(Mark 11:20-25 ESV)
So I thought today I would go back and look at the aspects of prayer called for in these verses.
When we pray we are to
1. believe that it will happen
2. believe that we will receive what we ask for
3. stand up
4. forgive
So pray standing up, forgiving those who have wronged us and believe that what we ask for will come about. That about sums it up eh?
Tell me then, do you think we can ask for anything and have it happen?
Thinking that is so easy to do when one reads these verses. I've heard of people saying "well you just didn't have faith enough then" when what people pray for doesn't happen.
It doesn't work quite like that.
We HAVE TO pray within the will of God. Faith or not, that's just the way it is. God sometimes says no, because he knows better.
A fervently prayed over handicapped child may well stay handicapped. It has nothing to do with faith or will or belief, it's just God's will for that child and that family.
A jobless family may well stay jobless despite fervent believing prayer.
A young man desiring to go to the mission field may find that plan thwarted despite fervent prayer.
It's the way it goes.
God tells us this
[14] And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. [15] And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
(1 John 5:14-15 ESV)
[39] And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
(Matthew 26:39 ESV)
[10] Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
on level ground!
(Psalm 143:10 ESV)
[31] We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.
(John 9:31 ESV)
[12] For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
(1 Peter 3:12 ESV)
So prayer is this.
Fervently believing that God hears the words of the righteous, who pray according to his will, with an attitude of forgiveness.
Does it matter if we stand or sit or kneel? I honestly don't believe that God cares. Posture can help us in taking prayer seriously, but we can pray as we walk around the neighbour, we can pray as we do the dishes, we can pray sitting beside our children, and we can pray crying out our hearts to God in the shower. It matters not. What matters is our heart attitude and our faith in God. THIS is what matter.