During the 2021 Major League Baseball season, Trea Turner had the best batting average in the league at 0.328. Hitting with those numbers guarantees a player earns millions of dollars each year. Statistically, he got a hit less than one third of the time he went to the plate. The best season ever for a baseball player was 0.426 by Nap Lajoie. The highest career average was by Ty Cobb at 0.366. Babe Ruth’s best year’s average was 0.342. Clearly, you can fail twice as often as you succeed in baseball and still become very rich.
Other endeavors are not as forgiving. If a baseball catcher caught one out of three pitches or a fielder caught one in three fly balls, he would soon be hanging up his gloves. If an airline pilot successfully landed one out of three airplanes, she would not enjoy a long career. If a doctor successfully diagnosed one in three ailments, he’d soon need to find another line of work. One in three is acceptable in certain human endeavors but leads to catastrophic failure in others.
This line of thought recently raised a provocative question for me. What is my “batting average” when I pray? Most Christians agree that prayer is one of the most important things they can do. We certainly recognize the gravity of praying for someone’s eternal salvation, for healing from a serious medical condition, or for people victimized by violence. Not receiving answers to those prayers could have disastrous consequences. But it seems most Christians have resigned themselves to seeing many of their prayers go unanswered. In fact, we almost expect that they will.
Jesus said something that has greatly challenged my prayer life: “. . . Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give to you” (John 16:23).
Whenever Jesus begins a statement with “most assuredly,” “verily, verily,” or “truly I say unto you,” pay attention. Anything Jesus says is noteworthy, but when he begins his statement this way, he is communicating at least two things. First, he is entreating us to lean in and listen up. Second, he is warning that we may find what he is about to say hard to believe. His statement on prayer is something that, on closer examination, is hard to accept at face value.
Jesus claimed we would receive whatever we asked the Father in his name. You may immediately recall numerous things you have prayed for that you have not received. Some requests may appear to have been somewhat selfish, such as asking for a promotion, a house you wished to buy, or a university acceptance letter. Other prayers may have been more serious, like healing from cancer, a prodigal child’s return, or someone’s salvation.
Jesus said we would receive whatever we asked the Father. Of course, our heavenly Father is the most loving, generous, and gracious father there is. He delights in giving good gifts to his children, and his resources are limitless. If Jesus promised we would receive whatever we asked of our generous and loving heavenly Father, then why is our prayer “batting average” often so abysmally low?
Jesus included a crucial qualifier in his statement: “in my name.” Biblically, people’s names represented their character or nature. To know their name was to understand what they were like. In this context, it also means, “according to God’s will.” When you ask God to do something he already wants to do, you can be 100% sure it will happen.
So how do we pray so our prayer “batting average” improves? Can we pray in such a way that we receive what we ask for 100% of the time?
We must do three things:
First, don’t assume you know what you should pray. In 2020 many Christians supposed they knew what God should do. They knew who should be elected without asking for God’s opinion. They assumed he wanted to heal the sick. They concluded that God did not want prodigals to hit the bottom before they returned. So, they prayed but did not receive what they asked.
We must remember that our ways are not God’s ways (Is. 55:8-9). Our initial assumptions are almost always misaligned with God’s will. He must help us understand his thoughts and ways.
Second, ask God what he wants to do before you make requests. Your prayers should not consist entirely of itemized wish lists. Begin by asking God questions. Draw close enough to God that he lays his heart over yours. Raise your issues or concerns and then remain silent as you wait for him to bring scriptures and insights to your mind. Allow God to shape your views and thoughts so you understand how he is working in those circumstances. Then you will know what to ask.
On a side note, avoid immediately praying for needs you have just learned about. If someone shares that she is considering a new job opportunity, don’t instantly pray that she gets the new position. Instead, ask God what he wants you to pray in that situation. Perhaps he knows the new company would not be a good fit for the person. Take time to learn what you should be praying!
Third, request fewer things and ask more clarifying questions. Some Christians pray for 100 things each day and receive just five. Perhaps we should ask for only what we know God wants to give. What if we prayed for five things each day, but we were confident God would grant all five requests? If you had five answered prayers every day, it would not take long before your world felt the impact!
Of course, I’m not suggesting that you can never talk honestly with God about your heart’s desires. But when it comes to making requests, do so in an informed and confident manner.
In light of what is happening in our world today, Christians need to pray with confidence that almighty God will grant their requests.
Is it possible to raise your prayer “batting average?” I believe it is. But we must be willing to acknowledge that our prayer life is not yet what it should be. We must yearn to see almighty God granting our requests. Then we must take time to understand what God is doing and what is on his heart for the people we are praying for. If you do, you may be amazed at how God is at work around you.
