Have You Prayed About It?
Prayer is an essential part of a Christian’s life. It’s even been said Christians should be addicted to prayer. But how and why do we pray?
We are estimated to make more than 35,000 decisions a day or roughly 2,000 decisions per hour. Most of those are unconscious and have become so ingrained in our daily routine that we don't even notice them after a few seconds (like your decision to keep reading this blog)
When faced with life decisions, you have a straightforward question: Have you prayed about it?
Deception comes in differing ways. Lies aren't always fancy words dressed to appease you. If the adversary does not defeat you by coming as a devouring lion, he will try again as a deceiving serpent. John 8:44 says that Satan is the father of lies. He is the Master of Deception. The enemy will tell you lies because he wants to see your relationship with God ruined.
Satan is no fool. You don't earn the title of Master of Deception by playing children's games. He's cunning and will make it appear that you're doing the right thing but doing so without Christ. He was at church this past Sunday, and he'll be there this upcoming Sunday. When we let our guard down and begin to think we have things under control, that's the first sign that we've been deceived.
In today's scripture, we see Joshua and the Israelites conned by a group of foreign ambassadors. The Gibeonites lied about where they came from, who they were, their prestige, willingness to serve the Israelites, and honoring God. Their lies were born of self-protection because they feared the Israelites. Had Joshua taken the time to pray about the situation, he would've known it was a trick. However, because they failed to pray, they made a covenant with a group they had no business being in business with.
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it shall be given to him." (James 1:5)
Can God Be Limited?
"And they limited the Holy One of Israel." (Psalm 78:41)
God's wise and benevolent purposes are often frustrated. We limit God with our lack of trust and understanding. When we turn to others or our knowledge, instead of prayer, to process decision-making, we limit our reliance on God and His powers. I know it sounds simple, but for us to pray for discernment is no small task. It can make the difference in deception versus deliberation.
Although we have access to God's wisdom as Christians, this isn't something we automatically possess. Instead, it's something we must diligently seek repeatedly and often. With so much vying for our attention and seeking to distract, deter, discourage and dissuade, every Christian should be praying for spiritual discernment. This mindset comes when we pleadingly pray and set our focus on scripture.
Charles Spurgeon once said that "We should become addicted to prayer as Christians." When you take a step back, you recognize that the essential things in our lives are the things we dedicate with our prayers.
True faith involves exercising patience. Hebrews 6:12 tells us that whoever believes will not act hastily. But in their haste, Joshua made a covenant with the enemy that could've been avoided. They walked by sight and not by faith. After listening to the strangers' speech and examining the evidence, the leaders concluded that these men were telling the truth. The leaders of Israel took the scientific approach instead of the spiritual approach. They depended on their senses. It was all very logical and convincing, but it was all wrong.
God is Not Your Genie
When troubles loom, do you seek manmade options and opinions in place of taking your concerns to God? The will of God comes from the heart of God, and we should not see His will like customers who look at options in a supermarket. Instead, we should see it like servants who listen to orders.
When we view our relationship as a supermarket, we limit God's power in our lives. That mentality believes God is a genie who answers all our requests and desires. But that's not how God operates. It's not about what we want but what God wants for us. Therefore, as believers, we should seek His orders for our life.
We live in enemy territory, and daily deceptions are thrown at us. In Proverbs 3:5-6, we are instructed to lean not unto our understanding but in all our ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct our paths.
God doesn't want us making commitments and loyalties to people and organizations who will deceive us. When we are lured into a false promise, we will be separated from God. Things may seem swell, but that could be the deceiver's lie.
God's orders may seem illogical at the time, but they will always be the right decisions. Think about the Israelites a few chapters earlier in Joshua. They were instructed to:
Wander the desert for 40 years.
Cross an impassable river.
Take a city by marching around it.
The only way to make sense of our life and be guarded against deception is to seek the counsel of the Lord to discover His presence, control, guidance, and knowledge.
Two Attitudes for Prayer
1) Adoration
Christian minister and author Max Lucado said, "God meets our needs one day at a time."
When we adore God, we want to be in communion with Him. We want to pray and seek His glory. His presence has transformed our lives. Being obedient isn't so difficult when we pursue His will.
If you're unsure how to pray, gratitude is a great start. But, remembering that God is not a genie, how can you turn your questions and decision into praises?
2) Posture
Three ministers discussed the best way to pray one day when a telephone repairman entered the room.
The first minister believed the best way to pray was to bow on one's knees. The second minister said he prayed best when standing on his feet with his eyes turned toward heaven. The third man felt that the most effective position for prayer was sitting with the head bowed and the eyes closed.
Finally, the telephone repairman interrupted the conversation. He said, "I found that the most powerful prayer I ever made was while dangling upside down by my heels from a power pole forty feet above the ground."
In the Bible, we see people at prayer on their knees, on their feet, on their beds, and in their chariots. We see them praying while hiding in a cave or riding in a big fish. Our Lord prayed while kneeling in the Garden of Gethsemane while standing by the tomb of Lazarus and while suspended on the cross of Calvary.
It isn't the body's position but the posture of the heart that makes our prayers powerful in God's sight. God has commanded us to pray always, pray everywhere, and pray in everything.
TL;DR
When faced with life decisions, you have a straightforward question: Have you prayed about it?
Deception comes in differing ways. Lies aren't always fancy words dressed to appease you.
When we turn to others or our knowledge, instead of prayer, to process decision-making, we limit our reliance on God and His powers.
We should become addicted to prayer as Christians.
God is not our genie. It's not about what we want but what God wants for us.
Two attitudes for prayer
Adoration
Posture
Related Reading
How to Deal With Anxiety by William Merriman
How to Remember Your Blessings by Bro. Chris Carter
Feeling Stuck in a Rut?by Bro. Chris Carter
About Christ Church Memphis
Christ Church Memphis is church in East Memphis, Tennessee. For more than 65 years, Christ Church has served the Memphis community. Every weekend, there are multiple worship opportunities including traditional, contemporary and blended services.