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Praying For Certainty
Sometimes I think we flip prayer on its head. We often turn to it with requests about uncertainty. But within God’s Word, that is not always the case. Revelation 11:15 tells us “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” Even with the certainty that the Kingdom WILL come, we are called to pray “Thy Kingdom come!” Also in Matthew 24:14, Jesus says “this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Jesus is promising that the Great Commission WILL be finished, yet he instructs His disciples to pray for the Lord to “send out workers.” God has appointed the work of prayer as a means of finishing His work. Therefore we pray, not because the outcome is uncertain, but because it is certain.
Now I understand the argument, “Well, if its already going to come true, why pray?” I think this is how it plays out. Take those who pray earnestly for “Thy kingdom come.” Those folks will receive exactly what they ask for. For those who don’t pray that show a lack of desire for God’s kingdom and ultimately may be excluded from that. 2 Timothy 4:8 tells us that we will be rewarded when we have “longed for his appearing.”
What does this look like in your prayer life? For me, I love praying Scripture, because I know my prayers are in line with the heart of God. He has given us a mighty layout of the practice of prayer through Scripture. If you are interested in any of the prayers that the New Testament Church prayed for, here’s a gathered collection. Rest assured, some of these things God has already promised WILL happen, and we can pray with CERTAINTY that God has promised to answer them!
They called on God to send out reinforcements.
Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest (Matthew 9:38).
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off (Acts 13:2-3).
Thanks, Chris, for teaching us to pray scripture. Here is another one for FIA Sunday:
I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me (John 17:20-21).