why should we pray?

Yesterday, there was the monthly Bible evening in Rijnsburg. The topic this time was: why should we actually pray? And that question is meant very seriously! After all: surely we don’t need to inform God about our ups and downs. He is more aware of them than anyone else. And the idea that we should advise God in our prayers or even correct Him is, to say the least, rather arrogant. Or should we, as believers, ask God to provide for our needs? That is, of course, allowed—but is it not better to listen to Paul, who assures us that God will richly be supplying ALL our needs IN ACCORD WITH HIS RICHES (Phil. 4:19)?

That calls not for praying, but for THANKING. Whoever is aware of the grace that God gives, without measure, will naturally become “superabounding in thankfulness” (Col. 2:7). Certainly, we may express our requests to God without reservation (Phil. 4:6). But, Paul adds: “with thanksgiving.” We ought to be thanking God in advance, in everything. Not because we have the guarantee of receiving what we wish, but because God is answering “superexceeding above all that we are requesting or apprehending.” It was Luther who once rightly said: we ask God for silver, but He gives gold.

“We are not aware what we should be praying for according as it must be,” writes the apostle of the nations in Romans 8:26. But two verses later he adds: “we are aware that God is working all together for the good…”

Why should we pray? Well… let us rather be thanking.
“… for the laud of the glory of His grace!”

Delen: