‘Wuss’ prayers

I was on the phone, the other day, with a good friend, and the subject of prayer came up.  She said, “We pray such “wuss’ prayers."  Do you agree?

Perhaps we need some definition.  The Urban Dictionary online defines ‘wuss’ as  “A person who is physically weak and ineffectual....or A person of dual sissiness.” 

Prayer can be an easy topic for many, like the morning TV ‘news’ shows...”our prayers go with you.”.  I’d love to follow Matt Lauer around after he says that (which he does, often).

Should we pray for anything we want?  Well, what are you asking for?  James 4:3 tells us we are asking incorrectly, amiss.  Do we need more Elizabethan English for God to accept our prayers?  I normally don’t use the word ‘vouchsafe’. except at Morning Prayer (the Te Deum). You know that’s not true.  But what is?

Do a quick Bible study of asking.  Google it.  Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount says, (Matthew 7:7-11) "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"  (ESV).

Start with Hebrews 4:16.  Be bold because we are talking to our Father.  Look at Matthew 21:22, Luke 11:13, John 14:13-14.

Are we truly seeking our God’s will, or is our prayer life a bunch of wuss prayers, like “Oops, sorry Lord.  I do have a moment for you, and please bless my family.  Amen”?  ARGH!  What’s coming BOLDLY about that.  Pretty ‘wussy’, actually.

Christ spent the whole night praying.  Do you remember one of His requests about ‘this cup passing from Him”?  Martin Luther regularly spent three hours in prayer.  How ‘bout your prayer life? 

Jesus told us to come s a little child to the Father, and ask of Him.  All of my children had no problem asking my wife and/or me for lots of things...all the time.  They were children. 

So...what are you asking Him for today?

+gbf