Pastor John,
A recent “Pearl of the Day” brought up an issue I was praying about today.
I have been pondering today and asking God why, in some cases, when I want to pray, I can’t feel the spirit of prayer. It really bugs me. Through the years, I have often witnessed the Lord having different people pray in different situations, and it all was perfect, so I know that side of the issue. But when I remember the scripture that “men ought to always pray and not to faint”, how do you fit that thought with the Pearl that says ”every unanswered prayer decreases your faith”?
Lord, send us a spirit of prayer, which has faith with it that changes things! When this happens, you know things are changing.
Wendell
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Hi Wendell,
For just about every observation about life found in the Bible, there is something else in the Bible that acts as a counterweight to it, and gives it balance. And we can embrace both sides, both statements, without contradicting ourselves. No one statement can encompass all that there is to an issue. As for the issue of prayer that you mentioned, I think that both statements are true, and taken together, they give us a well-rounded understanding. Men ought always to pray, as Jesus’ parable taught, and every unanswered prayer weakens faith, as my father taught. The answer is in your last sentence; that is, for God to lead us in prayer, by the Spirit, so that what we pray carries weight in heaven.
Thank you for the question.
Pastor John