I have heard it said that the most neglected subject in the kingdom of God is - God. This neglect has opened the door for a more man-centered theology that orbits around the desires and needs of humans and how they can be met in God. And while the scriptures are full of promises and ways that the Lord meets our needs, it is vitally important that this is not the center of our theology. In fact, the word “theology” in its purest form means the “study of God”. It is an ever widening understanding and experience of God according to the biblical texts. But what we often have is a robust Anthropology, study of man, that is served by a utilitarian Theology, focused on what God can do for man.
In my quest for a deeper “Theology of Prayer” I have found the tendency above being confronted. It has become increasingly clear that much of our thinking about prayer is rooted in how we “ought” to pray (religion) or in how we can make prayer “work” for us (selfishness). The point being that our Theology of Prayer is more like an Anthropology of Prayer putting man at its center. But the Spirit, by his wise and loving leadership, is on a mission to deliver prayer from this misplaced center.
I believe that an accurate and true Theology of Prayer must come out of an understanding of trinitarian prayer. By trinitarian prayer I simply mean the dialogue that goes on in the Godhead. The way that the Father and Son communicate that determines how the Spirit works is a stunning reality. There are a plethora of verses in the Old and New Testament that show God talking to God. I like to say - our God is a relationship. The one true God is a love-driven relating community made of 3 persons. And this relationship not only satisfies the eternal heart of God but is the source from which all that creation springs.
Genesis 1 is such a gift. And it is not so much about history or geography as it is about theology. Genesis 1 reveals primarily, the Creator and secondarily, the creation. It shows us how God relates and what manifests out of that relationship. In fact, the plural with singular contrasts are clearly there for this proclamation. The first verse of the Bible is: “In the beginning Elohim (plural) created (singular) the heavens (plural) and the earth (singular). The plural Elohim here is understood as singular because of the singular verb created. So the scriptures are not saying that multiple gods created the earth but rather one God created it who is a plural. This highlights the glorious reality of the Trinity. The same reality is seen in Genesis 1:26 where the translators use the plural pronouns, “let US make man in OUR own image.” So creation is the reality of a relational driven dynamic between the triune God. That is a powerful relationship and is a God-centered model for prayer.
How this relationship operates, gives us what I believe to be the core reason behind prayer. As we understand from scripture the Son does nothing except what he sees the Father doing (Jn. 5:19). In one manner of speaking we could say that the Son discerns the very will and thoughts of the Father’s heart, and then speaks them out as He is the Word of God resulting in the Spirit bringing into reality those very words.The Father wills, the Son speaks, and the Spirit executes. This dynamic seems to be what is happening in Genesis 1. The Spirit is just “hovering” over the mass watery darkness until the Word of God speaks. And then He executes the Word of God which was spoken in accordance with the Son discerning the Father’s heart-thoughts.
As can be observed then, the creation process is not so much about information and accomplishment but rather heart relationship between the Son and the Father. So I like to say that creation is the result of a love-driven prayer meeting in the Godhead. Jesus created all things by His powerful word. And those words were the result of Him knowing the Father’s heart and speaking them. Which then released a creative manifestation of the Spirit’s work. This then becomes for us the core of a Theology of Prayer that involves us discerning and speaking out the thoughts of the Father’s heart that then results in the powerful movement of the Holy Spirit. Stunning!
This God of relationship has invited His creation into His dynamic process of heart-centered relational-love producing life and order. In fact, currently billions of angels are worshiping and praying and thus responding to and joining in on the trinitarian dialogue. This is the heavenly prayer and worship team :). And yes they are doing this because He is worthy. But they are also doing it because it is deeply satisfying to them and the divine order for manifesting the will of God.
God talks to God and all things are made. God continues to talk to God (Romans 8:34, Acts 2:7-9, John 17, Hebrews 1:1-3) and all things are sustained. Angels talk and sing to God and this process is gloriously shared and broadened. And now redeemed human beings talk to God about the things in His heart and the kingdom expands even further. Thus the Church, being a House of Prayer, takes on a whole new God-centered dimension.
So I encourage you to be a man or woman after God’s own heart. To pray and sing His heart back to him primarily by praying the words of God. And I promise you that you will be deeply satisfied, He will be glorified, and the Spirit will bring heaven upon the earth.This is deep stuff, and there is so much more to explore, but it is a glorious meditation and I believe it is one that can help establish a badly needed Theology of Prayer.
