Healthy Prayer
“Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:24-25)
The conversations around a family’s dinner table did not spontaneously arise overnight; rather, they are the byproduct of many, many minutes together. In this time, our children learn what to ask, when to ask, and how to ask. Table talk isn’t innate, but learned. The same can be said of prayer. In our passage today, Jesus provides three ingredients for a healthy prayer life – a proper faith, a proper foundation, and a proper forgiveness.
A proper faith is required for proper prayer. When we say “faith,” faith has two meanings. On the one hand, we mean by “faith” that belief in God’s person and work, promises and provision. We use this language when we say with Paul “striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.” (Phil. 1:27) On the other hand, we use “faith” to mean that trust and reliance. Quite simply, faith takes God at His Word (Mark 11:23). We will never ask God for something if we do not believe that He is able nor willing to answer. Faith believes that heaven is not barred shut and that God’s heart and God’s hand are open to us. Do we have a “faith” that encourages faith? Do we have a theology of God that leads to a practice of faith-filled prayer?
More than a proper faith, a proper foundation is required. What is that foundation? God’s promised provision or God’s revealed will. 1 John 5:14 reminds us that God will hear us, if we ask anything according to His will. Now, you may ask, “How can I know God’s will?” You have a transcript of His will before you in the Scriptures. The Word of God is that firm foundation from which we may lift our voices to our Father. There is not a need which is not covered, nor a provision that is not promised. A proper prayer life does not bring to God our wish list; rather, it prays back to God His promises. It takes God at His Word and holds God to His Word. When we pray, do we pray the promises? Can we match our wants to His will?
Lastly, a proper prayer requires proper forgiveness. We do not take this seriously. Unforgiveness hinders proper prayer. Faith is necessary for prayer, but that faith must also come from a forgiving heart. Forgiveness is the chief blessing which God gives (Ps. 103:2; Lk. 24;47). All others flow downstream from this highest point. If we have not forgiveness, can we expect anything else? If we cannot forgive, can we expect anything at all? J.C. Ryle states: “We must have the heart of a brother toward our neighbor on earth, if we wish God to be our Father in heaven. We must not flatter ourselves that we have the Spirit of adoption if we cannot bear and forbear.” Are we harboring unforgiveness? Is a hard heart clogging our prayers? Let us be quick to ask for forgiveness and quick to extend it that our prayer life may continue to be healthy.
