Not Asking for Anything

Not Asking for Anything
by
January 04, 2018
in Prayer, Walking With God
2 Comments
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“I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live” (Psalm 116:1-2).

I think that some of the greatest prayer is prayer where you don’t say one single word or ask for anything. Now God does answer and He does give us what we ask for. That’s plain; nobody can deny that unless he denies the Scriptures. But that’s only one aspect of prayer, and it’s not even the important aspect.

Sometimes I go to God and say, “God, if Thou dost never answer another prayer while I live on this earth I will still worship Thee as long as I live and in the ages to come for what Thou hast done already.” God’s already put me so far in debt that if I were to live one million millenniums I couldn’t pay Him for what He’s done for me.

We go to God as we send a boy to a grocery store with a long, written list, “God, give me this, give me this, and give me this,” and our gracious God often does give us what we want. But I think God is disappointed because we make Him to be no more than a source of what we want.

Even our Lord Jesus is presented too often much as “Someone who will meet your need.” That’s the throbbing heart of modern evangelism. You’re in need and Jesus will meet your need. He’s the Need-meeter.

Well, He is that indeed; but, ah, He’s infinitely more than that!

From A.W. Tozer, Worship: The Missing Jewel, pp. 24-25.

 

To consider:

Do you agree with Tozer’s opinion that “some of the greatest prayer is prayer where you don’t say one single word or ask for anything?”

I mentioned this to a brother recently and he replied, “If you’re not asking for something or saying anything, what do you do?” It’s a great question – one that exposes how our conception of prayer can be very one-dimensional. Tozer’s answer to the question is a good one: prayer is considering God’s past faithfulness. He writes: “God, if Thou dost never answer another prayer while I live on this earth I will still worship Thee as long as I live and in the ages to come for what Thou hast done already.” An important part of prayer is considering God’s many blessings, the countless ways He’s shown His love for us.

Is reflecting upon God’s faithfulness a part of your prayer time?

Start right now. Turn your eyes away from this blog, close them, and think deeply about how your heavenly Father has cared for you all throughout your Christian journey – and even before. When we do, we may find ourselves in agreement with Tozer that what He’s already done for us is already enough to merit our praise and worship for a thousand eternities!

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Comments

  1. Donna L : January 4, 2018 at 7:51 am

    I must admit, I can’t say I have ever just sat quietly in my prayer time and just listened without saying a word. I can say, that looking back over my life, I don’t know where I would be had I not found Jesus when I did. There were times that my faith is what held me together. Being able to turn to God, pour out my soul and know He cares and hears me, knowing He was carrying me through difficult times, encouraged me and kept me going. The Bible says, “Pray without ceasing”. Although I am guilty of not always living by that quote, it is good to know that all day long I can talk with my Lord, like I might talk to a friend on the phone.

  2. Anne Brassard : January 4, 2018 at 4:57 pm

    i find so much comfort in Romans 8:26-27. To know that when we do not know how to pray, the Holy Spirit is our helper is so awesome. I was quite astounded when I read today’s blog because as I was waking up this morning I was beginning to worry about the storm and what it might bring. I put myself in check and decided to pray about it instead but the words just didn’t want to come. I felt almost stymied by it. And the I just got silent and found myself running over my life’s blessings. Thoughts of them just kept flooding my mind and I found myself just praising God for his goodness and mercies. I read the blog and felt as though the Holy Spirit had surely gone before me this morning!

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