A recent report on Religious News Service reveals that 48% of Americans (not just Christians) say they pray every day. Twenty percent say they pray for people of other faiths (or those who subscribe to no faith).
But those who say they pray reveal a surprising range of topics in prayer:
▪ 21% pray to win the lottery
▪ 13% pray for a favorite team to win a game
▪ 7% pray not to get caught speeding
▪ 5% pray for success in something they know wouldn’t please God
Say what? Those results (confessions?) are even more surprising considering what the Bible–and Jesus in particular–says we should pray for.
On the one hand, the Apostle Paul did tell Christians, “in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6, KJV). So that would seem to cover requests for a winning lottery ticket or a good parking space (7%).
But even a quick glance at the prayer Jesus modeled for his first followers–often called “The Lord’s Prayer” or the “Our Father”–reveals another kind of praying. Call it the “Jesus way to pray.”
Jesus said to pray for God’s reputation to be preserved, for his kingdom to come, and for his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10).
He said to pray for God to provide your simple needs (Matthew 6:11). He said to pray for forgiveness–and for the grace to forgive (Matthew 6:12). And for deliverance from trials and temptations (Matthew 6:13).
He didn’t say not to pray for your team to win next Sunday. But it seems fairly safe to say that most of us are neglecting or losing great blessings by not more often praying Jesus’ way.
To paraphrase another of his teachings, “What will it profit us if our team wins the big game but we lose the things we need most?”
What about you? What sorts of things are you praying for these days? Does your praying reflect the survey above? Are you praying “the Jesus way” or some other way?
