Today’s Prayer in the News article is a very simple and short article where the The Sand Mountain Reporter in Albertville AL (www.sandmountainreporter.com) records what real prayer is and is not. It is a short as succinct article by Chip Warren, the President of the Albertville Ministerial Association.
Kudos to Chip Warren.
Here is the article, and its link:
http://www.sandmountainreporter.com/article_1d9e0cb6-844b-11e7-9906-5f713daf04c4.html
Chip Warren: The Biblical concept of prayer
Posted: Friday, August 18, 2017 2:26 pm | Updated: 3:45 pm, Fri Aug 18, 2017.
Where do you get your theology and beliefs about prayer?
Unfortunately, many have some strange concepts about prayer. They may have acquired these strange ideas from lack of Biblical teaching on prayer or simply accumulated them over the years like germs on the street. Some have been influenced by the theology, or lack of theology, of those who write scripts for TV programming or movie scripts. I suspect all these writers do not have a Biblical theology of prayer.
So, what really is prayer?
For many, God is not the one to whom their prayers are directed. It is just some vague, religious, mystical experience practiced by all religions or even those who claim no religion at all. Jesus referred to pagans praying in Matthew 6:7.
How foreign is all this so-called prayer to the Biblical concept of prayer. The One to whom we pray is what makes prayer prayer. “Prayer” to anyone or anything but the one, true, eternal God is not Biblical prayer. Only a God who is alive can hear and answer prayer. A wooden or stone idol or leader of some religion who has been dead for centuries cannot hear and answer prayer.
You remember the account in I Kings 18 of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. The prophets of Baal called on their god, but there was no answer. You have to love Elijah’s sense of humor as he told them that they should shout louder or perhaps he was busy, or traveling, or asleep. Only the God who is alive can hear and answer our prayers as He demonstrated in this passage.
Have you ever heard someone say, “Our thoughts are with you”? I have often wondered what good those thoughts would do. Do they mean that their thoughts can effect some cosmic force in the universe or something akin to ESP?
Prayer is simply talking with God. Have you talked with Him today?
The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16.
Chip Warren is president of the Albertville Ministerial Association.
Again, excellent, succinct article.
Nice job Chip Warren.
Blessings my friends, and remember, if you are not getting our E-Letter CLICK HERE.
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