Hit your knees

Yesterday, McMamma posted on prayer. I've been following her blog and praying daily for baby Stellan. She posed the question of "why bother praying?" God already knows what is going to happen in the future right? Do our prayers make any difference? Some of her thoughts included the fact that we MUST pray because we have been commanded to. Not only that, but that God hears us. She states "Why pray? Jesus was real, God made the earth and all humans, and so for one, it is our responsibility, nay our joy and privilege to be able to communicate with the Creator of all that is, and to His Son, who died for us all." We do not pray to get what we want, rather to get to know God better, to learn His will for our lives, and to thank Him for all we have been blessed with. Prayers of petition are certainly appropriate. However, we must be convinced that God's will be done, in all circumstances.

Yesterday while completing my final Bible Study lessons (Beth Moore, Stepping Up, A Journey through the Psalms of Ascent, Beth Moore touched on prayer. Fitting since my brain was still whirling after reading McMamma's words. Who knew that Psalm 132 is a prayer of petition and God's direct answer? Verses 11-18 of this Psalm are God's words in response to the psalmists cries. God hears us when we pray! According to Beth, "If we could hear the voice of God as we sit before Him, we would never cease praying." No, we probably wouldn't. Can you imagine? Hearing the voice of God! God speaks to us through His word, and through those He has placed in our lives. God is speaking to us. Beth also points out that in Psalm 132, God exceeds the psalmists petitions. Ephesians 3:20 says that God "is able to do more that all we ask or imagine, according to His power...". If we don't ask we don't give God a chance to outdo our requests. I'd certainly never thought of it that way before. I don't think our minds can begin to comprehend how God answers our prayers.

Just some food for thought. Obviously not an exhaustive look at McMamma's question or the topic of prayer. I don't claim to have all the answers, nor do I feel like I have more than a small grasp on this. Maybe I should pray about it.