Do we sometimes pray to God in much the same way we place an order in drive- thru, as if we have no time to “waste”?  Do we run to our Prayer closet, rush to drop to our knees (if we even do that), place our “orders” (prayers) before God, and then expect Him to answer those “prayers” in as much time–or–less as it takes to get our burgers and fries? Are you and I guilty of that sometimes? I’m afraid so.

     I don’t think that we do it intentionally, but do any of these sound familiar? “Lord, I really need this job; if you would just let me have this job, I’d sure appreciate it. In Jesus’s name I pray, amen”. “Dear Lord,  please give me the strength to make it through this work day. In Jesus’s name, amen”. “God, please let/don’t let it rain today. Jesus name, amen”. “Lord, give me strength. Amen.” 

     Maybe we haven’t prayed these exact prayers, or used these exact words? But wouldn’t you agree that at some point, during our Christian lives, our walk with the Lord, we’ve been guilty of some variation of these? I know that, shamedly, I have; this week alone in fact. And guess how quickly God has answered any of my ‘quickie’, ‘drive-thru’ prayers. Silence. 

     Is God punishing me? No, that’s not my God. Have I done something wrong, committed some sin? Have I been unfaithful to Him, neglected Him? Or is it that I haven’t done something I should be doing?  Yes, yep, certainly, you betcha, and ohhhh yeah. Hmmm, I sense a pattern.  Am I alone here? Maybe. Anything is possible. But honestly, I think not so much. 

     Remember last time, in closing, I made note of three exemplary examples of prayer, the apostle Paul, Job, and Jesus? There were times in their lives that they prayed earnestly and fervently to God; yet, He still said, “No”? I’m not talking about the kind of half-hearted, nearly effortless, and more often than we care to admit,  selfish prayers, the ‘drive-thru prayers’ that you and I are sometimes guilty of bringing before our Heavey Father. No, I’m talking about prayers that when examined closely, pretty much leave our prayer lives with much to be desired. Let’s take a look. Buckle up! It’s gonna be a long, bumpy, and self-examining ride, for us all.

     I can’t think of a greater example of a consistent, solid, and dedicated prayer life than that of Christ our Savior, can you?  One of the most agonizing prayers of despair and desperation that Jesus ever brought to God the Father is recorded three times throughout the gospels; the books of Matthew,   Mark, and Luke all give an account of Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemene, asking, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not my will be done, but thine”.

     Jesus prayed a variation of this prayer at least three times; still, not long after, he was led away, out of the garden and onto what would be his crucifixion. God, our Heavenly Father, denied His only begotten Son’s desparate plea, and allowed Him to be taken away. Now, this was not a long prayer; in fact, we can most likely read the words in less than a minute. But it certainly was not a ‘drive-thru prayer’.

      Jesus was stressed and in agony (Mark 13:35-54). Indeed, our Savior was under such stress and in so much emotional anguish that as he prayed so hard, so desparately, he sweat drops of blood. Call me presumptuous, but I dare say not one of us has ever prayed that hard in our entire lives. 

     I’m not saying that we have never prayed fervently, sincerely, or have never came before God in prayer with a true and sincere desire to genuinely communicate with our Heavenly Father. I have, and I’m certain you have as well. What I wonder is, how often do we take more than, say, thirty minutes out of our twenty-four hour days to pray to the Father, as if it were the last chance we may ever have to speak to Him again. When was the last time we found a quiet place, somewhere we knew we wouldn’t be disturbed, fell to our knees, and prayed like we have everything to lose, if we didn’t take that time alone with the One who gave His only Son so that we might have the privilege to come to Him in prayer? Speaking of losing everything, tune in next time–you won’t be sorry–when we pick up with “Drive-thru Prayer” (Part III) and discuss the prayers of Job.

J.