40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006 - Day 10

Focus: Why Do We Pray?
By Doris Rypke, Mercy Ships Germany

Scripture Reference:
“Pray, then, in this way: Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”. Matthew 6:9-10.


Devotional:
For many years I prayed without really knowing why. I thought that God knows everything anyway and since He is Almighty everything that happens is His will Of course this did not create a great desire in me to pray Then during a teaching on spiritual warfare (Eph. 6: 10-18) the speaker said “If everything that happens is God´s will then what does verse 11 stand for?” Eph. 6:11 tells us to stand firm against all the strategies of the devil.

A little later God reminded me of the Lord’s Prayer and confirmed the teaching I had received. Why did Jesus tell us to pray “may Your will be done” if everything that happens is God’s will? If we are to pray for His will to be done, then we are acknowledging that not everything that happens is God´s will. God created us in His own image which means we have a will of our own.

Therefore if we want His will to be done we have to pray and not give up until His will happens. We also need to listen so that we know what His will is. One indication that something is not God’s will is if that thing is not good and perfect, as James 1:17 tells us.


I am still bothered about unanswered prayers that seemed to be in agreement with God´s will. There might be a reason; for example sin or a lack of faith, but this is not always the case! We will not always see or know why some prayers are not answered. Not everything is God´s will, but in the end He is almighty and nothing is impossible for Him (just have a look at Job). God has shown me (and given me peace) that there are many things we don’t understand and that it is okay. We don’t need to understand everything, but trust God and His word.

Prayer Points:

* Pray that God will send more people of influence and resources who can continue financing the completion of the African Mercy.

* Pray for wisdom about the right timing in the events of our lives.

* Pray that the people who get in contact with Mercy Ships (worldwide) will not only learn
about Mercy Ships, but also that there is a God who loves them and wants to have a
relationship with them.


* Pray for faith to believe for the impossible.

* Pray that everything we do will glorify God and bring people to Him.