The Journey of Prayer

We are starting a series on prayer this week at Mt Zion Baptist Church, and it’s a subject I enter with much fear and trepidation. On the one hand, it’s a subject that has been talked about, preached on and countless books have been written on the many different facets of prayer. 

Nevertheless, as I have begun to evaluate my own prayer life in light of the prayer life of Christ and His apostles, I find myself far away from the place of prayer where my Savior was at.  In other words, I have fallen into the trap of a theology of prayer that has been developed over the years based on clichés rather than sound doctrine.  Clichés like “pray this prayer, and you can be saved” or “prayer is just talking to God”.  Another good one is “prayer will change God’s mind”.  We even can support that one with Scripture (John 3:10, 1 Ch 21:15, etc.). Although I will agree that some of these clichés do have merit and are based on sound doctrine, I feel it’s time for me to know what prayer is all about and to look at the Biblical theology of prayer.  

So begins my journey, although, I understand right from the start that many of my questions and interest will not be satisfied as with most of my studies in Scripture. Rather as I study and practice what I will learn, I will soon realize that the more I know about this subject the more I will realize how far I have yet to go.  However, this is not disappointing for me, but often fuels my interest and brings me great satisfaction to know just a little more of an infinite God.  

The journey, as they say, is many times, sweeter  than the destination.  Especially if you are traveling with good company. Besides, with the things of God the journey can never end. You only rise and arrive at a place of breathtaking beauty, and there you sit to enjoy the vista and the exhilaration and satisfaction of reaching the top.

Nonetheless, you find it’s not the final destination, but a resting place.  Even so, while you sit in awesome wonder of a knowable God, you come to realize that there is yet another challenge – a greater challenge.  For what you could not see before is another mountain peak to climb, this one is a little higher and will require navigating through some tougher obstacles.  But your confidence, trust and faith in God has grown, and you know that the difficult journey will be good.  In reality, you begin to better understand it's all about the journey because this journey in knowing God will be a never ending journey that will just keep getting better.