What is the role of prayer in a believer's life? What exactly should the role of
prayer be in a God follower's life? Does God answer all prayers? What if God never
answered one of your prayers? Would you still pray? Many people wrestle with, not only
these questions, but many others in reference to praying.
The priority of
prayer must be the "glory of God." After all, it is to God that we pray. He is
the one that came up with the idea of praying. Therefore, God should receive glory from
the prayers you pray. Anything short of the glory of God seems to fall short of the
priority of prayer.
An ancient writer wrote, "whether you eat or drink or
whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
This writer seemed
to take the most mundane and basic elements of life to show that you should strive to
reflect glory to God in all that you do, even, in the most humblest daily routines of
life.
Now the
question is this, "How do you glorify God in your prayers?" That makes sense,
doesn't it? If the priority is to glorify God in praying, how do you do that? There is one
predominate answer to that question. You glorify God in your prayers through being
obedient to pray according to the will of God. Another ancient writer wrote that if you
pray anything according to God's will He, God, hears and answers that prayer.
Praying according to God's will is so much more relaxing
than trying to change God's mind about a problem or situation that you are encountering.
After all, how many people are able to change the mind of God? I don't suppose too many
can do that, if any. Come to think about it, I don't think I have ever heard of anyone
changing God's mind. It is so much better to find out what He wants you to pray and, then,
pray accordingly.
Life can be a great adventure, far more rewarding, and fun as you
find out what God is up to, so that, you can join Him, rather, than trying to get God
convinced to join you.
One might ask, "If prayer is for God, can we still pray to
get things from God?" The answer, of course, is yes, but not like a rich grandfather
in Heaven pouring out all kinds of gifts as we ask for them.
You should pray expecting God to answer your prayers, but
perhaps, the priority of praying will cause each one to consider his prayers before
praying them. It is a good thing to review your requests prior to asking God for them.
Pray is a serious activity, certainly, not one to take lightly. Prayer is a great
privilege, even, a great responsibility.
Someone has said, "The giver always gets the
glory." This seems to be a true statement. As you discern what God wants to do in a
situation, pray, and expect God to answer. When the answers arrive, give God the glory.
