This passage, where God spoke to Solomon, contains tremendous promise for those who seek God in prayer. It presents hope for restoration in times of conflict and suffering. Furthermore, it is often referenced in political and ethical contexts regarding a nation, urging believers to repent and pray for healing. But as we read this verse, our focus, as it often is, grows too narrow or becomes misplaced altogether.
We tend to highlight and emphasize the physical act of prayer, which is undoubtedly worthwhile and should be practiced regularly by every believer. However, we often overlook the conditions God presents when approaching him in prayer. Faithfulness in prayer is not merely the frequency of our prayer, but also its form, and God has clearly stated his expectations for what it should look like.
Faithfulness in prayer is not merely the frequency of our prayer, but also its form.
We are told that when we pray, we should do so with humility. There is nothing prideful concerning prayer and proper prayer leaves no room for one’s ego or agenda. A humble heart has relinquished all control and authority over personal goals and objectives; it has surrendered time and treasure. Humility removes ourselves from the forefront of all thought and places God in preeminence. In short, prayer that pleases God is not presenting our agendas before God but casting our plans aside and seeking his.
Praying is seeking God’s face—desiring to be in his presence. Modern conveniences have made communication possible without being in the same physical location. We can phone, email, or text with others around the globe without ever seeing their faces. We conduct virtual meetings with a shirt and tie, while pajama pants and shorts are worn below the camera’s view. In reality, we’re often only partially present, whether it is physically, mentally, or emotionally. This duplicity is not what God expects, nor is it what he deserves. Seeking his face means that we are totally and unreservedly in his presence. Our attitude and actions demonstrate that we want to be there—that we enjoy him—not simply that we’re seeking him to grant a request. We enter into prayer fully expecting to gain God’s attention while giving him nothing less than our own.
Praying involves submission to God and rejecting all other things that hold our loyalty and affection. We often read the words “wicked ways” and immediately resolve our minds to acts that even most nonbelievers would consider egregious—lying, stealing, and murder. However, in reality, these and many other “ways” merely manifest the true evil that refuses to die within us. Our wickedness lies in that which subverts God’s authority over our lives. Anyone or anything that draws affection from God is adultery; any person or thing that challenges our loyalty is an idol. It is impossible to enter God’s presence, dragging our graven images behind us. They all must be left at the door.
It is impossible to enter God's presence, dragging our graven images behind us.
Prayer is a regular occurrence of many believers; however, we are often too expedient in our prayers. We casually overlook the conditions in which we should engage God. He has given us the recipe for prayer that honors him, and we cannot separate these four ingredients. While they may seem unique and isolated, they are, in fact, four distinctive attributes of a single action. Furthermore, they are not to be done in a prescribed order but simultaneously throughout prayer. For those familiar with casseroles, compare them to baking a cake. When baking a cake, ingredients must be added in order and with the proper amounts. In general, on the other hand, casseroles are assembled by mixing most, if not all, ingredients in a pan simultaneously. While the former may seem sweet, initially attractive, and immediately gratifying, the latter offers the most sustenance.
In the end, the problem with prayer is not prayer itself but rather our callousness when approaching it and then believing it to be acceptable. The problem with prayer is us. Prayer that God accepts—that promises an audience, forgiveness, and healing—is that which is offered in humility while seeking God’s face and submitting all things that compete for our hearts.