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Why We Pray

by Ken Barnes  
8/10/2016 / Christian Living

God said to Solomon, "Because your greatest desire is to help your people.....
(2 Chronicles 1: 11a NLT)

Solomon was to be blessed greater than any king before him or anyone that would come after him. What was the key to his success? It was not so much what he asked for, but why he asked for it.

Solomon did not ask for fame or fortune but to be able to rule God's people (v. 11) righteously. In life, it seems our greatest blessings come not from directly seeking them but as a by-product of things on the heart of God. Ancient Israel had a problem; God blessed them, and they started to worship the blessing. They became self-absorbed, putting more value on the provision and not the provider leading to apostasy. Unlike Solomon, their prayers were first directed toward receiving what they wanted, excluding the purposes of God and the needs of others. If we reverse that order, God can grant our petitions and often gives us things for which we do not even ask. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33 NASB).

Often we feel in our hearts a desire for blessings from the Lord. They are there because God has placed them there, but their fulfillment tarries. He is waiting until our heart motivation is sufficient to withstand the weigh of the blessing. The all-knowing God knows just when to give and when to withhold. Prayer is never meant to change God's mind, but to change our hearts. It is not so much what we ask of the Lord, but why we seek it that catches the eye of the Father.

I worked for seventeen years as a missionary with Youth With A Mission. My missionary work has taken me to Mexico, Canada, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Spain, and Ukraine. I hold a Masters of Education in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Commonwealth University. [email protected]

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