Prayer

It kind of disturbs me when people treat prayer as some sort of formula. What do I mean? There are some people that say if you pray in a certain way and use certain words you will ‘touch’ the heart of God. Furthermore, some say that if you are in a certain condition then you pray a certain prayer and continue to pray it. They sound as if by repeating that prayer that God is going to have to do it for them. As I ponder on this and read the Bible, I don’t see the Bible teaching anything like that at all.

Does the Bible ever teach that when you pray in a certain way and use certain words you will touch the heart of God? What does the Bible say? James 5:16, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” Did it say you must use certain words to pray? It just says ‘the prayer of a righteous man’. The condition for powerful prayer is not a formula but your standing with God. If we are right with God, we can be assured our prayer will be heard. Does God always answer a ‘yes’? No. A lot of people assume that when God answers it will always be a ‘yes’ because they followed a formula. If God was constrained that way, He would not be Sovereign. Even ‘no’ or ‘wait’ is an answer.

In consequence, what does being right with God mean? Firstly, it is accepting and believing sincerely that Jesus has died for our sins and receiving him as Lord and Savior. Secondly, it is an ongoing process whereby we continuously repent of our sins that we commit and strive to live a life that is pleasing to God. Please note that I am not advocating good works as a means for salvation. Good works is the embodiment of genuine faith in Christ. The Bible also says that without faith it is impossible to please God. Therefore, our faith must be genuine faith.

When Jesus taught the all time famous Lord’s Prayer, he was giving us a modal to follow. In the prayer, he says we can and should ask God to: give us daily need, strengthen us against temptation, help us to forgive others. It also says we should glorify and praise God when we pray and pray his will be done on earth as it is in heaven. It basically sums up what is the meaning of prayer.

Another thing I find a bit out of place is the practice of invoking the different names of God. You can correct me if I am wrong on this one. I guess this practice was drawn from the Old Testament when Abraham and others build altars to remember God’s character. For example, in Exodus 17:15, “Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner.” It was just a symbol to remember God and what he had done. In this case, he had just won a war with the Amalekites. But people seem to build on this and say we should pray invoking the name of God as if by invoking his various ‘names’ he will do as we ask. Some names are Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Tsidkenu, Jehovah Rophe and Jehovah Shalom. True, they are all after the God’s nature but never in the Bible was it taught to invoke these names as if to demand God for something. Example would be Jehovah Rophe which means the Lord who heals. Some may tend to pray, “Because you are Jehovah Rophe, you must heal me.” But there is a difference when you pray, “I know you are Jehovah Rophe and you are capable of healing as you have shown in the past. But you are Sovereign. In your mercy, if it is your will, heal me.” See the difference?
Sermons and discussions on prayer are legion. But why make something so complicated which God meant to be so simple? When you pray, just pray as if you were talking to a person. Is it hard at first? Yes. But the more you try, the Spirit will draw you into a deeper communion with Him. Don’t know where to start? Look at the Lord’s prayer as a modal. When I first began to take my walk with God seriously (about Form 2 I think), I prayed prayers which were short and mostly asking for stuff. But inside, I felt a yearning for a closer relationship with Him. Overtime, I began to pour my heart out to God; telling him about my deepest struggles I face in my body, mind and spirit. As I kept on reading God’s word, I began to realize that I can come before God with my requests and concerns. I confess my sins, though I feel ashamed before him. All I can ask is for forgiveness and strength and grace to not fall into the same sin again. Since nothing is hidden from him, and I know he won’t misunderstand me, I can just pour my heart freely to him. Not to boast or anything, someone said once my prayer was very good. I was like “what…?” Got good and bad prayer meh…? Someone also ask me how I pray. I was like…err…just pray….? :P ( not boasting or anything…just want to draw from experience)

So I just one to encourage you all to keep prayer simple. It was not and was never meant to be a complicated issue. Set your heart in seeking God and he will call you to Himself.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Soli Deo Gloria!

PS: Comments are welcomed:P If you think I misunderstand a certain part,feel free to voice it out.

American Declaration of Independance

I found this part in the American Declaration of Independance to be quite inspiring, especially with the situation in Malaysia.

We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.

Excerpted from The American Nation-A History of the United States to 1877 (12th ed) by Mark C. Carnes and John A. Garraty

A brief explanation of the above. What it is declaring is that all men are created equal by God and given certain rights that cannot be taken away which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. To secure these rights is the duty of governments and the powers of the government are given by the citizens. If at any time a form of government threatens the life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, the citizens have the right to alter or abolish the governement and to set up a new government that will uphold its duties.

Make Me A Captive, Lord

Make me a captive, Lord, and then I shall be free.
Force me to render up my sword, and I shall conqueror be.
I sink in life’s alarms when by myself I stand;
Imprison me within Thine arms, and strong shall be my hand.

My heart is weak and poor until it master find;
It has no spring of action sure, it varies with the wind.
It cannot freely move till Thou has wrought its chain;
Enslave it with Thy matchless love, and deathless it shall reign.

My power is faint and low till I have learned to serve;
It lacks the needed fire to glow, it lacks the breeze to nerve.
It cannot drive the world until itself be driven;
Its flag can only be unfurled when Thou shalt breathe from heaven.

My will is not my own till Thou hast made it Thine;
If it would reach a monarch’s throne, it must its crown resign.
It only stands unbent amid the clashing strife,
When on Thy bosom it has leant, and found in Thee its life.

Words: George Ma­the­son, Sac­red Songs, 1890.

Music: Di­a­de­ma­ta, George J. El­vey, Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern, 1868

Cloudy Soul

how darkness lingers
like a grey cloud
laden with tears
that never seem to fall

depart from me, cursed darkness!
let the rain fall
let the floodgates open
to let the grey cloud vanish

i know the rain clouds will be back
for without rain, where is growth?
does the clouds come on my command?
can I wrest open the floodgates of heaven?

where is spring without winter?
through winter, spring is beautiful
both come and go in season
without human command

why should we reject sorrow
and accept only happiness?
it is through the bad
that the good can be clearly seen.

so take heart, my soul
the darkness will soon pass
though it will be back,
i will bask in the light now.

uNkNowN