“Let Us Pray”

By

Emilio Chaviano

May 5, 2011

The prayers we pray say a great deal about the kind of people we are. The same applies to the prayers we don’t pray. By extension prayers are a reflection of how a nation thinks of itself. In the Hebrew Scriptures we find great examples of people who prayed the kinds of prayers God loves to answer. Elijah prayed a prayer of self-sacrifice. Hezekiah prayed a prayer of total dependence in the Lord. His confidence was not in wealth, wisdom, the size or capability of his army or the eloquence of his words – but in God’s omnipotent greatness. Our prayers can easily be filled with the illusions of pride. Here is an example of a good prayer for those who might be inclined to do some praying and thinking. It is the prayer of Jabez: “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. (I Chr. 4:10 NIV)  Most of us pray asking for favors and divine intervention. A good time to pray is when we feel on top of the world and believe that our human capabilities got us there.