I didn’t know you prayed

“I didn’t know you prayed,” Kyle said.
“Normally, I don’t. This time I’m making an exception.” 1from “Curse (Blur Trilogy Book 3)” by Steven James

This seems like a conversation that would really happen – someone praying that doesn’t normally pray, or maybe even for the first time.

So – I had to look up this scenario, to find something on official “church” doctrine for when people pray for either the first time or maybe only rarely.   

I was disappointed.  Even surprised.  Very disappointed.


For instance –

In the Bible prayer is worship that includes all the attitudes of the human spirit in its approach to God. The Christian worships God when he adores, confesses, praises and supplicates him in prayer. This highest activity of which the human spirit is capable may also be thought of as communion with God, so long as due emphasis is laid upon divine initiative. A man prays because God has already touched his spirit. Prayer in the Bible is not a ‘natural response’ (see Jn. 4:24). ‘That which is born of the flesh is flesh.’ Consequently, the Lord does not ‘hear’ every prayer (Is. 1:15; 29:13). The biblical doctrine of prayer emphasizes the character of God, the necessity of a man’s being in saving or covenant relation with him, and his entering fully into all the privileges and obligations of that relation with God.  2Thomson, J. G. S. S. (1996). Prayer. In D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, & D. J. Wiseman (Eds.), New Bible dictionary (3rd ed., pp. 947–948). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

The first part is a bunch of “churchy” words, most of which will mean pretty much nothing to someone who isn’t already familiar with them.  

Then we get to these words – Consequently, the Lord does not ‘hear’ every prayer.  Seriously.  A God who is everywhere, knows everything, Etc. – doesn’t even hear some prayers?  To me, that’s not logical.  God may not answer every prayer – but how can He possibly know everything when He chooses to not even hear some thing?  (Yes, I know there are quotes around the word “hear” – and I realize what they mean – but honestly, someone who is looking into this for the first time won’t know that at all.)

The first example used in the book is from Isaiah is this –

Isa 1:15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even if you offer many prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood;
Isa 1:16 wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds
out of my sight!
Stop doing wrong,
Isa 1:17 learn to do right!
Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.

Footnotes

  • 1
    from “Curse (Blur Trilogy Book 3)” by Steven James
  • 2
    Thomson, J. G. S. S. (1996). Prayer. In D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, & D. J. Wiseman (Eds.), New Bible dictionary (3rd ed., pp. 947–948). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
  • 3
    Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
  • 4
    Smith, W. (1986). In Smith’s Bible Dictionary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
  • 5
    Smith, W. (1986). In Smith’s Bible Dictionary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
  • 6
    Smith, W. (1986). In Smith’s Bible Dictionary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
  • 7
    Smith, W. (1986). In Smith’s Bible Dictionary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

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