“And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgement: blessed are all they that wait for him.” (Isaiah 30:18)

The scriptures are clear that there a few activities a faithful believer should consistently engage in.  Those things include praising, rejoicing, loving, reflecting, and certainly praying.  If praying should be a vital part of the life of a believer, exactly what role should it play from day to day.

Praying to Keep the Lord Near . . . Not Quite

We are taught throughout the scriptures that the Lord will not forsake us in his mercy.  We are reminded that He is strong when we are weak, and that where our sins abound, his grace doth much more abound.  But in this particular scripture the prophet Isaiah through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit clarifies how his grace is delivered unto the believer.

“And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you”

Even the newest believer understands that the Lord is omnipresent just as he is omniscient, and therefore we understand that he can be with multiple believers at the same time.  The Lord’s ability to comfort his Children is not limited by proximity or time.  Yet, it is often conveyed that when we find ourselves in a tumultuous situation that we must cry out to the Lord in order to receive his mercy and grace.

Our Lack of Faith and Our Prayer Life

In thinking on these scriptures my mind is directed to the apostles as they rode the waves upon a rough and tumble sea. (14th Chapter of Matthew).  The Lord began to walk towards these disciples and they became afraid because they believed him to be a spirit.  The Lord told them to be of good cheer, and Peter responds by asking the Lord to allow him to walk on water as well.

“And he said, Come.  And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.”

Notice that the scriptures indicate that the Lord did not continue to walk toward him.  The Lord stood still and waited for Peter to find the fear that the Lord knew was within him.  Soon Peter found that fear and began to sink, crying Lord, save me.  So often we find ourselves in the same position.  The Lord is waiting on the spot and in the time where we will face our trial.  He does not cause the trial or tribulation.  He did not cause Peter to sink.  Peter could not have walked the steps he did on top of the water without the help of the Lord, it was Peter’s unbelief that caused him to sink.  The Lord does not cause our problems.  Our problems are caused by the sin in this flesh and the constant warfare we face between belief and unbelief.  But just as Peter found the Lord waiting to be merciful to him, so do we each day.

So Why do we Pray?

Like any good parent Our Heavenly Father already knows what we need before we ask.  He knows better than any natural parent for he can see the intents of the heart and what lies ahead for his children.  Yet like any good parent, he has a desire that we ask for what we need not just expect it to come pouring out.  We pray in order to express our need for his grace and mercy in our lives.  He is always there and always faithful, let us learn to trust in him more each day.

May you have a blessed day today.

Elder J.W.