Why Am I Afraid to Pray? - Peace Church, Loyal OK

Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
John 14:27 NIV

Loyal, OK

Pastor Leon Seaton

Why Am I Afraid to Pray?

Romans 8:12-39, the words of Paul, the Apostle:

Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all--how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

As it is written, "For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

...In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The last 2 days have been quite an education for your pastor! On Thursday evening we heard about a drowning in the Oklahoma Park in Kingfisher, but we did not recognize the name. I gave up ambulance chasing years ago, so we prayed for the family and let it go at that. Friday morning we heard that the 15-year-old boy was the grandson of one of our members, so we have spent a lot of time at the park since then, helping the family as they wait for the rescuers to get the body out of the water. His body was found about 1:30 this morning.

The family is doing as well as can be expected – thanks to your prayers.

Yesterday afternoon one of the mothers of the teenagers that are staying in the park, waiting for the recovery of their friend’s body, came to me and told me how angry some of the teens were. They felt that the law enforcement and rescue officials were slighting them, and in their fatigue and anger they were verbally striking out at the officials.

Please understand that I am intimidated by teenagers. Hey – I’m 69 years old! So, I found a couple of other people and told them about the problem, hoping that they would pick up the ball and run with it. Nothing happened!

So I decided to go into the lions den all by myself! Kneeling at the picnic table where they were sitting, so I would be below their eye level and not intimidate them, I asked them to share their feelings and thoughts about Jesse – since my wife is a distant cousin to the boy I wanted to hear about how they felt about him.

Then they told me about some of their dreams for the future. I then asked how the people of Kingfisher could better help them. What they said really surprised me.

Most of the kids in this group come from “troubled homes,” as they put it. They feel like the community does not give them the support they need.

Later a captain from the fire department talked to the kids and they said that they wanted to feel like they were a part of the recovery effort, and he promised that beginning in the morning he would find ways to help them become a part of the effort. After the fire department people finished, they were called away on an emergency, so we had a large prayer circle and prayed for the kids and the rescuers.

Why am I afraid to pray? I see a huge need, and I’m concerned that if I go to the Lord in prayer He might say, “Good idea, Leon, go for it!”

I once met a man that told me he was afraid to pray. Fascinated, I asked for an explanation. His wife was dying and he prayed earnestly that God would spare her life. God did… but now he has to take care of her 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. The only way he sees out is to pray for her to die, and he doesn’t want that to happen.

He and I are in the same boat! Since we can always identify the other person’s problem. we will start with him. He thought that all healings in the bible were 100%. Either the person got well or he didn’t. However, Jesus prayed for a blind man, and when He asked the man if he could see the man said, “I see men like trees walking.” So Jesus had to pray again. Then the man received his sight.

We need to walk closely with God so that we have a full understanding of scripture, otherwise we are on the dangerous side.

That does not mean we have to memorize the entire Bible to be effective. It means we need to study the scriptures daily and let the Holy Spirit speak through us.

Intellectually I know that God will reward any prayer or activity I take to help the teens we discussed. As all of us know, spiritual burdens can be heavy at times. Our scripture for today reminds us that if the Holy Spirit is in us, Christ is in us. He lives in our hearts by faith. When we have Christ in us, we have a new nature; our soul is alive to God, and we are filled with a holy joy that will last for ever.

When we are saved, we have the righteousness of Christ imputed to us. As Christians it is our obligation to walk after the Spirit.

If we habitually live according to corrupt desires, we will certainly die in our sins.

However, it is clear in scripture that the saints (us) will have spiritual battles and what Paul called, “light afflictions.”

Anytime we turn to God in prayer we need to be aware that this will set off spiritual battles. Jesus taught us to “Count the Cost” before undertaking the building of a house. This is also true of intercessory prayer. We need to be aware that persistent prayer is spiritual battle and the enemy of our souls may seek to put a stop to the prayer.

Daniel had to pray 21 days to get the answer he desired. God had dispatched an angel with the answer on day one. However, the “Prince of Persia” had interfered with the angel. (Daniel 10:12-13)

Please do not let that make you give up before you start!

Just as there is a price to pay to win, there is a price to pay for failure! If we do not maintain our home or automobile, the financial loss will be much greater than the cost of maintenance.

If you have a cancer in your body you really need to get it out, or the penalty is high. But cancer treatment will not be that much fun either!

In verses Romans 8:26-27 we learn that the Holy Spirit empowers us to pray. The Holy Spirit teaches us what to pray for; as a sanctifying Spirit, He works and stirs up the power to pray, and as a comforting Spirit He silences our fears, and helps us overcome all discouragements.

The Holy Spirit is God’s agent that makes us hungry for God. When our burden is so heavy or we do not know how to pray, the Spirit can pray through us with “groanings” that we cannot be put into words. The Spirit searches hearts; He can perceive the mind and will of our spirit, the renewed mind, and advocate His cause.

When the Spirit makes intercession to God through us, it is the perfect prayer, and the enemy cannot destroy that prayer. However, we must pray in faith.

In all things, the purpose of God will prevail if we depend on Him. Our relationship to God is a high and holy calling. It is an honor and privilege to serve Him. But… and here is the hard part… it may call for self-sacrifice! Therein lies the problem! We want to do things our way!

Verses 35-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written, "For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What then is the good news? God is on our side! If God be for us, no one can be against us!

So, pray without fear! God will certainly bless you!