayed this prayer just gave up, even before the word “Amen” left their lips. They knew what they wanted, but they didn’t know God well enough to be confident of what God’s will was for their situation. So, instead of finding out what God wanted and praying in line with His known will, they just threw up their hands and essentially said “Whatever, God. Your ways are unknowable, so You figure it out and I’ll just accept whatever outcome.” I can assure you this is a very ineffective prayer. Why do I know this? Because I have done this. But, I don’t anymore.
We can’t be lazy when it comes to prayer. We have to figure out what God’s will is in that situation and pray according to it. The problem with our prayers is not God. The problem is always us: our approach, our level of faith, our knowledge of God. How do you find out what the will of God is for your situation? You go to the Bible and find it. If you are not really familiar with the Bible, here is a way to get started:
Imagine in your head what a totally loving, merciful, gracious God would want to happen in your situation. Think of the words that describe your ideal outcome or the details of the situation. In our example of the son before the judge, these words might be: mercy, compassion, pity, forgiveness, a second chance, truth, hope, children, rebellion, return, restore, etc. Hint: Ask God to help you think of words about your situation.
Go to a bible app or website that allows you to search the Bible for different phrases or words. I use Bible Gateway, but there are a lot out there. Selecting different bible versions as you search is helpful, too. I frequently use King James Version (KJV), New King James Version (NKJV), The Amplified Bible Classic (AMPC), and New International Version (NIV). I know a lot of people who also use The Message (MSG) and the New Living Translation (NLT).
Search for the words you imagined above. Read the verses that the search app brings up. Then, go to the Bible and look that verse up and read it in context. Keep at this until you find the verse(s) that ring true for your situation. You will “know” when you have found the verse(s) that are most appropriate. It is your loving God’s will that mercy, truth, and compassion reign. God will not ignore justice, but He will show mercy (see 1 Kings 21:17-29 or Jonah 3:5-10).
Insert the verse(s) you found into your petition to God. Boldly remind Him of what His Word says and ask for what you want. If you have accepted Jesus as the Lord of your life, you have a right to come boldly to the throne room with your petition and have Jesus mediate with the Father on your behalf. See Hebrews 4:16. Don’t pretend to be too humble to ask God for what you want. Put it out there plainly.
Going back to the example of asking God to intervene with the judge on behalf of a son, here are some applicable verses:
Psalm 145:8 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy.
Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
John 8:10-11 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Isaiah 49:25 But thus says the Lord: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, And the prey of the terrible be delivered; For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children.
Below is an example of a prayer that is more in line with the known will of God. This prayer is much more effective and will bring the one who prays it much more peace.
“Father God, Your Word says that you are gracious, full of compassion, and ready to show mercy. I am asking you to intervene in the court proceedings tomorrow that the judge will see my son’s change of heart, that the truth of this situation will be fully known, and that the judge will show unmerited favor towards my son. Just as Jesus did not impose the just punishment on the women caught in adultery, grant the same mercy to my son. Your Word says that you will save my children and return them from captivity. I believe Your Word. I praise you in advance for a favorable outcome tomorrow. I thank you that my son is walking with you and that you have a plan for his life. In Jesus’s name, I pray these things. Amen.”
DON’T GIVE UP!
This is the second post in our ongoing series on prayer. Click here for the first post, “Pray First, Act Second”, and here for the third post, “Boosting Prayer with Meditation”. Thank you for following along!
