When You Shouldn't Pray

This is a post that I read on Dr. Jay Adam’s blog at Nouthetic.org and really enjoyed its brilliance with simplicity. So, I thought it was perfect to share with you all. Enjoy!

There are those who claim that they are believers because they pray.  But all sorts of people pray—to all sorts of gods. I want, therefore, to make it clear that prayer—alone—doesn’t cut it.

“How do you know that?”

The Book of Proverbs is explicit on the subject:

Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing the law—even his prayer is detestable. Proverbs 28:9

Why should what we have to say to God (prayer) be deemed more important than what He has to say to us? Yet, there are those who think that prayer apart from study and observance of the Scriptures is all that’s necessary. Prayer without study and following the Word of God, is a way of manufacturing your own religion.  Why, you wouldn’t even know how to pray or what to pray for if you ignored biblical examples!

There is no easy way out—praying alone—you are required to listen to God as well!  Indeed, the hard work of learning God’s will (Scripture study) about all of life (including a proper prayer life) is incumbent upon you.  Don’t turn your ear from hearing God speak to you in the Bible—even when you think talking to Him is enough.

Original Post by Dr. Jay Adams

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