Pray Without Doubting

# 63 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 1Ti 2:8, “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; (1 Tim 2:8) Paul's instructions to Timothy and the church regarding prayer might here be called the three “withouts” We have covered the necessity of praying WITHOUT sin clinging to us, and number two on the list is to pray WITHOUT wrath. The third WITHOUT is doubting. The word in the Greek is dialogismos, from which we get the word “dialogue.” Isn't that interesting? I thought prayer IS dialogue! Well obviously this is not the dialogue between God and us when we pray, rather it is the dialogue that we internalize as we pray. It is coupled with wrath for good reason. Just as wrath should not present in our hearts as we pray, so must this dialogue be absent. But what is this dialogue? In the New Testament, this dialogue never has positive connotations, it is always negative and it covers all kinds of wrong thoughts regarding our fellow men or regarding God! An example of these kind of thoughts are found in Mt 15:19 "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, (same Greek word) murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” Think of it this way: If you were to approach your King to seek favor or benefit from being one of His subjects, and you have these kind of thoughts, you won't even get in the door because “only the pure in heart will see God!” it is as Jesus said in Mt 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.” What a dilemma! We all deal with these kinds of thoughts! How then do we handle this? We deal with them by utilizing what is the opposite of doubt.....namely faith! Faith in the Word of God which says we can approach our King through the cleansing and purifying power of the blood of Jesus! Heb 10:19 says. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.” Brothers, sisters. Know that at times you will feel unworthy to stand before the King to make requests, you are going to have your doubts! But be even more sure of your right to stand before Him because of what Jesus has done for you! “Lord as my heart overflows often with doubt, I plead with the father who pleaded with You for his son to be healed. “I believe, help my unbelief! (Mark 9:24)