Contemplating a Theology of Prayer

We think of prayer as "us asking God for stuff," and usually that means actual stuff, or favours, and in the most holy of cases, for sanctification, wisdom, guidance, or the salvation of others.

We often define "prayer" as a conversation between us and God - though usually we talk, and rarely listen to what God has to say.

Usually we view intercessory prayer as us praying for favours, often in the form of healing or liberation, for other people.

I've been thinking about a theology of prayer; or a theological view on prayer; or my personal theological view on prayer; And I have a few propositions that may work somewhat contrary to these paradigms. Seeing as how this is my blog, I suppose that this is the fitting place to write about them.

Prayer should involve some asking, mostly for grace, but it should be mostly praising and thanking- at least for the part when we talk- and it is the best place to express anger, frustration, distrust, and depression, at, to, in, and because of God. Read the Psalms! God appreciates honesty.

Prayer is a conversation, but not like we usually do it. How does a child talk to a father, or a wife to her husband? It involves a lot of listening - eagerly, patiently. The God who spoke the universe into existence, and ex nihilo on top of that, also said "You, Christian, you are mine, and you are righteous." That same God has something to say to you. So listen!

If Jesus is our great high priest and mediator, who has the ear of the Most High God, and intercedes on our behalf; and if we are His Body, in Christ, seated with him in heavenly places, at God's right hand, woudl is not also serve to reason that since God sees Christ when He looks upon us, He might also hear the voice of Christ when He hears our prayers? Maybe when a man with a holy and godly heart prays earnestly to God, he hears taht prayer as from His Son, and Himself.

Maybe this is what the Word means when it says that the prayer of a righteous man availeth much; God's Spirit, in God's People, bought and sanctified by God's blood: reflecting God's nature back to God.