“…the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake…” (Exodus 7:11-12, NIV).

I’ve told the story before of God’s healing when I was an infant. When medical science had given up on me, my aunt took me to her church, anointed me with oil and prayed over me. I was healed. Recently one of the young doctors I train had a father who was seriously ill. I prayed sincerely for his healing. His funeral was last week. What did my aunt do that I could have done differently to get God to save this father’s life?

How do we pray so that we get what we desperately want?

Is this even a legitimate question for Christians?

In Acts 19:7, Jewish exorcists attempted to use the name of Jesus to drive out evil spirits (Acts 19:11-19). Things didn’t go so well for them. Eventually, magic was replaced by Jesus, and books of magic worth 50,000 silver coins were burned.

Which brings us to the question, when we pray for something we really want, do we pray for magic or pray for God?

There are real advantages to magic. If we use the right formula, we get what we ask for. Even religious people sometimes resort to magic, though we tend to use religious formulae with our magic. Pray the right way, give to the right religious cause, do the right works for God—and we get what we ask for. That’s magic. Getting what we ask for may be really important to us, but I don’t think it’s Christian.

So, how should we pray when we want something badly??

Many may disagree with me, but let me describe my understanding of prayer that is not magic.

When we come to God with our needs, we should:

1. Pray authentically. We must open our hearts honestly, and even desperately if needed, to our Father in heaven. David, a man after God’s own heart, shared authentically his heartfelt needs throughout the Psalms. Jesus did the same with sweat drops of blood: “‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me…’” (Mark 14:36, NIV).
2. Invite God Himself into the situation. Christian prayer is not primarily getting what we want but, more importantly, inviting God to enter our condition with His wisdom, person, love and power.
3. Want His will more than the thing we cry out for. “‘…Yet not what I will, but what you will’” (Mark 14:36, NIV).
4. Trust the God who will answer. Our world is incredibly complex and needs great change. Only God know how to work that out. “He knows, He cares, He can.” Trust Him as “He chooses,” knowing His choice once led to the death of His Son for us.
5. Ask God if you are part of His answer. How might He ask you to help complete His will?
6. If we get what we desperately ask for, our response should be gratitude that lasts. Only people with thankful hearts find real joy in life.
7. If we fail to receive what we want, that which magic might have made possible, our response should be contentment (Philippians 4:12-13).

Dear Father,

Let me always be open and honest with my needs. All things are possible for you. Let me trust you for your will, not mine.

Amen