James wrote to struggling Christians about their quarreling. He rebuked them for it and for their selfish desires. He said, “You have not because you do not ask.” (James 4:2)
What is the secret to an abundant life, to spiritual health
and fruitfulness? What is the key to obtaining the blessings of God? I watch
people trying to obtain all the good things of life and never finding
satisfaction. They do not pray. I have been in churches where there seemed to
be no life, no power, no blessing from God. They do not pray.
A friend once said, “When I miss a day of prayer, God
takes note. When I miss two days, I notice it. When I miss three days, everyone
notices.” She was right. Missing prayer does something to my days also. I’ve no
quickness of mind, no steadiness, no calm spirit in those small or large
calamities that happen. Sin more easily overtakes me. I’m grumpy as the joy of
the Lord becomes elusive. I’m like an appliance unplugged, a flashlight with a
dead battery. I have not because I do not ask.
The Bible instructs God’s people to do many things, but
the constant is prayer. “Rejoice in hope,
be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of
the saints and seek to show hospitality.” (Romans 12:12–13) Constant prayer
is listed with the attitude fruit of the Holy Spirit, like hope and patience,
but also with action fruit like generosity and kindness to others. Without
prayer, the Spirit leaks out and my motivation pales. I cannot be a blessing to
others.
The Old Testament gives the same advice: “Seek the Lord
and his strength; seek his presence continually!” (1 Chronicles 16:11) Prayer
is not just for Sunday morning, grace at the table, and dire situations. It is
for all the time, all day, continually.
It is also the way to resist temptation. Jesus told His disciples,
“Watch and pray that you may not enter
into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
(Matthew 26:41) They were in the Garden of Gethsemane and He was soon to be
crucified. They cared. They wanted to support Him. They were also tired and
could not stay awake to pray, even at this crucial time.
That sounds so familiar. Last night I went to bed with the
enemy dangling a particular sinful idea in front of me. I was too tired to pray
and fell asleep almost instantly. That idea woke me up four or five times in
the night and even before my alarm rang. It would not go away without prayer,
prayer that acknowledges the weakness of my flesh and my need for the power of
the Holy Spirit.
Persistent prayer is also a challenge. I’ve prayed many
requests for years. God has not said ‘no’ but the answers are still unseen. I’m
encouraged by the parable Jesus told “to
the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” It was about
a widow who kept bothering a judge as she asked for justice against an enemy. The
judge was annoyed and finally said to himself, “Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow
keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down
by her continual coming.”
Jesus said if an unrighteous judge will give in because of
persistence, what about God? Will He not give justice to His people who cry to Him
day and night? Of course God cares about His people and about justice far more
than a worldly judge, but Jesus asks one more question: “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
(Luke 18:1–8)
Not asking God, not persisting in prayer, are signs of
small or little faith. This indicates an “I can do it myself” attitude. It may
also indicate that I really don’t want whatever it is anyway, or that I think whatever
temptation I should be praying about seems interesting and I want to think
about it — even though I know that all temptation eventually turns around and bites
me.
Jesus desires that I ask, not only that I have whatever is
needed, but in the asking I discover how powerful He is and how much He loves
me. He says, “Until now you have asked
nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John
16:24) He also wants me to be totally happy, even continually filled with joy.
1 comment:
Thank-you.
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