“Praying To An Unknown God?”

Posted: November 1, 2011 in Christian Life, Prayer, Thanksgiving

One night a soldier was caught creeping back to his headquarters from the nearby woods. Taken before his commanding officer, the soldier was charged with communicating with the enemy. The man pleaded that he had gone into the woods to pray alone. “Then you better start praying right now!” roared the officer. “You never needed it so much!” Expecting certain death, the soldier knelt and poured out his soul in eloquent prayer. “You may go,” said the officer when the soldier had finished. “I believe your story. If you hadn’t drilled so often, you wouldn’t be doing so well under fire.”
Prayer. How well do you pray “on the spot”? To whom do you pray? Are your prayers limited to “asking and receiving”? Does your posture in prayer matter? How often have you prayed in the last twenty-four hours? Did you know that Christians have eight ways to communicate with God? [1]
Worship. This involves our adoration of God for who and what He is (Revelation 4:9, 10). To do this we must know something about the true and living God as He is revealed to us in His Word and through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ who was God manifested in human flesh (John 1:1-18; 4:24). His Divine attributes don’t change (Hebrews 13:8). But He doesn’t always have to keep on doing what He has done in the past. Consider the creation of the universe.
Praise. Tracing the benefit we received from God back to the attribute of God that was responsible for it is what is involved in this form of communication (Hebrews 13:15). God’s attributes include: goodness, righteousness, omnipotence, omniscience, truth, holiness, or love. He gives us good gifts because He is a good God who delights in the happiness of others (James 1:17).
Thanksgiving. This involves our expressions of gratitude to God for our past, present, and future benefits. Christians are told to give thanks for all things (Ephesians 5:20), in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18), and for all men (1 Timothy 2:1). This isn’t possible unless a Christian is “filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). Do you know what this entails? If not, ask us.
Supplication. This is simply a cry for help. It involves a request to God when the need or object isn’t fully known (Ephesians 6:18). Once the Christian has called upon God for His help, the believer must rely on God to answer his request in a way that God chooses to answer his prayer. He knows what we need and when we need it. He might answer with a yes, no, or wait.
Intercession. Surprising as it may be to some people, this form of communication with God involves making requests to God for or against known object or needs (1 Timothy 2:1; Romans 11:2). Vengeance belongs to God (Romans 12:19). Don’t take it into your own hands. Evil doers will be judged by God someday (Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:11-15). God wants human governments to protect its citizens from evil doers (Romans 13:1-7). Sadly, some rulers oppress their own people. “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan” (Proverbs 29:2). Those who rule over other people will be held accountable to God for the roles they played (Daniel 4:17, 25; See James 3:1). They should humble themselves before God and ask Him for wisdom as King Solomon did (1 Kings 3:9; Psalm 2; Proverbs 3:5, 6; James 1:5).
Asking. Praying “in Jesus’ name” doesn’t mean tacking these words to the end of your prayer and then expecting God to give you what you ask from Him. Rather it involves our asking God the Father for something in the “name of Jesus” or in the same way Jesus would ask were He asking something for us (John 14:13).
Confession. This involves the acknowledgment of our personal sins by naming them to God (1 John 1:9). We must be specific about our sins or lawlessness (1 John 3:4). It must be preceded by repentance (i.e., a change of mind). Confession of all our sins is not a condition for our salvation. We probably can’t remember them all. Personal faith in Christ, the God-man, through the Gospel is the only condition for our salvation. We must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins…and who rose again bodily from the dead on the third day (Acts 16:31; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8). Once saved, as the Holy Spirit brings our former sins to our mind, a Christian must confess them to God and to others against whom he has sinned (James 5:17).
Vowing. Although not often used, this form of communication with God involves our promise to accomplish a specific thing that the Holy Spirit has moved our hearts to do (James 5:15, 16). Those Christians who fail to keep their vows might experience ill health or other problems (1 Corinthians 11:30; Matthew 18:34).
Favors. Those who aren’t true Christians have no right to ask God for favors (1 John 3:10). Christians who deny Him (i.e., say “no” to the Lord) shouldn’t expect God to grant them favors either (2 Timothy 2:12). No one has a right to demand anything from God. That is blasphemy (1 Timothy 1:20). Beware of the “faith healers” who command God to do just as they tell Him to do.
Help. If you need to remind yourself to pray, tape the words “Pray Now” on the face of your wristwatch. As a believer communicates with God, his/her love for Him will increase and the burdens will get lighter. Discover how you can have and enjoy the peace of God that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:6, 7).
Thought. “Prayer doesn’t change things. God changes things in response to proper prayer.” [2]
Contact. Call us here or visit our web site at www.kelseypeach.com if you have questions or comments. We also have helpful information to help Christians grow and learn about the spiritual gift He has given to each Christian for service (1 Peter 4:10). Do you know what your gift is? [3] To receive future articles as they come out, click on “Follow.”