March 2003

Who we are praying to?

‘Prayer depends chiefly, almost entirely, on who we think we are praying to.’ Andrew Murray

In other words, if we are facing a little situation maybe a little God will suffice but as the tests increase that may no longer be the case. Of course, God does not change, but our perspective may be altered by experience. John Wimber said, ‘Our theology is tempered by our experience’. Something in us says it should not be like this, but it is!

With reference to the international situation at the moment, putting it bluntly, if our theology does not allow for the possibility of God being able to control events, then there is little or no point in praying about the situation. But Jesus ‘told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.’ (Luke 18:1) and he never issued pointless instructions.

In Daniel 3, we encounter three individuals - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – who certainly seem to have acquired an understanding of God’s awesome capabilities. When confronted with execution in a blazing furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar if they would not fall down and worship his image they replied, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’ (Daniel 3: 16-18).

It is an amazing combination of faith and courage and it is vindicated because, as we all know, they were able to emerge from the fire completely unscathed. ‘So Shradrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair on their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.’ (Daniel 3: 26-27).

To me, one of the most remarkable aspects of the story is that they did not even smell of smoke, quite apart from bearing no ill effects! In other words, what a God this God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego was - and he is our God too.

Therefore, we can pray about the current international crisis with absolute confidence that our God can take it in hand. At the moment, in my opinion, it must be right to pray for peace with a full resolution of the issues relating to the UN inspectors/weapons of mass destruction/Saddam’s treatment of his own people - ie peace with justice, but not a fudged peace.

If, however, it does go to war, then we should surely pray for a speedy conclusion of the hostilities with the minimum number of casualties (civilian and military) with a successful outcome for our forces and the people of Iraq.

Of course, the real battle that is raging is a spiritual one (unseen forces) and the best of all places for this conflict to be won is in the spiritual realm. It is for this reason especially that I encourage you all to be praying at this time.

We are including prayer for the international situation in all our prayer meetings at the moment (and it was a major item of prayer at the recent prayer weekend) and this prayer includes a particular emphasis on praying for our leaders as they grapple with the enormous issues and choices that face them.

Jeremy Jennings

This article is an edited version of one first published in Focus, March 2003. Reproduced here with permission.