This month’s Forward in Christ article on prayer—“Clearing up confusion”—highlighted three popular misconceptions concerning prayer.

In this accompanying Bible study, we will examine those three issues further, looking to the revealed Scriptures from God for instruction on the purposes of prayer.

Where questions are asked, some suggested answers are provided.  However, before you look at the suggested answers, be sure to give thoughtful consideration to the questions yourself, or talk about them in your family or group Bible study together.

Prayer is not a proof

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) commented concerning the use of answered prayers as a proof of divine favor from the gods.

It was a good answer that was made by one who, when they showed him hanging in a temple a picture of those who had paid their vows as having escaped shipwreck, and would have him say whether he did not now acknowledge the power of the gods. … “Yes,” he asked again, “but where are the pictures of those who were drowned after their vows?”  And such is the way of all superstition, whether in astrology, dreams, omens, divine judgments, or the like:  men, having a delight in such vanities, notice the events where they are fulfilled, but where they fail, though this happens much more often, neglect and pass them by.   [Excerpted from Novum Organum (“New Instrument”), 1620.] 

Do we as Christians sometimes do exactly what Bacon described as a fault of those who believe superstitiously in other gods? 

Suppose someone we love is diagnosed with a deadly disease, and we pray urgently, and healing happens.  We rightly thank and glorify God for his answer to prayer.  But then suppose the opposite occurs.  We pray and pray for someone, and seemingly we get no reply.  Healing doesn’t happen.  Are we tempted to wonder if God is really hearing us?

What do the following Scriptures tell us about how we are to respond when we pray for something and don’t receive what we ask?