Friday, May 28, 2010
Not All Prayers Are Equal
There’s a lot of praying going on now days. I get the impression that many people believe the power of a prayer is in the saying of it; as if the power is in the wording or the strong feelings that are involved. But a prayer is no more valid that the one to whom the prayer is being offered.
A simple definition of prayer is: “a petition; entreaty.” It is a conversation with someone. But if that “someone” has no power, the prayer is useless. For example: In the case of an emergency, a call to 911 will be far more effective than a call to “time and temperature.” Why? Because when you dial 911 there will be someone on the other end who can actually assist you.
So, to whom do you pray? I recommend praying to the one who created everything; the one who came to earth as a man and demonstrated His authority over death, Hell and the grave. It makes good sense to pray to the King of kings and Lord of Lords. I mean, if you’re going to talk to someone, why not go right to the top? I do not recommend prayers to people, places or things, because they have no power to help you.
The one, true, living God expressed his strong feelings about this matter like this:
The wood-carver measures a block of wood and draws a pattern on it. He works with chisel and plane and carves it into a human figure. He gives it human beauty and puts it in a little shrine. He cuts down cedars; he selects the cypress and the oak; he plants the pine in the forest to be nourished by the rain. Then he uses part of the wood to make a fire. With it he warms himself and bakes his bread. Then—yes, it’s true—he takes the rest of it and makes himself a god to worship!
He makes an idol and bows down in front of it! He burns part of the tree to roast his meat and to keep himself warm. He says, “Ah, that fire feels good.” Then he takes what’s left and makes his god: a carved idol! He falls down in front of it, worshiping and praying to it. “Rescue me!” he says. “You are my god!”
Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, “Why, it’s just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?” The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can’t help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, “Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?”
This is what the LORD says—your Redeemer and Creator: “I am the LORD, who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens. Who was with me when I made the earth? I expose the false prophets as liars and make fools of fortune-tellers. I cause the wise to give bad advice, thus proving them to be fools. But I carry out the predictions of my prophets! (Isaiah 44: 13-20, 24-26 NLT)
Not all prayers are equal, because not all prayers are offered to our “God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
A simple definition of prayer is: “a petition; entreaty.” It is a conversation with someone. But if that “someone” has no power, the prayer is useless. For example: In the case of an emergency, a call to 911 will be far more effective than a call to “time and temperature.” Why? Because when you dial 911 there will be someone on the other end who can actually assist you.
So, to whom do you pray? I recommend praying to the one who created everything; the one who came to earth as a man and demonstrated His authority over death, Hell and the grave. It makes good sense to pray to the King of kings and Lord of Lords. I mean, if you’re going to talk to someone, why not go right to the top? I do not recommend prayers to people, places or things, because they have no power to help you.
The one, true, living God expressed his strong feelings about this matter like this:
The wood-carver measures a block of wood and draws a pattern on it. He works with chisel and plane and carves it into a human figure. He gives it human beauty and puts it in a little shrine. He cuts down cedars; he selects the cypress and the oak; he plants the pine in the forest to be nourished by the rain. Then he uses part of the wood to make a fire. With it he warms himself and bakes his bread. Then—yes, it’s true—he takes the rest of it and makes himself a god to worship!
He makes an idol and bows down in front of it! He burns part of the tree to roast his meat and to keep himself warm. He says, “Ah, that fire feels good.” Then he takes what’s left and makes his god: a carved idol! He falls down in front of it, worshiping and praying to it. “Rescue me!” he says. “You are my god!”
Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, “Why, it’s just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?” The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can’t help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, “Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?”
This is what the LORD says—your Redeemer and Creator: “I am the LORD, who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens. Who was with me when I made the earth? I expose the false prophets as liars and make fools of fortune-tellers. I cause the wise to give bad advice, thus proving them to be fools. But I carry out the predictions of my prophets! (Isaiah 44: 13-20, 24-26 NLT)
Not all prayers are equal, because not all prayers are offered to our “God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
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