According to Ecclesiastes 3:1, everything has a season.  The problem is so many of us feel as though we have more “things” than we have seasons.  Every day there is something vying for our attention.  For most of us, there are several things demanding our time and attention – our spouses, our children, the house, the laundry, our boss, errands, more family members, friends, and you name it.  Our To-Do lists get so long and tight that often we fail to have that special time with God or that time gets hurried – sometimes we don’t even have time for ourselves.  So, what’s a body to do?

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There are numerous ways to learn the books of the Bible as well as anything else.  I like to use clues to help me remember things. 

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It's Monday, Again

I’ve heard the question on numerous occasions, “What good does prayer do?”  Keep in mind that we are not praying to a genie in a bottle who grants our every wish irrespective of how foolish the request.  We are not praying to a puppet on a string over which we have complete control.  If you think about it – would you want that anyway?  I wouldn’t.

In order to answer the first question, we must pose a second question.  When we come before God in prayer, do we focus on His hand or do we focus on His face?  In other words, do we delight in Him or in what He can do for us?  Once that question is answered, then we will know the answer to the first question, “What good does prayer do?”

When we come before the Lord in prayer, is it a shopping list of ‘gimmies’?  Do we think of all the ‘stuff’ God can give us?

Prayers that center on God’s hand are laced with, “Lord, I want more money,” but never, “Lord, give me the wisdom to be a wise steward and manage that with which you have already blessed me.”  These prayers solicit the hand of God to move on their behalf – “Lord, give me a brand new car,” but not, “Father, I need reliable transportation that I can afford.  I thank You for everywhere You’ve blessed me to be.”  We ask God to help us lose weight, but not for the willpower to push back from the table or visit the gym or take a walk after dinner instead of taking a nap.  We ask for a raise or promotion on our jobs, but not for God to give us the tenacity to study and learn the material that’s going to help us do better on our jobs and be deserving of a raise or promotion.  We ask God to make our marriages and family better, but the thought has yet to cross our minds to ask God to soften our hearts that we might demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit, first.

In contrast, those whose hearts are after God’s face want to please God with lives that are worthy to see His face in the end.  These prayers center on living a life that is pleasing to God in this life and into eternity.  The prayer that focuses on God’s face still asks to have needs met, but the greater purpose is asking the Father that we would be more like Him.  Indeed, those who seek God’s face delight themselves in Him.

God answers our prayers, always.  Sometimes, He says, “Yes.”  Sometimes, He says, “No.”  Sometimes, He says, “Not yet.”  In the meantime, as we seek His face in daily prayer, a transformation begins to occur: 

·       - Our prayer time becomes more of a praise time.  As we praise Him, the more peaceful we become.  The peace that passes all understanding becomes real to us. 
·       - We become more receptive to God’s Word and His heart.
·       - Our actions and thoughts begin to align with God’s Word.
·       - We yearn for more fellowship with the Father and find ourselves delighting in Him.
·       - We become ever ready for life’s battles.
·       - We get right with God.

In answering the original question of “What good does prayer do?”  if we are only seeking God’s hand, then my answer would be, beats me if I know the good that it does.  I’m sure it is of some good, but the jury is still out on that one.  However, if the goal is the seek God’s face, then, the benefits are endless!  To start, we become peaceful, receptive, aligned, we yearn for more of Him, we delight in Him, we become ever ready, and right with God.

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.”  Psalms 37:4  If we truly seek His face, He will gladly give us His hand.

Chardell P. Self, Ladydell Ministries 2011©, http://www.ladydellministries.org