I was taken aback and almost horrified this weekend when someone asked me to pray for them because he was sure God would be sure to answer my prayers over others. While I was a bit flattered by the compliment nothing could be farther from the truth. God does not play favorites with anyone. “Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism.’” Acts 10:34
Nobody gets a special hearing. Then again if God did have favorites, I would certainly NOT be one of them.
Prayer is a personal experience with our heavenly Father who loves each of us dearly and will do for each of us the best thing available. At times I have wondered why we need to pray. If He is, as Jesus tells us, our heavenly Father, will He not give us all good things without our having to ask? I sometimes wonder if our situation is akin to Job. Satan is waiting to accuse God of playing favorites and somehow by our asking we give God the ethical right to give us good things.
One thing for sure is prayer is not magic. There is no mantra needed to facilitate God’s attention and care. There are no formulas or memorized rituals that fast track us to God’s mind. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6.
It is no wonder the priests killed Jesus. He made them superfluous. No one needed them anymore. Bypass the human and go straight to the divine. That works for EVERYONE.
Written by by Roger Bothwell on August 8 2016
PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
rogerbothwell.org