The Goal of Prayer.
An invitation to (re)examine why we pray
Most Jesus followers would say that prayer is both essential and important. We hear it talked about and taught on. We have heard sermons, read scriptures, and have a sense of its significance in our walk with God.
But what is the goal?
Of the variety of spiritual practices (or spiritual disciplines) that scripture invites us into, prayer seems to be one that many people find challenging or even intimidating to engage in. Often, people wonder if they are “doing it right”. People sometimes question their ability to “sound good” at praying. Many times, people want to leave it to the professionals (just ask me how many times I am asked to pray for a meal as a pastor…).
Prayer isn’t for professionals.
Prayer isn’t about your eloquence.
Prayer isn’t about the secret formula.
And prayer isn’t about you getting things from God.
If this is true, you may be thinking, then why pray?
Here is what I know…
WITHOUT CLARITY OF THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER, IT IS HARD TO EMBRACE THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER.
Many people miss out on the gift of prayer because there is confusion about its purpose and goal.
I wish I could tell you that my journey of prayer has been one mountain top moment after another.
It hasn’t.
There have been seasons of incredible breakthrough and numbing ordinaryness. There have been times when I have been eager, and times when I knew it was simply the right choice (even when I didn’t “feel” it).
What God is teaching me (again).
Though I’ve been following Jesus most of my life and have been in full-time pastoral work for over two decades, He continues to teach me. In His grace, He has been reminding me of the goal of prayer:
HE IS THE GOAL.
Not just things from Him.
Not just information about Him, but to know Him.
It reminds me of how Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers:
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,” (Ephesians 1:17–19)
Paul doesn’t pray for their circumstances to change or even for their needs to be met. Praying for those things is not wrong (Jesus instructed His disciples to pray for those things). But if that is the goal of prayer, we are missing the primary point and goal.
The Goal of Prayer: Knowing God.
I want to encourage you to lean into the access that scripture says is available to you through Jesus Christ.
Sure, bring your needs.
Yes, bring your fears and worries.
But don’t miss the goal: Him.
Thank you Pastor Tyler for your sensitivity to the Holy Spirits wisdom on Prayer. It challenged me to make an effort to focus better to HIM and not myself.