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written by Stephan Joubert

“We just need to pray more. Then it will go better with the country.” That’s what someone said the other day. Everyone agreed immediately. “How do you know that?” someone asked out of the blue. While everyone just sat there with the mouths full of crowned teeth, one answered: “The Bible says so.” “Yes,” the rest agreed. “Where in the Bible do you read that prayer’s primary function is to ensure safer life circumstances for everyone?” this person continued. Again there was silence. Someone said: “It’s written somewhere that you should ‘pray and you shall receive.’” “Yes, but does that mean that everything in our country will suddenly be better if we send larger volumes of prayer heavenwards?” the questioner wanted to know. “Do you really think that there’s a prayer-meter that measures how long each of us prays and how many people pray for a particular matter and then these matters get a higher priority from God?”

He carried on: “Prayer is not a quick fix. It is primarily about God and his glory. If there is someone who needs to be changed by prayer, then it is primarily the one who prays himself.” About then everyone started talking at the same time. Some agreed, some not. I walked away with some new perspectives on prayer.

I believe that prayer is important for God’s will to happen. But maybe my prayers are selfish. Sometimes I pray for a better country just in order for us to be able to continue in our comfortable lifestyles. Do we really care about those who suffer, or do we only want to avoid being the next victims of some bad thing? That’s why today I plead together with the disciples from Luke 11: “Lord, teach us to pray!”