What is the role of prayer in a believer’s life? What exactly should the role of prayer be in a God follower’s life? Does God answer all prayers?
What if God never answered one of your prayers? Would you still pray? Many people wrestle with, not only these questions but many others in reference to praying.
The priority of prayer must be the “glory of God.” After all, it is to God that we pray. He is the one that came up with the idea of praying.
Therefore, God should receive glory from the prayers you pray. Anything short of the glory of God seems to fall short of the priority of prayer.
An ancient writer wrote, “whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
This writer seemed to take the most mundane and basic elements of life to show that you should strive to reflect glory to God in all that you do, even, in the humblest daily routines of life.
Now the question is this, “How do you glorify God in your prayers?” That makes sense, doesn’t it? If the priority is to glorify God in praying, how do you do that? There is one predominant answer to that question.
You glorify God in your prayers through being obedient to pray according to the will of God. Another ancient writer wrote that if you pray anything according to God’s will He, God, hears and answers that prayer.
Praying according to God’s will is so much more relaxing than trying to change God’s mind about a problem or situation that you are encountering.
After all, how many people are able to change the mind of God? I don’t suppose too many can do that if any.
Come to think about it, I don’t think I have ever heard of anyone changing God’s mind. It is so much better to find out what He wants you to pray and, then, pray accordingly.
Life can be a great adventure, far more rewarding, and fun as you find out what God is up to, so that, you can join Him, rather, than trying to get God convinced to join you.
One might ask, “If prayer is for God, can we still pray to get things from God?” The answer, of course, is yes, but not like a rich grandfather in Heaven pouring out all kinds of gifts as we ask for them.
You should pray expecting God to answer your prayers, but perhaps, the priority of praying will cause each one to consider his prayers before praying them.
It is a good thing to review your requests prior to asking God for them. Pray is a serious activity, certainly, not one to take lightly. Prayer is a great privilege, even, a great responsibility.
Someone has said, “The giver always gets the glory.” This seems to be a true statement. As you discern what God wants to do in a situation, pray, and expect God to answer. When the answers arrive, give God the glory.
