I often listen to lectures while driving or walking.

Recently, I listened as a social psychologist presented his theories about how and why many people reject God and turn to atheism. But what really got my attention was the question and answer session following his lecture. A statistical psychologist explained a study in which he and other psychologists documented the religious behavior of a group of aspiring professionals who were required to pass a rigorous examination in order to be licensed to practice their profession. As the test date drew nearer, many of those in the study group reported spending more time praying—including those who professed not to be religious. Surprisingly—or perhaps not—the study concluded that those who prayed the most were more likely to fail the exam.
Maybe I should title this, “Statistical Study Proves Jesus Wrong.”

You may recall that Jesus famously said things like, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24) He also said, “For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)

So how is it? Pray hard so you can fail? Or pray hard so you can move mountains?

Unfortunately, for many of us, our experience is more like those who prayed—and then prayed harder and more often—and then failed their exam. After all, have you moved any mountains lately? And if our experience runs counter to the results Jesus promised, it may be that our practice is opposed to the principles Jesus taught. If our results are wrong, our understanding or our methods must be wrong.

As Jesus prepared to leave his disciples on the eve of his crucifixion, he emphasized an important truth in his instructions to them. Several times in John 14, 15, and 16, Jesus urged them to pray “in his name.” John 16:23, for example, says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” In John 14:14, he said, “If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” Whatever else that might mean, it certainly includes the idea that prayer is not asking what I want, and it is not asking for my sake. In fact, John 14:13 states, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” Notice: We ask, for the Son, so that the Father is glorified.

Asking in Jesus’ name is something like a child running to the neighbor’s house and saying, “Mommy sent me to ask if she might borrow a cup of sugar.” Asserting someone else’s authority, to accomplish someone else’s purpose, in someone else’s time. This is very different from, “Give me some sugar,” which is my own imperative with no indication of authority, responsibility, or concern of another.

Prayer is not a magic potion, a talisman, or a remedy for my irresponsibility. If it is only a last resort, it is little more than a desperate plea or an admission of unpreparedness. Pray is not about getting what we want, gambling on God bailing us out, or an excuse for laziness. It is not a quick fix. If we only pray in crisis, we should not expect God to fix our errors. But God delights in the prayers of those who seek Him first, who call on Him for guidance before the crisis, and trust Him for strength to succeed where He directs.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16