Sometimes people compliment me by saying, “Oh pastor, you pray such wonderful prayers!” I appreciate compliments, but it’s a mistake to treat prayer as if it were a special athletic or oratorical ability. Prayer is something for all of us – just like eating and drinking and going to the bathroom.
Ever since I read Bruce Wilkinson’s little book, The Prayer of Jabez, I’ve found it helpful to model off of biblical prayers. The most preeminent one, of course, is the Lord’s Prayer (given by Jesus in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4). But Jesus was building on a tradition of prayers that goes back to the Bible that He used – which today we call the Old Testament. Since I’m beginning a new chapter these days, I was drawn to a prayer given by Solomon at the beginning of his reign as King (around 970 BC). One version of it is in II Chronicles 1:8-10, though the content of what precedes it is significant in a couple ways… First, it’s built on a foundation of worship. II Chronicles 1:1-6 tells of his devotional trip up north from Jerusalem to Gibeon, to begin with worship. If your prayer life is a struggle, maybe you need to connect more with God in worship. It’s good to do this with your Christian brethren; we do it each Sunday morning when we get together in the church sanctuary. Second, God’s invitation for petition (in 1:7) shows us how prayer is an opportunity. Jesus said (in Matthew 7:11) that God is pleased to give good gifts to His children. Here it comes as a test. Some people never get anything out of their prayer life because they pray selfishly. God was fully aware of this danger (as seen in II Chronicles 1:11). Prayer, then, serves to bring out what’s in our heart – whether it’s good or bad… whether we’re filled with greed or malice or rage; or with righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Solomon seized this opportunity, and three components emerged from his prayer which can be utilized in our prayer-life as well…
Sometimes God doesn’t remove the burden that we’re praying about. Instead, He equips us to face whatever it is. That’s how it was with Jesus. God didn’t take the cross away from Him, but glory came to Jesus as He went through its awful agony – which, in turn, led to His resurrection. There is we find hope! God bless you, Pastor Andrew McHenry
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Andrew McHenryI am a husband, a Congregational pastor, and a native Kansan currently living in Thermalito, California. In the past I have also been a prison chaplain and a youth pastor. Interests include reading, railroads, prog rock, KU, and the KC Royals. Archives
March 2024
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