“…what if … just WHAT IF … God’s purpose for prayer was different from yours?”

“I don’t think I’m following you.”

“What if … what YOU want out of prayer … is different from what GOD wants you to get out of prayer? What if your idea of prayer isn’t God’s idea and purpose for the two of you in prayer? Do you think it would affect your view of prayer? Would it change the way you prayed, or would it stifle you from praying? Would you accept HIS purpose of prayer even if it was completely different than the conventional idea of prayer that you have held for years?” [from my book:  A Reason to Pray at Mountainview]

The novel’s main character–Mark Terrell– has his understanding of the purpose of prayer challenged. The intent is to put a spotlight on Mark’s definition of prayer and more importantly his understanding and belief of who God is. If we do not have a correct understanding of who God is, then you’ll miss His purposes for doing what He is doing, and that includes what He is doing with and in our prayers. This chapter will focus on a biblical view of prayer that is based on a correct view and understanding of God … and man.

How do we form our ideas and beliefs about God? What are our beliefs about His ways—why He does this or that, or not take this action or that action? For most people common sources are childhood stories and lessons; the personal views of relatives like parents or grandparents; books and movies; sermons; personal preferences of what we want to believe, what we want God to be and not be; and … well … the list can go on and on. Basically, personal theology is formed from a melting pot of ideas and preferences. When we think about it, does that sound like a safe and reliable place to rest our faith and relationship with God?

Unless the impurities/falsehoods are removed from our melting pot, our ideas of God are at best a mixture of bits and pieces of truth, half-truths, superstitions, and presumptions. The outcome is a golden calf molded into a god made to our liking that will serve us or ignore us. That doesn’t sound encouraging, but that is the theology that our sinful nature will create by default. Think of the first two of the Ten Commandments. They warn us of the default idol-making tendencies of our hearts.

Exodus 20:3–4 — “You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;

Throughout the Old and New Testament we are warned and instructed about creating false gods from our imagination. John Calvin bluntly put it:

Man’s mind is like a store of idolatry and superstition; so much so that if a man believes his own mind it is certain that he will forsake God and forge some idol in his own brain.

We also make an idol when we attempt to use God for our own purposes, rather than to give ourselves to God’s will and purposes. Drop this definition of idolatry into the subject of prayer. If any of our prayers attempt to get God to work out our purposes, plans, and desires above His, then we … (finish the end of the sentence).

Mark Terrell’s misunderstanding of the nature and character of God created a misunderstanding of the Gospel, and thus an erroneous Gospel—what Jesus Christ did for him; of the faithful love of God towards and for him; and of the purpose and rewards of prayerful fellowship with God the Father. Bad theology produces bad, unhealthy fruit. Right theology produces life and godliness with God in Christ. Right theology unfolds the truth of who God is, what He has done, is doing, and will do.

Point 1:

Theology defines everything you believe and therefore your perceptions, and hopes. It influences your decisions and thus your actions. If your understanding of God and the relationship between you and God is off center, then your definition and practice of prayer is off center. Yet, to say it bluntly, how much time and effort do we put towards developing a sound biblical theology? I am not suggesting signing up for seminary courses, but examining your what you believe about God and the relationship that Jesus Christ has secured for you. I am suggesting pressing forward to ensure that WHAT you believe about God is biblical. That is the starting place for biblical prayer. Too often prayer is based on feelings or what we want God to be for us. The sad news about that is, we don’t know our great and wonderful God. And we fall short of enjoying Him in the relationship that He as make possible for us through Christ Jesus.

Part II of this blog – A biblical definition of prayer that begins and ends with God.