Torch, Spring 1982

12 PRAYING WITH by W. David Warren W e read in the Scriptures of Abraham who reverently, yet daringly, reasoned with God to secure the deliverance of Lot from Sodom's destruction. We read also of Jacob as he wrestled all night face to face with God and clinging to Him until God blessed Him. We read further of Moses. He pleaded with God to spare the Israelites and, in a stroke of bold logic, offered himself as the "whipping horse" in their place. We listen to Elijah as he prayed earnestly that it might not rain on the apostacy-riddled Northern Kingdom. We are stunned as we hear Jonah taking God to task for His gracious response to the Ninevites' repe11tance. Even Habakkuk argued with God over the propriety of His dealings. We watch in amazement as our Savior Himself sweat blood-like drops of perspiration as He pleaded to not drink the bitter cup of suffering that awaited Him. We tune in as Paul beseeched God to remove his thorn in the flesh on three different occasions. Such instances in the Bible call us to examine our own prayer lives. How much wrestling, reasoning, pleading, expressing of strong feelings - in a word, how much intensity - is present in our prayers to God? Usually, our prayers are pale, lifeless dronings. Our praying sounds weak and anemic, ho-hum and hum– drum. It is but an emotionless print-out from computer– like minds. We shy away from expressing our innermost feelings. We fear telling it like it is. We feel it irreverent to vent our logic on the Most High. Yet, such was not the case with many who prayed in . the Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit obviously deemed their vigorous and emotion-packed outbursts worthy of permanent record. Yes, there can be and should be a very real intensity in our prayer life. TERMS FOR INTENSE PRAYER Of the eight major New Testament terms for prayer, four of them have intensity built into their meaning. The term deomai has the notion of begging, entugchano that of appealing, iketeuo that of imploring earnestly, and parakaleo that of beseeching. The point is that no fewer than one-half of the terms for prayer have an emotional intensity about them. How can we beg, appeal to, implore earnestly, or beseech God with a bland, ho-humness? Indeed, Biblical praying must include intense praying! INVITATIONS AND ENCOURAGEMENTS FOR INTENSE PRAYER Not only do the terms for prayer have an emotional atmosphere about them but, also, so do the invitations to prayer. God invites His children to bare their hearts to Him. A few notable examples will suffice (italics mine, for emphasis). "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee" (Psalm 55:22) . "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears .... This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles" (Psalm 34:4,6). "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7). Note the buildup of intensity in the three commands. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4: 16). Though many other such passages could be cited, these are sufficient to show that both the Old and New Testaments encourage the believer to "Tell it like it is" to God. We are to vent to our God our anxieties, fears, desires, and questions as well as our joys, excitements, and anticipations. THE LOGIC OF IT ALL When we stop to think about it, it is only logical that there is to be an intensity in our praying. As there is a