Conditional Prayer
“If you do this, then I’ll do that” is a conditional promise. There are also promises made without conditions. The Lord loves without condition, but I’m not sure He blesses without conditions. I recall the passage where Jesus said: “….For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” (Matthew 5:45b NLT)
It is always best to do good. The Lord is good, and He wants us to do good things because our heart is good. If I were God (and I’m clearly not), I would bless those who do good.
I’m not sure if the Lord puts conditions on my prayers, but I honestly can’t blame if He does. Solomon prayed and thanked the Lord for his position as King at the dedication of the temple that he had just built. His prayer indicates conditional prayer. Check this out….
22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire community of Israel. He lifted his hands toward heaven, 23 and he prayed,
“O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion.
38 and if your people Israel pray about their troubles, raising their hands toward this Temple, 39 then hear from heaven where you live, and forgive. Give your people what their actions deserve, for you alone know each human heart. (1 Kings 8:22-23,38-39 NLT)
I should be clear that I believe that the Lord’s love is unconditional. The Lord can do anything He chooses. I’m just thinking that the effectiveness of my prayer life has a lot to do with the current condition of my heart toward the Lord. I’m sure thankful that He extends grace and mercy when my heart is a mess. I do think I have the responsibility of cultivating a clean and devoted heart to the Lord ahead of my prayers that ask Him for anything. I want to keep praying though, because He’s the very One Who can help me clean up my heart.
Pressing On!
Dwayne