PRAYER, WHY BOTHER?

Self-promotion, vain repetition, empty rewards, and verbose pleading…it's the kind of prayer that Jesus disdains. In fact, those who practice such empty trumpeting He refers to as Hypocrites and the Heathens. And yet, when Jesus sought to teach us about prayer He did so on this very canvas. No doubt, when gazing into the mirror of truth we may find the same polluted waters flowing from our own hearts. We would do well to learn from the misdirected behavior of those whom Jesus speaks of. Truth be known, we all too often share many of the same self-promoting tendencies.

PRAYER TO A FATHER

Contrary to this, Jesus taught that when we pray, we should do so as one to a Father, but not merely a Father, a Father who already knows my needs before I even utter a single syllable! Before the words, “Dear Lord” leaves our tongue; my Father already knows the deepest and most intimate needs of my life. However, this begs the question, “Why pray if my Father already knows my needs?” The simple answer is that we are commanded to throughout scripture; however, far too few of us operate on a “God said it, that settles it” mentality. We are quite compelled by our own bumper sticker theology and insist that there must be some logical reason for me to believe it before the matter is settled. (God said it, “I believe it”, that settles it)

Therefore, God in His gracious condescension has provided what I believe to be ample reason to pray to Him who knows every minute detail of my life including my most pressing needs. The key, I believe is in the phrase, “your Father who is in Heaven”. What right do I possess to refer to the creator of the universe as Father? What right do I possess to speak in familial terms to a God of no beginning and no end, who created the celestial bodies with just the spoken word? What right do I possess, a sinful and undone man, to call upon a most holy, unseen, and sovereign God with such an intimate title as “Father”?

The unequivocal answer to such questions is that my "right" is one of privilege not one of "merit". My access to God, through an avenue of paternal relationship, is made possible solely by the sacrifice of the only begotten Son. On this basis alone can we approach God, and in doing so, He does not relinquish His divine attributes, nor does he adjust His expectations, as the text reminds us, He is not merely “Father” but our Father in “Heaven”.

PRAYER TO A FATHER IN HEAVEN

In this single phrase, we find a marriage of intimacy and transcendence, the love and tenderness of our Father on one hand and the surpassing greatness of one who sleeps not on the other. For such a marriage of the comprehensible and the inconceivable could and would only be accomplished by one who delights in relationship. This is not to say that He needs a relationship with us but rather He delights in it. (Psalm 149:4)

Furthermore, as Proverbs 15:8 reminds us, the Lord despises the sacrifices of the wicked, and yet He delights in the prayers of the upright.

Therefore, the answer to the question before us, “Why pray to a God who knows all my needs” is quite simple. What more reason does one need than the knowledge that we, sinful, broken, helpless, hopeless humanity, have been purchased by blood and brought into the family of God as a joint heir with Christ. What more reason is needed that the knowledge that my Father who knows my deepest needs, who has made possible a life as a son and daughter, delights in hearing my voice as it acknowledges in deep humility my dependence, gratitude, and longing for His will in my life.

One author says it this way, “—“Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.” Common-sense says, “Then why ask Him?” Prayer is not getting things from God, that is a most initial stage; prayer is getting into perfect communion with God; I tell Him what I know He knows in order that I may get to know it as He does. Jesus says, “Pray because you have a Father, not because it quietens you, and give Him time to answer.” If the life of Jesus is formed in me by regeneration and I am drawing my breath in the fear of the Lord, the Son of God will press forward in front of my common-sense and change my attitude to things.[1]

4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.  (Galatians 4:4-7 (NASB95)) [2]

[1]Chambers, O. (1996, c1960). Studies in the sermon on the mount. Hants UK: Marshall, Morgan & Scott.

[2]New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.