One Prayer, Or?

¨Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.¨  Matthew 26:41 (KJV)

There are some bold new teachers out there these days which would have us think that there is more power in just one prayer.  These confident people push the idea that we show faith in God by making a request only once, then believe with all our hearts that whatever we prayed for will be accomplished.

The concept behind this may sound good to our ears.  We know that the Lord is generous and loves to respond to our expressions of faith.  However this teaching does not coincide too well with the teachings of the scriptures or the encouraging of our Savior.  It may even have its roots dug too deep into secret selfish sins of our hearts.  Because in the end, the once-praying man may only be seeking his own gain.

Rather than speculate too much on the concept, let us direct our attention to Jesus.  Here in the Garden of Gethsemane, our Savior took His troubled spirit to the Father three times.  Had He been relieved of His anxiety the first time, He would not have needed to return the second and third.  What is more, Jesus told His disciples and therefore us too, ¨keep watch and pray.¨  Does this sound like a once-done act, or something more constant?

Perhaps we humans get far too distracted by the expressions and results.  Praying itself is really a connecting the worshipper to his or her God.  It is a communication, a uniting of interests and a relationship. Two entities, the worshipper and God, come together and share the moment.  In our case it is of the created reaching out and embracing the Creator. It is a lifting up of God and placing matters into those bigger hands. Or like a child looking up to, and being reassured by the presence of the parent.  We are adjusting ourselves to our God.

The one-time praying man refuses to adjust himself to God, but attempts to make God bow down to his own worldly interests.  He may achieve success by receiving answers to his prayers, but one must wonder who is actually behind those answered prayers.

Dear Lord, carefully and gently You have always led us towards greener pastures.  Thank you for not throwing us away to work things out on our own.  You are always there with outstretched hands to support us and aid us along.  It is this presence that gives us strength and our moments with You in prayer are what sustain us.  If one prayer is able to do much, that give us strength to come again and find more from You.  Build that relationship through much and many times spent close together.  Then, let our wills be moved to ask what we learn to ask of You by our greater experience together with You there.

To You and for You, be all things we pray!

Amen