Praise Is Necessary
When Jesus spoke about prayer, He was offering insights relating to our interaction with God. Most people simplistically think that prayer is simply uttering words to God, but prayer is far deeper and more complex than that. Imagine we walk into a coffee shop and sit down at a random table. We turn to the individual at the table and begin to initiate a conversation. What are the odds that such an activity will bring about a satisfying experience? It is my conviction that prayer is quite often a similar exercise. How often is prayer a spouting of words by people to a God they do not know? For many, it is reaching out to someone they do not really want to have interaction with, someone they never think about unless it is a dire emergency. Often it is just a superstitious rant. Words are uttered in the hope that good luck will find them. God desires communication with us that goes far deeper.
God designed humanity so that we might have deep and intimate fellowship with Him, but the sad reality is that Satan has blinded most people to this reality. Last week we noted that Jesus began His instructions regarding prayer by saying that we must adore and hallow God. While this might seem like a simple fact, it is one that is often missed or forgotten. Consider these questions: Do you feel joy and adoration when you think of God? Do you feel the love of God pouring out in your life? While these questions might seem unrelated, they are deeply tied together. Ponder the following illustration. Imagine that you take your daughter to the finest children’s store in the world. This store is filled with the most beautiful toys ever made. As you lead your daughter down each aisle of incredible gifts, her eyes grow more and more amazed. Her smile beams brightly. When you finish surveying what the store offers, you kneel next to your child and say, “You will have none of this. I am going to spend all of my life doing all I can to make you miserable.” This would be a horrible thing to do. Imagine how distorted her view of the world would be. How warped would her view of herself be? If a daughter cannot trust her father, how can or will she trust anyone or anything?
This story of broken dreams and destroyed trust mirrors the fall of mankind in the beginning. In Genesis 3 we have the story of God placing the first man and woman in a beautiful garden. God told Adam and Eve everything there was for them, except for one thing. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was placed off limits. Despite this one condition, Genesis 3 is a story of great opportunity and loving provision. After God issued this command, Satan entered the garden. In Satan’s dialogue with Adam and Eve, he lied and, in effect, told them that since God would not let them have everything, God did not want them to have anything. Satan desired to break the relationship that God had with mankind. In response to Satan’s lie, Adam and Eve sinned. Creation was cursed. Perfection was gone.
This lie of Satan has been repeated again and again throughout the ages. Despite the curse that has blemished this world, mankind still lives in an amazing place. Humanity has been given blessing upon blessing, yet people live in darkness when it comes to understanding the love and mercy of God. The Bible tells us that each day is a gift from God. Yet, how often do we live and act as if God does not love us with an eternal, immeasurable love? In summary, how we think about God and our attitude toward Him in prayer does matter. We must resist the lies of Satan and remember that we have a great and amazing Heavenly Father. Let us resolve to praise God and open our eyes to His life-changing love. Keep looking up!