American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 22
ARC Prayer Meeting
The Bible assures us that developing a consistent, healthy, sound prayer life is somewhat daunting. Besides our natural resistance to be faithful in prayer, there are other concerns Biblically we need to consider. Jesus taught there were right ways to do spiritual things and wrong ways. In Matthew 6 we find there is a right way and wrong way to perform charitable deeds, fasting, and prayer.
We are not to be like the hypocrites who pray to be seen of men. We are not to use vain repetition like the pagans who use prayer like a magic charm, thinking if they say the right words over and over again, they shall obtain answers in their fleeting lives.
We know as well, there are several Biblical reasons for our prayers to be hindered that we must also factor in as we seek the Lord to obtain an effectual prayer life. Here are just a few to consider:
Unconfessed sin, (Psalms 66:18, 19) idols in the heart, (Ezekiel 14:3) wrong motives, (James 4:3) lack of faith, (Mark 11:24) unforgiveness, (Mark 11:25) lack of persistence, (Luke 18:1) lack of prayer time, (Matthew 26:40) stubborn disobedience to God’s Word, (Zechariah 7:11-13) negligence of the poor, (Proverbs 21:13) and mistreating your spouse (1 Peter 3:7).
One of the best examples of a right heart of prayer and a wrong one is a parable that Jesus used to address this very matter. Luke 18:10-13 states, “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!”
Which one was justified in the sight of God? It is not the proud Pharisee trusting in his good works to make God a debtor to him. Obviously, prayer is not a rehearsal to list off all our good works, kingdom accomplishments, and righteous acts as if God owes us something. The truth be known, our righteous deeds before a Holy God is as a filthy, menstrual rag and what God owes us is a burning hell (Isaiah 64:6).
Yet, there is that despised tax collector. He is the one we get hope from in our life of prayer. What was his contribution that was so significant? He was distant, couldn’t look up weighed down by sin, but beat his breast and confessed, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” Jesus assured us it was this prayer that was heard on high and this man was justified before God. May we be mindful of these truths.
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