Prayer is such a beautiful thing. Having access to God from anywhere at anytime is a gift we often take for granted.
No special buildings, clothing, or postures are needed in order to connect with God. You don’t even have to be “good” at praying because God knows your heart. God has made prayer very simple and easy for us to exercise.
On the other hand, we’ve been able to turn prayer into something not so beautiful at times. Here’s a phrase you’ve probably heard in Christian circles — “I’ll pray about it.” If you’ve heard this before, you know exactly where I’m going with this.
We often pray when we're seeking guidance and direction. Sometimes we need to table an answer until we’ve thought and prayed about it. Other times, the answer is already clear what needs to happen without praying about it. We don’t always need to pray for an answer from God because Scripture already provides many answers for us.
The Bible is a pretty big book and it includes a lot of helpful answers to the questions we seek. Instead of searching for new answers in prayer, search the Bible to see if God has already provided the answers there.
Here’s an example of what I’m talking about so that we can start getting practical.
Serving in a local church gets tiptoed around by many Christians. When an opportunity presents itself to serve in church it often gets missed due to procrastination. A request is made by the pastor, or another volunteer, but the serving opportunity is left on the table because they need to “pray about it.”
Now, there are a couple of things worth noting about a situation like this.
First, the Bible already gives an answer as to whether or not you should serve in a local church in some capacity. 1 Corinthians 12 is one entire chapter about spiritual gifts being given to every single believer for the common good of the body.
There’s nothing to pray about. The answer is right there!
“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills” (1 Corinthians 12:11).
It can be intimidating at first to realize that each of us are called to be a contributing part of the whole local church, especially for those who feel unworthy or inexperienced. However, God provides an answer to that as well.
“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty” (1 Corinthians 12:21–23).
Still not seeing the answer clearly?
“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27).
The Bible is undeniably clear that every single Christian is called to serve in a local church to some degree. There’s no need to pray about this. God is clear.
As I stated before, there’s a second thing to note about a situation like this.
While there’s no need to pray about whether or not each of us should serve in the local church, we should pray about where we serve.
The thing is, we shouldn’t use prayer to procrastinate. The majority of the time, most believers know their spiritual gifts and can see the needs of the local church.
Not everyone knows their spiritual gifts and it’s important to prayerfully seek the gifts. Ironically, the help of the local church usually plays a big part in helping one another discover spiritual gifts. There’s no shame is not knowing your gifts right away. You may need to serve in a few different ways before realizing how God has gifted you.
To bring this example home, it’s important to understand that some things don’t need to be prayed about. For instance, we know that every Christian is called to serve the common good with the gifts God has given each member. However, prayer is needed to discover which area members should serve in.
Is there something you are currently praying about? Are you searching for some answers in prayer? My encouragement for you is to search the Scriptures to see if God has provided the answer already.
The Bible is sufficient and helpful. It’s not just a good option. It’s the only way. If there’s an answer in the Bible, then that’s the answer.
Scripture reveals more to us than just information. When we open the Word and take in its truth, we are experiencing the voice of God. It will not return empty. It will accomplish God’s purpose. It will prosper and transform. It’s our only objective go-to.
Now, to forewarn you, the answers you’re going to find in Scripture may not be what you want to hear. Steven Lawson said it well, "The Bible is not hard to understand. It is just hard to swallow."
Most of the time, we are drawn to the Bible because it encourages us and deepens our relationship with God. Other times, it corrects us. We may not agree with God on everything, but whose direction is true, right, and perfect? Are God’s ways higher or our ways?
It’s a game changer when the Bible becomes more than just an option. God’s Word is everything to us. Christians aren’t allowed to get a different answer from somewhere else if we don’t like the Bible’s answer.
Truth is not meant to go in one ear and out the other; it’s supposed to remain in your heart and go out through your hands, mouth, and feet.
If you’re unsure about what to do, or where to go, search the Scriptures to find the answers God has provided. Some things need to be labored over in prayer, but in other things we just need to believe what God has said.