Subject: Five Myths of Prayer
Five Myths of Prayer
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1.
Prayer insures successful ministries- In other words, prayer is
the insurance policy that these ministries will be blessed. Certainly no people
have ever experienced God's power without prayer, but the Scripture bears
witness that many have prayed without life-changing results. Consider the Jews
of Jeremiah and Ezekiel's day who prayed and fasted; yet perished. Consider the
Pharisees of Jesus' day who diligently prayed; yet the Romans destroyed
Jerusalem. Both scripture accounts affirm that God's mighty hand never moved on
their behalf. Thus, praying does not guarantee success. Something greater than
prayer remains.
2. The more I pray, the more God answers; or
the more prayer, the more power. While these statements may be true, it is also
true that many people have sought God for extensive periods of time with no
results. God hears because we are on His agenda, not because of our effort or
sacrifice. A national prayer leader once said that the issue is not to get
people to pray more, but rather to help them have a vision from God. In the
Bible all prayer flowed out of an understanding of what God is up to. Praying in
the wrong direction or for the wrong things, no matter how earnestly, has no
more power than no prayer at all. Staying focused on God's person and purposes
helps us to avoid the pitfall of misdirected, fruitless praying. Something
greater than prayer remains.
3. God answers prayer. In the
Bible God never separates the requests from the condition of the heart of the
one praying. Who you are and what you are asking have direct correlation with
each other. God doesn't answer the prayer so much as He answers the pray-er.
James 5:16 doesn't read "prayer avails much." Instead it reads, "the effectual,
fervent prayer of a righteous (italics mine) man avials much" (NKJV). A
righteous woman [or man] is one who walks in a love relationship with God and
follows His agenda and purposes. Therefore, you cannot implement a program,
devise a strategy, or promote a campaign, however noble, and expect God to bless
it unless you and the people in your ministry are connected to Him. Something
greater than prayer remains.
4. Prayer changes things. No, God
changes things. If prayer changed things, then many world religions would have
incredible spiritual impact. Instead, God remains sovereign. He alone determines
what happens, not our prayers. Something greater than prayer remains.
5.
There is power in prayer. The power is in God. Anyone who believes
that prayer has power might also substitute the activity of prayer for an
encounter with God. The goal is not merely to pray. The goal is to pray,
allowing the prayer to create the opportunity for an encounter with God.
Something greater than prayer remains.
The Key to Success in
Ministry
So, what is the key that is greater than
prayer? The key, the foundation of success in ministry, is a deepening
love relationship with God. A successful ministry is a by-product of intimacy
with God. The more you talk with God, study His Word, nurture a love
relationship with Him, and are obedient to Him, the more God gives
you.
Contrasting our service and God's self-sufficiency reveals this truth.
God doesn't need us to accomplish His work. If He did, He would in some sense be
dependent on us. The Scripture says, "He is not served by human hands, as if he
needed anything" (Acts 17:25). In reality, God would have less trouble if He
just used the angels to accomplish His plan. They respond immediately. Since God
doesn't need anyone, Hi only motive is His desire for a love relationship with
us.