The Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can't Get Their Act Together

by Jared C. Wilson

One of the reasons Psalm 46:10 says to stop fighting and know that the Lord is God is because when we are occupied with our daily struggles, we practically forget. Our life places our self at the center of the universe. As we juggle our obligations, complete our tasks, run through our schedules, and consume, consume, consume, we begin to think that we are God. And when that happens, prayer to the real God who covers us and cares for us seems superfluous. What’s the point of telling God about the things you’ve already got covered, right?

Where we once saw prayer as a religious act designed to merit God’s favor (or the approval of other Christians), we now see prayer as an act of worship, done not to push God’s buttons like he is some cosmic vending machine but out of response to his initiative in our relationship. This is why the rhythm of feeling Scripture comes first in this book. The expectation is that as you begin to wade into God’s revelation of himself to you through his Word you will begin to experience the compulsion to reveal yourself to him in prayer—our second rhythm. Worship is always our response to God’s initiative. We do not of our own initiative seek him; he seeks us (Rom. 10:20). He speaks to us and declares salvation over us in the atoning and reconciling work of Jesus, and worship is our response to the instigation of salvation.