Deception of Magic is a recently published fantasy novel, which is unique in that it mixes fantasy with scripture and theology, instead of using symbolism. One of the topics discussed in Deception of Magic is prayer. Simply put, prayer is talking to God. Now, one could ask the question, Why Pray? Isn’t God omniscience (all-knowing)? Why pray when God knows what you are going to say before you even say it? One theme found throughout the Bible, is that God desires a relationship with mankind. We can be grateful that in His infinite mercy and love, He desires this relationship with sinful and wicked men. What kind of relationship does God desire?
Our Lord and Savior, Jesus, gives us a discourse on prayer in Matthew 6:5-13. This discourse defines how God wants us to view Him in our relationship with him. Whole sermons can be done on this small passage, but I am going to focus in on one Word, FATHER. Matthew 6:9 says. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Jesus proclaimed God as “Our Father”, introducing the fact that God wants a relationship with us, as a our Father. When we pray, we are to talk to him as we would a loving father. The New Testament refers to God as “Our Father” numerous times.
God is our Father, and by definition, a father has children. The Bible proclaims all those that believe on the Lord Jesus, are children of God. Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:14-16 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.
The relationship set up for us by God is clearly God as our Father, and we as His children. This relationship sets the tone for how we should pray. As children talk to their father in a proper child to father relationship, so we too should talk to our Heavenly Father. For example, imagine a five year old child walking up to his father, and saying, “Yo, Dad, I want a toy car, and I want it now. Make sure it is in my room in less than an hour.” Sadly, this is how a lot of us pray to God. You can imagine the response the child would get from his earthly father. We get about the same response from our Heavenly Father. Now, imagine the same child, going up to his earthly father, and saying, “Daddy, can I please have a toy car? My old one broke, and I don’t have one to play with anymore.” The child, will get a toy car as soon as the father is able. When we pray respectfully, with love, to our Heavenly Father, it greatly pleases Him. Remember, the prayer of the saints is a Joy to God, and answering his Delight.
Last (for part 1 of this blog) is motive and God’s love. The best passage for this is James 4:3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. What is your motive when we pray? Do you pray for a new car because driving your old car embarrasses you? Or, do we pray for a car because we do not have one and can’t get to work. God will answer your prayer. He may tell you the beat up Ford truck is good enough for you, it helps keep you humble. God knows how to meet our needs better than we do. He may surprise you, by providing a way without providing a car. Always look for an answer to prayer in a unexpected way, because often, God meets our needs better than what we origionally asked for.
Because God loves us, he may say no to our prayers. He knows our hearts better than we do, and what is bad for us when we think it is good for us. Let’s use the child example again. The five year old child approaches his earthly father. “Daddy, can I please have a shotgun. You got big brother one for Christmas.” Now, the earthly father is going to say no because he loves his son. He is not going to give the five year old a real shotgun. He might in ten years, if the boy proves he is responsible. Our heavenly father is the same with us. He may not give us things we pray for because he knows they will be spiritually dangerous for us. In time, as we mature spiritually, what we ask for, God may grant.
How many lottery winners get their life ruined by sudden wealth? Often, God shows his love for us, by saying no to things we ask him for. I remember praying very hard for the girl of my dreams. The engagement suddenly ended. My prayers for our marriage were answered with a no. Why did God say no? Ask my wife of fifteen years, whom I met three years after my engagement ended. Thank you Lord, for saying no to my prayers, because you had reserved the most beautiful woman in the world for me, and needed to give me time to grow spiritually, so that she would say, “I do!”
Our Lord and Savior, Jesus, gives us a discourse on prayer in Matthew 6:5-13. This discourse defines how God wants us to view Him in our relationship with him. Whole sermons can be done on this small passage, but I am going to focus in on one Word, FATHER. Matthew 6:9 says. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Jesus proclaimed God as “Our Father”, introducing the fact that God wants a relationship with us, as a our Father. When we pray, we are to talk to him as we would a loving father. The New Testament refers to God as “Our Father” numerous times.
God is our Father, and by definition, a father has children. The Bible proclaims all those that believe on the Lord Jesus, are children of God. Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:14-16 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.
The relationship set up for us by God is clearly God as our Father, and we as His children. This relationship sets the tone for how we should pray. As children talk to their father in a proper child to father relationship, so we too should talk to our Heavenly Father. For example, imagine a five year old child walking up to his father, and saying, “Yo, Dad, I want a toy car, and I want it now. Make sure it is in my room in less than an hour.” Sadly, this is how a lot of us pray to God. You can imagine the response the child would get from his earthly father. We get about the same response from our Heavenly Father. Now, imagine the same child, going up to his earthly father, and saying, “Daddy, can I please have a toy car? My old one broke, and I don’t have one to play with anymore.” The child, will get a toy car as soon as the father is able. When we pray respectfully, with love, to our Heavenly Father, it greatly pleases Him. Remember, the prayer of the saints is a Joy to God, and answering his Delight.
Last (for part 1 of this blog) is motive and God’s love. The best passage for this is James 4:3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. What is your motive when we pray? Do you pray for a new car because driving your old car embarrasses you? Or, do we pray for a car because we do not have one and can’t get to work. God will answer your prayer. He may tell you the beat up Ford truck is good enough for you, it helps keep you humble. God knows how to meet our needs better than we do. He may surprise you, by providing a way without providing a car. Always look for an answer to prayer in a unexpected way, because often, God meets our needs better than what we origionally asked for.
Because God loves us, he may say no to our prayers. He knows our hearts better than we do, and what is bad for us when we think it is good for us. Let’s use the child example again. The five year old child approaches his earthly father. “Daddy, can I please have a shotgun. You got big brother one for Christmas.” Now, the earthly father is going to say no because he loves his son. He is not going to give the five year old a real shotgun. He might in ten years, if the boy proves he is responsible. Our heavenly father is the same with us. He may not give us things we pray for because he knows they will be spiritually dangerous for us. In time, as we mature spiritually, what we ask for, God may grant.
How many lottery winners get their life ruined by sudden wealth? Often, God shows his love for us, by saying no to things we ask him for. I remember praying very hard for the girl of my dreams. The engagement suddenly ended. My prayers for our marriage were answered with a no. Why did God say no? Ask my wife of fifteen years, whom I met three years after my engagement ended. Thank you Lord, for saying no to my prayers, because you had reserved the most beautiful woman in the world for me, and needed to give me time to grow spiritually, so that she would say, “I do!”
