FAITH IN GOD NOT IN YOUR PRAYERS

FAITH IN GOD NOT IN YOUR PRAYERS

Here are some thoughts on prayer from one of the great Bible conference
speakers of the past, Vance Havner. Though he was small in stature, he
was a giant of the faith.

"Many have prayed earnestly for some definite blessing and then, when it
failed to come, have grown bitter and even cynical. And one hears from
such disappointed hearts the frequent refrain, 'I have lost faith in
prayer.'

The very phrasing of that statement reveals a misunderstanding of the
the right ATTITUDE toward prayer. Faith in prayer is one thing. PRAYER
IN FAITH is another.

The Christian who starts out with faith in prayer puts too much emphasis
upon prayer and not enough upon the GOD to WHOM he prays. He uses prayer
as a sort of magic talisman, an 'open sesame; to the things he wants, a
quick way of getting things he wants from God. Then, when he doesn't get
what he asks for, he gives up prayer as the heathen beats his fetish
when he gets into trouble. Prayer is really his god. Instead of being
pious, he is, in a sense, idolatrous. Faith in prayer may be a very
childish and inadequate attitude.

The OBJECT of our faith should be GOD rather than prayer. Then, prayer
in such faith will not fail. We ought first utterly commit all we are
and have into His hands and leave them in His keeping. We ought to
realize that while we can see only a tiny segment of life at a time, God
sees the length and breadth of it with all its complications and
intricacies. That being true, what we THINK we want man not, in His
sight, be our need at all. So, when we pray IN FAITH, faith in God, we
first recognize that ALL things are in HIS hands and that HE has
promised to supply our needs . . .

Faith in prayer may be a cheap thing, bordering on superstition, like
knocking on wood. But prayer in faith, FAITH IN GOD, is a sturdy, rugged
confidence that presents humbly, yet boldly, its claims and leaves the
rest with God." -- Vance Havner as quoted in MAGNIFICENT PRAYER -- 366
Devotions to Deepen Your Prayer Experience by Nick Harrison, published
by Zondervan

SMALL PRAYERS WILL ACCOMPLISH MUCH IF THEY'RE DIRECTED TO OUR VERY LARGE
GOD.

Good words for today. This powerful resource is available online at the
KESWICK BOOKSTORE -- www.americaskeswick.org.