Prayer changes nothing
Gordon Cheng / 1st August 2004
The book of Proverbs is full of practical insight about how to live in this world. Why, then, doesn't it say more about praying? Prayer is mentioned only three times, once to make it clear that God's not listening!—to the prayer of the unrighteous, that is.
Could the reason be that prayer changes nothing? Some Christians have a mechanical, even magical view of prayer: the more I do it, the more I get what I want. The insight of the book of Proverbs is that God alone is in control. Our focus, then is not to be on the words we speak to him. Rather we should attend to the one who listens, and who is by his Spirit inspiring us to pray. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge”. (Prov 1:7)