The second week in our study of prayer inspired us to take stock of our personal prayer lives. Like locating ourselves on a map. A sort of “you are here” reflection.
And the questions were the type that make us a bit squirmy. Because the Scriptures encourage us to have faith and do not doubt. So why do we? Does it mean we are unstable or double-minded? Is it possible to have faith and absolutely no doubt?
All the doubt questions led us to the revelation that God is not as concerned about our doubt as He is concerned about what we do with it. Doubt has a way of exposing our unbelief, yet we serve a compassionate God who is always calling us deeper in faith and in prayer.
Perhaps we’ve given Thomas, the one we call Doubting Thomas, a bad rap. He didn’t hide his doubt or try to cover it up. He boldly told the others about it, and even gave the conditions as to how his doubt would turn to faith.
So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
John 20:25 NIV
When Jesus showed up again, He spoke directly to Thomas’s doubt. There was no chastising or shaming. Jesus simply revealed the truth, and Thomas’ doubt was transformed to faith.
The reality of life and faith is there will be doubt. Cultivating a passionate prayer life includes being honest about our doubt and trusting Jesus to transform it.
It’s good to remember we are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. God takes up residence within us to help us pray. It’s like having a constant prayer meeting going on in our soul.
The Father hears our prayers, the Son has made way for our prayers to be heard, and the Spirit helps us pray.
Shelby Turner, Pray: Cultivating a Passionate Practice of Prayer
We can trust the Spirit to help us pray when we have no words, even when all we can do is groan.
Which brings us to another delimma. What should I pray for? Is it really okay to present my wants and needs to God? What’s the difference?
Sometimes, when we’ve been praying for the same thing for a long time, we might feel as if our prayers sound like a broken record. Or maybe we’ve come to a place where it’s just easier to follow some ritual that doesn’t require too much thought. So we ask, “how can I be sure my prayers are genuine, not full of empty phrases requiring little faith?”
Genuine. It means “sincerely and honestly felt or experienced; actual; true; free from hypocrisy or pretense.” (Merriam Webster) Our leader shared three questions to consider when we wonder or try to determine if our prayers really are genuine.
First, does my prayer line up with the truth found in God’s Word?
Second, are my prayers aligned with God’s will and character?
Finally, am I offering to God my truest, flawed, doubtful self?
This is not a list of rules to determine if we are praying perfectly. No one does. It’s more of a litmus test. Something to consider as we cutivate our communication with the Holy.
God is not surprised nor taken aback by our needs and wants. Nor is it our job to inform Him just in case He’s busy with an entire world’s problems. There’s no limit to God’s infinity or divinity.
Cultivating a passionate prayer life is understanding prayer is mostly about us. We are often the one who is unaware of our deepest need or some doubt. Prayer is showing up exactly like we are, in the season we find ourselves, faithful, doubtful, but always authentic. And trusting the Spirit to reveal, to teach, to transform us from the inside out.
We trust God to move us from here to there.
Join us on Wednesdays at noon for our study.
We’d love to have you at the table.
Unraveled Love 
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