In the previous post we considered how for many Christians prayerlessness isn’t due to ignorance. We know we should pray, that God commands it. Could it be because we don’t think it’s beneficial?
Can We Really Claim Prayerlessness is Due to a Lack of Benefits?
If we don’t pray because we fail to see its value, or benefit, then we have to reconcile the following:
1) God’s Word clearly promotes the benefits of praying.
Read the following verses for just a few of the many specific benefits of praying we find in Scripture:
I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. (Ps. 34:4)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7)
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5)
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16 … even more in verses 13-18)
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:16)
Some of the benefits will be outward demonstrations of God’s power and grace. Others, equally if not more potent, may be internal results affecting our heart attitudes and perspective. There’s definitely something beneficial about prayer if we have a God who keeps His promises.
2) Many believers testify of answers to prayers, attesting to the benefits of praying.
Read through the Psalms for the psalmist’s testimony of God responding to his cries. Listen to fellow believers who have personally experienced God not only hearing but responding to their prayers (Jn. 14:13; 1 Jn. 5:14). There must be something beneficial about prayer or these people are either liars or the exception.
3) Even non-believers seem to value people praying for them.
If nothing else, many non-believers derive comfort and encouragement, a blessing, when a Christian says they will pray for them. There must be something beneficial about prayer for that to happen.
Perhaps rather than claiming a lack of benefits in praying, we must admit our failure to tap into those benefits due to prayerlessness. Surely, then, there must be other reasons why we don’t pray. We’ll look further in the next couple of posts.
GO TO: More on Prayer
Maybe some feels we ain’t good enough for God to bless.
The reality is that none of us are good enough (Rom. 3:23). We come to Him on the basis of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, in His name, not on our own merits. Hebrews 4:16 refers to us approaching God’s throne of grace with confidence. We must always remember that it is a throne of grace, the basis upon which any of us approach Him in prayer. While being out of fellowship with God due to sin in our lives does affect our prayers (Ps. 66:18; 1 Pet. 3:12), we have the assurance that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9).