Only Everything

One of the most intimidating aspects of faith to me has always been prayer. In the past, I've questioned its purpose, since God already knows what's on our hearts and minds. Furthermore, He knows what's needed, what He's going to do and allow, and ultimately, He doesn't change His mind, because His will is immutable. The only conclusion at which I could arrive is that prayer itself is entirely relational, like faith itself. More than anything else, it's an active acknowledgment of His place in our lives.

The thing that's been on my mind lately is what we should be praying about. The obvious answer is to pray about everything, at all times, and in every situation. God is always present, and He has His hand in everything, and so constant acknowledgment of that fact is something for which we should all be striving.

That's why it's silly to me, when any Christians gathered with a group, talking about prayer requests, might say they don't need prayer. God is good, life is good. There's nothing major, traumatizing, or otherwise stressful in our immediate future, and so we think we don't need to be prayed for. But that thought might be a gateway to something more insidious. We get comfortable in the blessings when things start looking up. But surely we all must know we won't always be comfortable like that. Thought of otherwise is delusional.

And yet, speaking personally, that comfort gets into my head and manifests itself as pride, and I start to internalize a sense of invincibility. Times like that, when I begin to look at my circumstances and think I'm on the up and up, I tend to become less inclined to pursue Christ, or at least do so with less fervor. I'll turn my eyes away from Him, instead focusing on my own pursuits, interests, and diversions. Those circumstances, then, become much more dangerous to my faith than would be any physical, financial, or social issues I might otherwise have.

This is why God allows us to wrestle with worldly struggles. Without them, it's too easy for us to take the credit for the blessings He's given us, at least in thought, if not in word and deed. I think this is also why it's so important to give praise and thanks to God during prosperous times, as well as praying for continued guidance through them. Not out of fear that misfortune will strike otherwise, as it may or may not regardless, but because God's rightful place is at the center of our lives, at all times and under all circumstances.