Christoffer
Puritan Board Sophomore
I have been reading Calvins exposition of the Lords prayer.
This made me think about where to draw the line regarding what we can and cannot pray for.
For example, is it lawful to pray that your company will be a financial success, or that you will perform well at work and be promoted? I am now thinking about praying with these particular things, financial success and promotion, as the highest good. Praying for them as ends and not as means to ends.
In the light of what Calvin says I feel that praying for these things in and of themselves is unlawful. However, if success at work is seen as a means only to enable you to glorify God or support your family, which then means the wife can stay at home with the kids and not have to send them to social services, which then means the family can instill godly values in the kids, then I feel that the prayers are lawful.
In short: am I right that whatever we pray for must have the glory of God as its highest good. We cannot pray for things that we want, for the sake of just wanting them.
Comments from the PB wisdom is appreciated!
This made me think about where to draw the line regarding what we can and cannot pray for.
For example, is it lawful to pray that your company will be a financial success, or that you will perform well at work and be promoted? I am now thinking about praying with these particular things, financial success and promotion, as the highest good. Praying for them as ends and not as means to ends.
In the light of what Calvin says I feel that praying for these things in and of themselves is unlawful. However, if success at work is seen as a means only to enable you to glorify God or support your family, which then means the wife can stay at home with the kids and not have to send them to social services, which then means the family can instill godly values in the kids, then I feel that the prayers are lawful.
In short: am I right that whatever we pray for must have the glory of God as its highest good. We cannot pray for things that we want, for the sake of just wanting them.
Comments from the PB wisdom is appreciated!