What Your Prayers Reveal About Your Spiritual Maturity

Summary

Prayer reveals spiritual maturity. While praying for health is biblical, prayers dominated by emergencies often expose shallow dependence on God. Jesus taught that answered prayer is tied to abiding in Him and bearing lasting fruit. Mature believers pray for God’s glory, spiritual growth, unity, endurance, and gospel impact. Our prayer focus exposes what we value most and whether we live dependently on Christ in every area of life.

His name was Bill. I liked him. He was facing a life-threatening operation to fix an aneurysm. His doctor gave him a five percent chance of surviving the necessary surgery. I prayed fervently for him. I was elated when he made it through the surgery.

When We Pray Because We Are Helpless

I prayed because I felt helpless. Bill had a problem I couldn’t fix. I asked God to intervene to spare my friend. I was dependent on Him to do what only He could do. He graciously answered.

Such prayers are legitimate. God cares about sick people. Jesus healed many of them during His ministry. When His disciples asked why they couldn’t cast out an evil spirit, Jesus said prayer was necessary (Mark 9:29).

The Apostle Paul prayed for healing for the father of Publius (Acts 28:8). James said the sick should call for the church elders to pray for them (James 5:14-15).

Calling on God Only in Emergencies

About 90 percent of the prayer requests I received as a pastor were health issues. We call Dr. Jesus to the rescue, especially when Dr. Smith isn’t giving us much hope.

When our prayers are health-issue-dominated, we are like a grape branch attaching to the vine for emergencies and immediately detaching when the crisis subsides. We must remain in Jesus through life’s ups and downs to bear lasting spiritual fruit.

Remaining in Christ to Bear Lasting Fruit

Jesus said, “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name” (John 15:16 NLT). Did you notice in this verse that producing lasting fruit is the condition for the Father to say yes to our prayer requests? Our prayers reveal what we value. Do they reflect a passion to bear lasting spiritual fruit?

I think and also talk about fishing, sports, ministry fruit, and gardening. As our speech reveals our thoughts, our prayers reflect our need for God.

Immaturity Revealed Through Prayer Focus

Immature believers are satisfied with a fire department God to call on in emergencies. Health-issue-dominated prayers betray imagined self-sufficiency in other areas of life, a mark of spiritual immaturity.

Prayers Reveal Spiritual Maturity

Mature Christians recognize they need Jesus in every area of their lives. They live and pray dependent on Him. Their God-centered thinking and living generate prayer naturally. Their prayers build God’s Kingdom and further His interests.

Let’s consider things for which they pray:

·       To keep God’s name holy (Matthew 6:9).

·       For God’s Kingdom to come soon (Matthew 6:10).

·       For God’s will to be done on earth, as in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

·       For more workers in God’s fields (Matthew 9:38).

·       For God’s blessing on those who hurt them (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:28, Romans 12:14).

·       For spiritual alertness (Luke 21:36, Ephesians 6:18).

·       For victory over temptation (Mark 14:38, Luke 22:40).

·       For Christian unity (John 17:21 NLT).

·       For God’s confident hope, joy, peace, endurance, and patience (Romans 15:13, Ephesians 1:18, Colossians 1:11).

·       For the safety of evangelists (Romans 15:31, 2 Thessalonians 3:).

·       For Christians to mature spiritually (2 Corinthians 13:9).

·       For believers to understand God’s power (Ephesians 1:19).

·       For Spirit-generated inner strength (Ephesians 3:16).

·       For boldness, opportunities, and the right words to share the gospel. (Ephesians 6:19, 20, Colossians 4:3, 4).

·       For overflowing love, knowledge of God’s will, spiritual wisdom, and understanding (Philippians 1:9, Colossians 1:9).

·       For the power to accomplish the good things faith prompts (2 Thessalonians 1:11).

·       For the gospel to spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes (2 Thessalonians 3:1).

·       For God’s help for all people, especially those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1, 2).

·       For generosity (Philemon 1:6).

Letting Prayer Expose What We Value

What does your prayer focus reveal about you?

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