A BAD PRAYER

A BAD PRAYER

Bible: 1 Kings 19:1-10

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth (PSALM 145:18).

Reading

Have you ever prayed a bad prayer? In school I often selfishly asked God to help me get better grades than my friends in my essays and tests. There’ nothing wrong with asking God to help us do well, but I really just wanted to get one over on my friends and hide my insecurities behind my good results. But while God didn’t always seem to answer these prayers, He also didn’t punish me. Elijah gives us a great example of God dealing with a bad prayer. Elijah had seen God do some amazing things, like sending fire from heaven (1 KINGS 18:30-40) and sending rain after a three year drought (VV.41-45). But when Queen Jezebel sent a messenger to threaten Elijah’s life, “Elijah was afraid and ran for his life” (19:2). Instead of trusting God, Elijah ran away into the wilderness. There he prayed a bad prayer. He asked to die (VV.3-4). What was God’s response? He showed amazing kindness and love, giving Elijah food and rest. Then He encouraged the prophet and set him up with the next steps of the plan (VV.5-18). We all pray bad prayers sometimes—prayers that are selfish or that just forget to be in line with God’s love and good ways (SEE JOHN 16:23). But even a bad prayer has some good if it shows our need for God. So let’s talk to Him no matter what our feelings. If we talk with Him honestly, He will change us to be more like He is, helping us to pray and live by His ways (COLOSSIANS 1:9).

GOD IS NEVER PUT OFF BY OUR HONEST PRAYERS.

YouTh Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries