This is the Truth Network. Encouraging prayer. God offers an open invitation for his people to talk with him at any time about anything. On Encouraging Prayer, Dr. James Banks, author of the best-selling Prayers for Prodigals and many other books on prayer, provides weekly biblical insight to help you learn to love to pray.
And now, here's James.
So, today on encouraging prayer, the question is: is it okay to pray? Get them got. Go after him.
So it's a very intriguing Topic, James. What do you have in mind this time?
Well You know, that is a subject called imprecatory prayers. And you don't hear that word too much. That's why I think starting with that get him God is really descriptive. Um but you know is it okay for us to pray that way? I mean after all, God tells us in Scripture, vengeance is mine.
It is mine to repay. And at the same time, Jesus says in Matthew chapter 5, verse 43, to love your neighbor.
Well, he says, you've heard it said, love your neighbor, hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be. Children of your Father. in heaven So the the question is then Is it okay to pray like that? I think Scripture gives us an interesting answer, but before we go there fully, You know, let's just talk for a moment about how often you see.
prayers like this in Scripture. What comes to mind when you think about it? The Psalms, David was pretty clear many times that he asked God to come after somebody. And You know, as soon as you brought up the topic, I was thinking about if... A friend whose daughter was totally taken in by a scheme cost her thousands of dollars and He was just talking to me saying, you know, how do I pray?
Get him God. Right?
Well, this is the interesting thing. There are at least 14 psalms that are in precatory prayers.
Some of them, Psalms 5, 10, 17, 35, 58, 59, 69. You get the idea. It's a regular. Concept And it's not just in the Old Testament. Think about where where do you think we see it in the New Testament?
I can hardly wait, actually.
Well Yeah. The answer is in the Revelation. Revelation 6.10 Think about the prayers of the martyrs. Who cry out from under God's throne, How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood? That's an imprecatory prayer.
That's a a get 'em God' prayer. And again, Um Apparently Prayers must have been along those lines as well, right? Just think through what you just said. that their blood, you know, his blood cried out from the ground. And so, yeah.
Yeah, it th so the the answer is that That scripturally speaking, yes, we can pray this way. But I think the important thing to recognize is that these are especially prayers for justice. And these are prayers for what God alone can do. To bring that justice about. And we have to be so careful with.
you know, the the word justice, because people ballyhoo it about for their own particular motives and politics, and God alone gets to define what justice absolutely is according to his word. And so, you know, all of this is about his kingdom coming. And and the good that will happen then, but part of that good is Evil is going to be thrown down. And so even when we pray, your kingdom come, That's part of what we're praying for, isn't it? Oh, absolutely.
I mean, if you read. You know, Revelation 19, you can see that it's going to be pretty harsh. Or even look at the parable of talents. I mean, that guy was cast into the gnashing your teeth feel, you know, it it's it's not good. And Jesus wasn't mild about this either.
He said in Luke 18, 7, Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice. and quickly.
So You know the The question is then. How can we pray this way? And I think that you know, the the challenge has to be really watching our own hearts because we know that we're to forgive. And Scripture is very clear about that. But at the same time that we are forgiving.
we can cry out to God for situations or even against people who are persecuting. Think about what's happening, for example, with the church in Nigeria. Right now. And how important are prayers for justice there. R.
You know, the martyred church, the persecuted church all over the world. leads us. to pray this way. And the beautiful thing is The the truth of this is that that when we pray this way, Uh we are bringing our whole selves to God. You know?
I was talking with a friend about this who's a missionary. Um you know, I was saying, well, you know, our motives have to be so Right when we're doing this, but he said, Yeah, but when are our motives ever 100%?
So, again, you know, the important and beautiful thing about this is that. we can bring our whole selves to God no matter what is going on, our struggle to forgive all of that and our need for justice in a particular situation. And I had an experience of praying this way one time, years ago, when my daughter was a runaway and there was a young man who was keeping her. uh basically not against her will, but, you know, away from safety. And and really doing her harm in some ways.
Um I we couldn't prove it, but we knew that he knew where she was. And um I was so angry, I'll tell you, you know, a dad's fire in that would go to the only daughter. And I wanted to, you know, take things into my own hands quite literally. And I knew I couldn't. And so that became my prayer, Lord.
You know. You know. And I know I have to forgive, and I ask your help with that, but. Do something. do something.
And interestingly, God resolved that situation. Within 48 hours, this young man had rolled his car. My daughter was in it. He ended up in the hospital. She walked away.
It was a sobering reminder. that God hears these kinds of prayers. Yeah, it's the perfect time to pray, so I'll do it, Lord. Lord, I thank you for this wisdom for such a time as this. I imagine some listeners right this minute know of a situation.
And Lord, I pray that you would help them. With this Type a prayer. that they could bring them their wholesales, as James said. and bring them to you, Lord, because you are all about righteousness and all about justice. And we know that and we trust you.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. You can hear more from Pastor James by visiting his website, jamesbanks.org, or by visiting Peace Church in Durham, North Carolina. May God bless you and encourage you as you pray.
