Prayer is a powerful tool that Christians have in their arsenal. We believe that through prayer we have access to the creator and sustainer of all things. We believe that God is all-powerful, all-knowing and all-places and therefore when we speak to him in prayer we can trust that he not only hears, but has the capacity to do something about it.
Yet, our experience will tell us that not all our prayers get answered which can lead to doubt. This can particularly be the case if we listen to a range of Christian preachers that seek to explain that with enough faith, God grants all our prayers. All we need to do is ‘Name it and Claim it!’.
When we approach God in prayer we must always remember who it is we approach and why it is that we are able to come to him. We approach a holy Father who loves and cares for his rebellious children. As we come to him we need to ensure that we humble ourselves (James 4:10), coming in the right way and with the right motives (James 4:3).
But even if we do this, we must remember this isn’t a guarantee that we will receive the answer we want. God may just have other plans.
Adam.