Have you ever prayed for something and later wondered if you'd prayed the wrong thing?
Perhaps the results weren't what you expected.
Does that mean God answered a bad prayer?
Prayer is too marvelous and mysterious for us to completely understand. But my Scripture study reveals only one reason God might answer stupid requests—to show stubborn people that they need to quit trusting themselves and start trusting Him.(1)
Two scriptural examples:
1. God gave quail to the ungrateful, rebellious, unbelieving Israelite complainers in Numbers 11. It didn't work out well for them.
2. God gave the rebellious, worldly-minded Israelites a king in 1 Samuel 8. It wasn't the right time, nor was it the right king.
Both requests were stubborn and rebellious. The Israelites would never have realized how wrong they were if they didn't experience the consequences of their stupid prayers.
The good news is this: God looks at our hearts. If our "stupid" prayer isn't rebellious or stubborn, God won't answer it. We need not fear that we might pray for the wrong thing.
We can pray about anything that's on our hearts. And God will answer our prayers according to His will.
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." 1 John 5:14
(1) See James 4:2-3. It explains that God doesn't answer all stubborn, rebellious prayers. He alone knows what we need.
To do a Bite Size Bible Study on this devotion, click HERE. And I encourage you to check out these one-minute devotions:
5 Requirements of Effective Prayer
What It Means to Pray Continually
{Kathy} Ummmm. Yes, I have been guilty of stupid prayers. But I always remember that God wants us to come to him as children. A child's prayers are not always the most lofty and eloquent.
ReplyDeleteYes, Kathy, we have all been guilty of stupid prayers. So glad that God knows our hearts.
DeleteThanks for this, Gail. As you know, this is a rough point in my spiritual journey. It helped when you said that God looks at the motives in our heart. Very, very helpful. How do you always know what to say so succinctly? You have a gift and are certainly using it to God's glory.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad it helped, Gail, and I appreciated knowing your thoughts as I wrote this devotion. Thanks also for your kind encouragement.
Delete: )