Read: Psalm 145

The Lord is near to all who call
upon Him. -Psalm 145:18

Margaret watched as her mother prayed for the help her
poor family desperately needed. Despite those prayers,
the family’s poverty remained. Margaret concluded that
prayer does no good.

Now, decades later, Margaret is an atheist. “It
seemed to me that if prayer really worked,” she said,
“it would have much more effect.” Margaret
misinterpreted her mother’s prayers to be a test for
God.

Prayer is not a trial balloon we send up to see if God
is there. It is an opportunity He has given us to
communicate with Him. To use it as a test for God’s
existence is an insult to the One who created us.

Look at Psalm 145:18. There we read, “The Lord is
near to all who call upon Him.” For those in trouble,
that promise has more value than any temporary physical
help. The passage also points out that God expects
something from us. When we pray, He expects us to “call
upon Him in truth” (v.18) and to “fear Him” (v.19).

God’s existence is not being put to the test when we
pray. We don’t make requests of Him to see if He’s
real. When we pray, we are showing God that we have
faith in Him and that we are willing to do what He says.

Prayer is not a test. It’s an act of worship.
-J. David Branon

Speak, Lord, in the stillness
While I wait on Thee,
Hushed my heart to listen
In expectancy. -Grimes

PRAY TO GET TO KNOW GOD,
NOT JUST TO GET THINGS FROM GOD.

OUR DAILY BREAD, Copyright 1999 by Radio Bible Class,
Grand Rapids,Michigan. Used by permission.