One of the more perplexing aspects of our Christian walk with the Lord in light of Reformed theology is the practice of prayer. Our conception of God’s sovereignty and omnipotence based on the knowledge of the truths found in the Bible may lead us to ask questions such as “why do we need to pray at all” and “what effect does our prayer have upon the Lord?” These are legitimate and important questions to consider as prayer is a very visible and practical manifestation of our life as a believer. An incorrect expectation and understanding of prayer can lead to a prayer life filled with ungodly attitudes and a sinful heart.
We start our consideration of prayer with a definition. What is it? Prayer is one aspect of our communication with God. The Lord speaks to us in several ways, including revelation through the natural world (Psalm 19:1, Romans 1), revelation through the Bible (II Tim 3:16-17), revelation through the sovereign actions of the Lord’s will (Rom 8:28), revelation through chastisement (Heb 12), and during the time that the Bible was being forged, communication directly with His prophets through actual speech, miracles, and dreams. Likewise, we speak to the Lord in several ways. During the time of the Bible’s formation, just as the Lord spoke directly to His prophets, they in turn dialoged with Him. In our time, we communicate with God through worship, through singing (Col 3:16), and through actions such as partaking of the Lord’s supper (I Cor 11). But our most direct line of communication with God is prayer. It is our monologue with the Lord. It is a time for us to bear our soul before Him and to focus on the Lord. Him and us. Us and Him. That is prayer. Read the rest of this entry »