Did you know that it is possible to pray wrongly? There are ways to pray which are not only ineffective, they are frankly offensive to God. This type of prayer takes what should be an act of humility, submission and worship and turns it into a self-serving tool to be used for our own promotion and desires.
Solomon talks about this kind of wrong prayer in Ecclesiastes. He warns us not to be quick with our mouth and heart to speak before God. He chillingly reminds us that the speech of the fool is marked by many words. This sort of over-the-top, self-serving, wordy prayer does not show true respect for God or a genuine desire to seek Him in prayer. Instead we see someone who comes before God to serve themselves and to use God for their own purposes, either as a sounding board or worse, as their servant.
We read about this kind of foolish prayer in Luke 18. The pharisee comes before God and prays a lengthy prayer. He stood confidently and probably prayed loudly in the hope that others nearby would see and admire him. His words clearly betray his own pride and self-righteousness before God. He has the audacity to come before God and boast about his own religious practices. Like the man that Solomon describes the pharisee to is quick to speak many empty words before God. Jesus is clear in condemning this kind of insincere prayer.
Instead the model of prayer that God desires is exemplified in the tax collector who humbly comes before God, beats his own breast in a show of his inward turmoil and pours his heart out to God. Rather than declare to God his own righteousness he admits his own sin and asks God for mercy. This man does not come with any pomp or pretence. He does not hope that others will notice him and worship him. He does not come with any sense of entitlement.
This is the kind of prayer that God desires, genuine prayer. Prayer that respectfully acknowledges God as our only source of righteousness and strength. The sort of prayer that is not intended to please or satisfy men but is intended only for God himself.
Do we pray genuine prayers? Think about when you pray with others. It is so easy to begin to pray in such a way as to please and gain the affirmation of others. We can pray to hear the affirming mmhmm of those we are praying with instead of praying genuinely because we truly mean what we are saying.
Perhaps the clearest test of our prayer life comes by examining our private prayer life. How do we pray when we are alone with God? Do we even set aside time to spend in quiet prayer with Him? What things do we pray for?
Take a moment this morning to examine your own prayer life. Do you pray genuine prayers?
Prayer: Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
- Praise God that He listens to our prayers graciously, that He promises to hear us and that He promises to answer. Praise God that He works in our hearts to make us more like Him. Pray that He would convict you of any pride in your heart and that He would help you to become more humble in your service of Him. Pray that He would grow in your heart a genuine desire to pray and to seek after Him.
- Pray for the Church on the Green at ChristLife this Sunday. Pray that God would challenge believers now to be inviting their friends and those they know to come along and to hear the Word of God being preached. Pray that God would begin preparing hearts now so that many would hear of the love of Christ for them and would turn to faith in Him. Pray that those who are door knocking and distributing flyers would be bold and that people would respond well.
My Additional Prayer Points
Discussion Questions for families and groups
- What are some warning signs that you are not genuine in the way that you pray?
- If you recognise that you are not genuine in the way that you pray what should you do?
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