The Mathematics Behind Prayer
MATHEMATICS CAN BE FUN. . .
GET A YES WHEN YOU PRAY
The New and Improved (and coveted) . . .
SECRET MATHEMATICAL PRAYER FORMULA . . .
Y = P * 2A + (∞F ⟹ W) + (S ≈ I) – Ø(d+c)
Here’s the formula’s meaning
I WILL get a YES
When I PRAY,
If I ABIDE in Him AND I let His words ABIDE in me.
Then, my sufficient FAITH,
Subject to His WILL,
Allows me to SUBMIT to Him,
Since He’s already IN THE PROCESS of answering.
All this motivates me unto OBEDIENCE,
And the elimination of the word CAN in my prayers.
Mathematics
Have fun, as we go through this “Secret” formula.
Defining Terms
“Y” is the expectation of YES when I pray!
Have you ever considered that Jesus never went to the Father wondering about His answer? Jesus always prayed expecting a “YES” and so should you. Even when He gave us the model-prayer in Matthew 6:9ff the entire tenor of it is, expect God to answer. And earlier in verse 6, talking about prayer Jesus said, “. . . your Father . . . will reward you.”
If you are wondering about the Garden of Gethsemane experience Jesus had, consider two words, “wrestling” and “submitting.” Jesus wrestled and since He knew the Father’s will, He (Jesus) submitted to the Father.
Jesus’ dealings with prayer were ALWAYS with an expectation of a YES, as should your’s.
And remember, 1 John 5:14-15 are still in scripture, requiring confidence when we pray, not doubt (James 1:6-7)
“P” is the act of PRAYING.
This should be obvious, but you do realize that there are SOME THINGS that we do not have, because we do not ask? (See James 4:2).
I suspect some of you are thinking, “Why ask? Doesn’t God already know our needs BEFORE we ask (Matthew 6:8)?
Have you considered why we pray at all? It is for one reason. God WANTS a relationship with you! Think about that! In spite of you (and me), He wants a relationship with you (and me).
Your prayer-life is a barometer of your Intimacy with God.
“A” double dips into the word ABIDING.
The equation is “2A” above because the word “Abide” appears twice in John 15:7 and both occurrences are very significant, and very different from one another.
I recently heard a pastor quote this verse by saying, “. . . abide in Him and in His word.” BUT MY READERS, that is not what the passage says. It says that you are to ABIDE IN HIM and you are to let His words ABIDE IN YOU.
When His words abide in you, that is when you start asking His will. This happens because they are His words, His will. And then the last part of the verse becomes true, “then you will ask whatever you will and it will be done unto you.”
Look, you can abide in Him all day long but if you don’t let His words abide in you, you don’t have a prayer. Sorry for the pun.
“F” stands for FAITH.
But not just any faith! It stands for “∞F” which is an “infinite amount of faith.”
Now before you start to get depressed, because your faith isn’t that great, let me remind you of Jesus’ teachings on faith. I’ll first tell you what Jesus did NOT say.
- Jesus did not say you have to have a TON of faith. The AMOUNT OF YOUR FAITH is not the issue.
So, what did He say? I’m glad you asked!
- Jesus DID say, you could have as little faith as a mustard seed and accomplish that which is His will (Matthew 17:20).
Ginormous Faith
At another time we’ll discuss why teachers tell you to build your faith to astronomical proportions, but not here.
What I will tell you though, is why you can have “infinite, sufficient, perfect-faith,” even if your faith is only comparable to a mustard seed.
The answer is the next portion of the equation.
“W” points us to God’s will.
The equation says, “∞F ⟹ W”
Remember that “⟹ W” means “If and Only If it is centered on God’s will.”
So, putting the entire parenthetical thought together, it is saying, “infinite faith occurs, if and only if it (your prayer) is centered on God’s will.”
Look at 1 John 5:14-15 again. When does God’s answer come? The passage clearly says, when we ask according to His will.
It ain’t rocket-science, is it?
But it does require the next portion of the equation.
“S” is the act of SUBMITTING to God.
I’m sorry, but you knew that the “S” word would enter this equation somewhere, didn’t you?
The problem with the “S” word is that it requires you to trust Him.
Do you think you trust God? Are you sure? Or are you just hoping you trust Him?
May I Test You?
This test will open your eyes:
- Get a blank piece of paper.
- At the top write, “God’s Will for My Life.”
- And then sign-it, BLANK.
Sign it WITHOUT knowing what He has up His sleeve?
The math is becoming more and more scary, isn’t it?
Okay, I just told you the PROBLEM with the “S” word. Now let me give you the “ginormous benefit” of the “S” word.
This “GINORMOUS-NESS” is found in both Mark 11:24 and the rest of the equation that is within the parenthesis. Watch and see
“I” represents God already “IN THE PROCESS” of answering your prayer.
Mark 11:24 tells us that we are to pray as if WE ALREADY HAVE that which we are praying to him for.
When “S≈I” are together it means that “S and I are Congruent to one another” or, in harmony one with another.
The idea is that God is ALREADY In The Process of doing His will in your life. Our job is to submit to God, no matter what He wants to do, in your life.
SCARY? Math usually is!
To see this more clearly, work the Secret Mathematical Prayer Formula backwards:
- “I” . . . God is already “In the process” of answering my prayer,
- “S”. . . When I submit
- “W”. . . To His will,
- “F”. . . With my mustard seed faith
The Rest of the Story Equation
“Ø” represents an empty or “null” set
“d” represents DISOBEDIENCE.
“c” represents using the word CAN when you pray.
The mathematical term in front of this parenthetical portion, “Ø” means “an empty or ‘null’ set” of both the “d” and the “c” which are inside the parenthesis.
In other words we are not to have any “d” and any “c” in our life.
NOTE: Because of James 1:6-7, “d” could also have represented “doubting” but we have addressed that with the understanding of “confidence” above.
“c” is the act of using the word CAN when you pray.
Going back to Mark 11:24, where we are told to “believe that we have already received” that which we are praying for, does NOT MEAN we pray, “Oh Lord, I know You CAN do this . . .” No! It means we are to pray, “Lord, I trust that you are ALREADY in the process of . . .”
I’d like to ask you, the reader, to do something for me, okay?
I would like you to BE EMBARRASSED the next time you use the word “CAN” when you pray!
And here’s why.
Assuming the Holy Spirit didn’t make a mistake, and Mark 11:24 can be believed, God is already in the process of giving you your answer! Think about that! Since that is the case, why are you asking Him if He “CAN” do it?
Let’s get back to the “d” word for a moment. In Psalm 24:3-4, we are told to enter His presence with “clean hands and a pure heart.” Why? Because sin has an impact on your prayer life (Proverbs 28:9, Isaiah 59:2, and a host of others).
Putting It All Together Again
I WILL get a YES
When I PRAY,
If I ABIDE in Him AND I let His words ABIDE in me.
Then, my sufficient FAITH,
Subject to His WILL,
Allows me to SUBMIT to Him,
Since He’s already IN THE PROCESS of answering.
All this motivates me unto OBEDIENCE,
And the elimination of the word CAN in my prayers.
Blessings,
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