Lord’s Library contributor Jared Helms offers commentary on the dangers of manipulative prayer and how to avoid it. Check out Jared’s YouTube channel and two blogs: A Light in the Darkness and Blind Faith Examples, or send him a reader response email. Lord’s Library’s Ministry Leaders Series is a collection of contributed articles written by ministry leaders on key Christian topics.
We could also have named this article “the folly of trying to twist the Almighty Arm.”
Perhaps the most popular book on prayer over the past few decades has been Bruce Wilkinson’s work entitled “The Prayer of Jabez.” The book presents itself as an application of 1 Chronicles 4:10 which according to Wilkinson holds the formula for obtaining our requests in prayer. Wilkinson had previously done good work in Biblical instruction, but in this instance, his exposition fell well short of the mark. Editor’s note: This is why we don’t link it here.
See 1 Chronicles 4:10: “And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.”
The Dangers of Manipulative Prayer
What Jabez does in 1 Chronicles 4:10 is to recall the specific promises of God relevant to the situation and to presume upon the faithfulness of God in much the same way Daniel does in Daniel chapter 9. The success of both men ought not be attributed to the formation of their prayer, but to their correct understanding and application of God’s revelation.
Our prayers are helped not by formulas and rituals, but by our right appreciation of the divine truths of Scripture.
We are often fearful of approaching our Heavenly Father for the same reason we feel trepidation approaching any authority with a request; mainly, it might be denied, delayed, or outright rejected. We believe that we know what is best for us, we are born believing that and have a very difficult time learning to doubt it. So, just as we try to manipulate our parents, our spouse, or our boss we look for ways to force God’s Hand.
O, but God’s arm is not easily twisted. Indeed, there simply is no means of making God act in accordance with our will. God will always, always act in accord with His own perfect Will. Now, that can be very frustrating at times: the one who is writing confesses he finds it just a bit frustrating at the time he writes. However, this wonderful immutability of God is a profound goodness. First, because we often pray for very silly things that would do us great harm if we got them. Secondly, if we could manipulate God so could other people who want contrary things. Thirdly, God’s Will is consistent whereas our wills are not.
As for all these formulas, incantations, and rituals, they are witchcraft cloaked in Scriptural terms, making God an impersonal force wielded on behalf of the idol of self by foolish pride. Those who propagate such evils are spoken of in 2 Peter 2. Trying to twist God’s arm is a losing proposition. Let us not be dismayed by such folly, nor deterred from continual, earnest, expectant prayer. See 2 Peter 3:17-18: “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
Any material purposed to get you something from prayer other than communion with the Holy Trinity is not worth reading. Even good books on prayer can be bad for us if we are looking for the secret to getting our wishes granted. We have to keep a close eye on our hearts lest we find ourselves prying at the almighty arm trying to get something worse than what our Father has already ordained for us.
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