Perception Affects Prayer

            Last Sunday evening, our study group discussed Luke 18:1-8.  As part of that discussion, we explored how our perception of God tends to affect how we approach Him in prayer.  For example, if we view God as a legalistic tyrant or a distant deity, we will be hesitant to bother Him with our concerns or convince ourselves that He doesn’t care about us enough to listen to our prayers anyway.

            Terry Rush addressed this topic in a recent article.  “Do we practice prayer sporadically and, when we do, it's the process of us sitting at the table (or pew) and placing our orders?  ‘God, we'd like two days unscrambled so that by 8:00 p.m. we could note that they were over easy.  Too, would you keep others from disturbing us for You know we've got enough troubles of our own.  And, oh yes God, would you see to it that my tomorrow is carefree for I'm in need of a break from those pestering disruptors who seem to cut in line to my having a good day?  Huh, God?  Could ya?  Amen.’  When our prayers are laced with the ‘I wants’ coupled with incredible absent gaps of ‘Thank You's’ we are likely approaching God as our Waiter and not our relational Father.  Indeed, He is most interested in our needs and called for us to call on Him.  This thread is true.  Yet, to relate to Him as only one who takes our orders with little relationship misses the point of being His child.”*

            What’s the takeaway?  If we are struggling in our prayer life, whether it involves persistence or whatever, perhaps the remedy starts with reviewing our perception of God.  Jesus’ point in the parable is that God is not like the unrighteous judge.  He doesn’t have to be hounded or cajoled into acting on behalf of petitioners.  Would viewing God in that way change anything in the way we pray to Him?  If so, then perhaps we need to rethink our perception of God.

God loves you!

Mike

http://terryrush.blogspot.com/2018/02/god-is-not-our-waiter.html