Ezekiel 22:30 "I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one."
When I read this verse I sense that God was hoping for a bold prayer warrior. Someone who would hold God to his promises. A confident Israelite with just a touch of reverent confrontation. At the very least a very insistent intercessor. There are fine lines between arrogant demanding from God, milk toast weak puny prayers and confident assertiveness. I think I too often fall on the milk toast end of the spectrum. I ask, but don't expect. I pray, but don't look with anticipation for the answer to prayer.
I wonder if most 4 year-olds have more confidence in Santa bringing a Lego set than Christians have in God's answering prayers.
Why don't we pray with more confidence? Blackaby offers these possible answers:
1. We don't really believe God will answer our prayers.
2. We believe our human efforts will garner more results that prayer.
3. We don't see quick answers so we get discouraged and give up.
BUT each of these excuses is refuted in Scripture.
1. John 14:13 "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father."
2. John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
3. 1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.
As Christians we can go confidently (yet reverently and humbly) before the throne with our requests and fully expect our Loving Father to listen to and answer our prayers.
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