good prayer, bad prayer

I have always been bothered when ever football teams took the time to pray before they prayed. Why does it bother me? Was God suppose to hand that team a victory just because they prayed? If that is the motive, (victory in a game), then it is the wrong reason to pray. Such a prayer turns the God of Universe into a cosmic "do this for me" Gennie. Such attitudes and thoughts insult God and I can promise you that if He is not honored in your prayer, then He will not listen to your prayers. Don't get me wrong! Prayer is a good thing; prayer is a wonderful thing when it is done right! However in many cases (just like the football example), it is done for the wrong reasons, the wrong motives, and with the wrong expectations. Prayer is communicating with God. Prayer is lining up your will with God's will. Prayer is not getting your way or wish. Prayer does not involved chanting repetitious words or phrases. Prayer is not going into alter states or having a mystical experience. Such practice even when done under christian guise is occultic and a doorway that opens up to being influenced by evil forces. In fact let me share with you what Jesus says about such prayer practices-"And when you pray, do not use vain (useless) repetitions like the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words." (Mathew 6:7). And yet such prayer practices that Jesus told us not to do are being practiced today through soaking prayer, centering prayer, lectio devinia (spelling?), contemplative prayer, and other related practices. Such practices are pretty much a revolt against God-bottom line!

Let me share another example: Let's say there is a church that is praying for revival. Now revival is a good thing! However if the motive for revival is so that the church membership swells so that the coffers fill up with money then God would not honor such prayer. God honors our prayers when we honor Him and thank Him. If this same church started to pray for revival because they couldn't stand the thought of another soul in Hell, then such a prayer I think would be answered because it reflects God's loving character.

I want to end by recommending a book by R. A. Torrey called "How to Pray". It is good!