Do you think you can think on your own? Think again.
In the previous posts we have seen five reasons why prayer is important for learning truth about God, his Scriptures, and all the great questions of life. Here is the sixth and final surprising reason to pray for understanding.
6. Our ability to think rationally comes from God.
Apart from God’s aiding you moment-by-moment to have a rational mind, you would have no more ability to think with spiritual reason than a cow chewing its cud.
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon shows that. He was the mightiest man on earth until God judged him for his pride. “Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.” (Daniel 4:33)
But after a time, God had mercy on him and restored his rational ability. “At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation” (Daniel 4:34).
Our ability to understand even the most basic things, such as 2+2=4, comes from God!
“What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7).
“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36)
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17).
And specifically, Scripture tells us that understanding comes from God:
“For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6).
Prayer is key
And when does God promise to give understanding?
Proverbs 2:1–6 says, “My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
God gives understanding to those who ask for it.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God” (James 1:5).
Again and again, the psalmist prayed for understanding:
“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law…. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart…. Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments…. I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!… Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word!” (Psalm 119:18, 34, 73, 125, 169)
In order to know truth about the things of God, you can make those prayers your prayers. Prayer is an essential guide into truth.