Diagnostic Prayer

Whether we recognize it or not, we all live with two sets of beliefs about God. We have first our formal theology—the things we’ve learned to nod our heads to: God is all-powerful, loving, wise, good, always present, etc. This formal theology sits on a shelf with a thin layer of dust depending on how often we need to pull it out to answer questions in Bible studies. But we all also have another set of beliefs about God, our functional theology. This is theology that guides us every waking minute of the day. It is what we truly believe about God. What we truly think He is like. This functional theology is used so regularly that we aren’t even aware of it. It doesn’t sit isolated on a shelf, and it is not for show. It is so foundational to the way we think and act that we don’t even recognize our functional theology as theology. We think we truly believe our formal theology. We are so good at knowing what to say and how to respond when the right questions are asked. Our hands grasp the formal theology, flip to the proper section and glibly recite the relevant passage. We do it so routinely that we don’t recognize the fact that as soon as the answer is given, the formal theology goes back on the shelf without the slightest penetration into our everyday lives.  

Two Different Theologies

I hope I haven’t confused you. I am not suggesting that we have a deep-down hidden affection for unbiblical beliefs. What I’m saying is that while we formally attest to an all-powerful God, many of us live by the belief that we have a somewhat powerful God. We formally claim He can do “all things” but what we really mean is that we expect Him to do only the things we deem reasonably possible. We put the check mark by “God loves us with an everlasting love” while deep down believing that God loves us only when we’ve behaved ourselves.  

Two different beliefs, two different theologies. And while it is sometimes hard to unearth our faulty functional theology, one somewhat surprisingly helpful tool we can use to diagnose the degree of difference between our two theologies is to examine our prayers.    

Prayer as a Diagnostic Tool

Interestingly, prayer reveals quite a bit about the functional theology by which we live, and if you’ll permit me, I’d like to ask some questions about your prayer life that may help you come to see some things you didn’t realize about your true theology.    

I will start with something basic. The first question is: do you pray? Do you set apart some time of your day to talk to God in prayer? I know I’m writing to those who live challenging lives. I know you live in a world of ups and downs, days mixed with nights. Let me be crystal clear; I’m not asking do you spend an hour every morning by the side of your bed in deep solitude and prayer. I am asking do you pray? Do you make a point each day to call out to God in prayer?  

You see, if your answer is “I’m too busy” or “This season of life just doesn’t allow it” it reveals something about your functional theology.  

A Question of Power?

My assumption would be that there is a lack of understanding of one of two things: God’s power or God’s love. For some reason prayer has not made it to your list of essentials for the day. For some reason, prayer hasn’t made it to the priority level of eating and sleeping. Why is this? Logically, this can only be because you are either failing to grasp God’s power or His love. What else would keep you from flying to Him? If there was a physician who had just found a cure for your child’s illness, what would stop you from getting to that physician? Would the busyness of life be such an impediment? I don’t know you, but I imagine nothing would get in your way. You would beat the door down to get an audience with that physician. Why? Because the love you have for your child and the belief in the power of the physician. Is your estimation of God’s power so low that you do not think Him capable of helping your child? Is your belief in His wisdom, His grace so miniscule that you don’t think it worth the time to seek an audience with Him?  

A Question of Love?

Or is it not an issue with the belief in God’s power but rather a question of His love. You believe He can heal. You believe He can give grace to endure and wisdom to navigate choppy seas, but you struggle to believe He will do so for you. Have years of being denied your dearest request caused you to turn from God, to question His love and to wonder at His promises? The truth is, from beginning to end the Bible proclaims God’s steadfast, unfailing love for His children. What else is the cross other than a fixed assurance of God’s love? Do not miss this: God loves His children. The One you refuse to seek in prayer is no indifferent genie in a bottle. If you have accepted Christ as your Savior, He is your Father. He does not grant wishes, He gives Himself. Oh, we think so small. We see only now. We are so easily blinded by suffering that we cannot grasp the fullness of what our God is doing. My friend, He knows the longings of Your heart—but He also knows YOU. He knows the plans He has for you, as well as your child, and He will not sacrifice the greatness of His plans though they often cut and sting. He loves you, my friend. He bids you come, pour out your heart. Allow yourself to be met in your sorrows, your confusion, your hurt by a God Who both knows you and loves you, a God Who is near and eagerly working all for your good.  

Know the Barrier

Again, I don’t know the details of your world, but I do know that if prayer is not a part of your daily existence, something is wrong. There is something askew with your functional theology. Which is it? Is it a struggle with the power of God or with the love of God? Do you fail to see the importance of prayer because you don’t know His might? Or do you hang back from His presence because you don’t understand His great love? What is keeping you from praying?  

Now while I would like to continue this examination of our true theology through the diagnostic lens of prayer next month, I want to end today by crying out with the Psalmist:  

“Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” (Ps. 62:8).  

An Invitation to Pray

On this first month of the new year, take time to examine your heart. Take out your functional theology and lay it side-by-side next to the formal theology you claim to believe. Check for gaps. Examine your true belief in God’s power and His love. Do you see His power rightly? Do you know His love personally? If not, make this the year that you do. Make this the year that you truly get to know your Father. Make this the year you learn to pray.  

If you would like someone to walk with you through this process, please reach out to This Present Hope at info@thispresenthope.org. We have trained mentors that would count it a joy and honor to help you grow in your faith. May God bless you as you continue to seek real hope in the face of real heartache.  

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