IS PRAYER JUST A PANIC BUTTON?

2 Chronicles 20:1-4 NIV  (1)  After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat.  (2)  Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi).  (3)  Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.  (4)  The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

 Jehoshaphat had a big problem – three nations had joined forces to make war against him.  It was a vast army.  In fact, Jehoshaphat was alarmed.  Other versions say Jehoshaphat was afraid.  Part of his prayer reveals what he was feeling at the time:

2 Chronicles 20:12 NASB  (12)  "O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You."

He was powerless.  He did not know what to do.  So he prayed.  In a time when he was afraid, and helpless, he cried out to God.

Don’t we all pray during those times?  Isn't prayer the "panic button" that we are to press when we are in dire straits, in difficult situations.

It is common for anyone, even someone who claims to be an atheist, who is afraid and helpless to call upon God.  it is a natural response of a heart that is faced with a big problem that overwhelms us.

But is this all that prayer is?  Is it just a panic button?

It is important that we don’t just look at this event in Jehoshaphat’s life to look see his “prayer life”.

2 Chronicles 17:3-4 NIV  (3)  The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because in his early years he walked in the ways his father David had followed. He did not consult the Baals  (4)  but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel.

 2 Chronicles 18:3-4 NIV  (3)  Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat replied, "I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war."  (4)  But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "First seek the counsel of the LORD."

We are given a glimpse of the heart of Jehoshaphat.  Jehoshaphat walked in the ways of his father David.  He sought God, inquired of Him, sought His counsel, not just during difficult times.  It was a state of heart, a way of life, a habit.

Many times prayer is just a “fire alarm” that we pull when we are in difficult situations.  As natural a response it is to our hearts, prayer is more than just a panic button that we press when we feel helpless or overwhelmed by a problem or situation.

But PRAYER IS A STATE OF HEART.  A true Christian is always praying, always seeking God, always inquiring of Him for anything and everything, in good times or bad, in easy times of hard times.

This state of heart can only come from a work of transformation from God.  You see, each one of us are “wired” to trust in our self, trust in man, in things.  That’s the sinful heart…God is just in the sidelines, someone we run to during hard times.  He is a “spare tire” that we just run to when we have a flat.

But when God transforms a heart, he reveals who He is and makes us realize that there is no one else we can trust  but Him.  We repent of the sin of trusting in our self, recognize who He is, therefore we seek Him, call upon Him, at all times.

Because of this prayer becomes a way of life.  Seeking His counsel becomes a state of heart, something that we do always.

The true test of a heart that truly seeks God, prays to Him, is when life is good, our circumstances are fine, and we are not worried or bothered about anything.  During these times – do we still pray?  Do we still seek God and His counsel?

Are our hearts always in a state of prayer...or is it just a panic button that we press?

 Psalms 62:8 NIV  Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah