What is prayer? This is a good a question I got to thinking about. Of course there is no specific way we have to pray, but I think people think praying means God has to give you something if you pray about it. People also think that if you word what you are asking for a certain way God will have to give it to you. Another misconception is that you only pray when times are hard.
God does not work like this.
I was talking to my friends about something in my life which I have been praying about for a while. I was saying how God has not necessarily answered me with the answer that I wanted, but I know God has something bigger. This person asked me if I prayed and asked God to give me exactly what I wanted. No, I have not, because it is all in God's hands and what he wants to do. I know that if God is not answering me the way that I want it only means he has something more in store.
Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
I know what you are thinking, if I do not pray to get exactly what I want then why am I even praying? I am praying because I have a relationship with Jesus and just like in any other relationship I have to spend time with him to keep the relationship going. This means I do not only pray when times get tough. I pray because it brings me peace to give my worries to God. It takes weight off my shoulders to know that God has everything under control. When I pray instead of asking God for exactly what I want, I tell him what is going on and place it all in his hands. I tell God to do what ever he wishes with the situation in my life.
Jeremiah 29:11 "'For I know the plans I have for you' declares the LORD 'plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'"
Why am I so willing to give God so much control? I am willing to give God so much control because I know he will not do anything to harm me. It may seem like everything is going to come crashing down on me, but I know that God will not do that. I know that in my hard situations he is making everything new and even when he says no or not yet, I know God knows what he is doing. I place everything fully in God's hands without holding back because I trust him fully.
John 13:7 "Jesus replied, 'You do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand.'"
God has told me "no" and "not yet," many times through out my life. Every time he has given me these answers it has always been worth it. God has never put me is a situation where I was harmed. If anything, my faith has always been strengthened. God has always blown me away with his answers, especially when he has given me an answer other than what I wanted. God gets the glory when he does this. It is really important that we as humans give God all the glory in our lives. I pray to give God full control of everything in my life because I trust him with my whole heart.
