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Your Question:
What's the difference between a prayer and a plea?
Answer:
As a pastor, I've had the privilege of studying and teaching about prayer, and I've come to understand that there's a significant difference between a prayer and a plea. A prayer is a personal communication with God, where we express our thoughts, feelings, and needs to Him. It's a conversation, a dialogue, where we seek to understand and respond to God's will and presence in our lives. On the other hand, a plea is a desperate cry for help, often motivated by a sense of guilt, shame, or fear. In the Bible, we see that prayer is not just about making requests or seeking answers, but about building a relationship with God. It's about drawing on His grace and mercy, and seeking to understand His will and purposes. Prayer is not just about getting what we want, but about becoming like Christ, and being transformed by His love and presence in our lives. As the Bible says, "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of" (Psalm 75:1). In contrast, a plea is often driven by a sense of self-justification or self-preservation. It's a cry for help, but it's often motivated by a desire to avoid consequences or to get out of trouble. A plea is not necessarily about seeking God's will or presence, but about seeking to escape from our problems or difficulties. As a pastor, I've seen many people who are more focused on making pleas to God, rather than seeking to build a relationship with Him through prayer.
Sources:
mark
eckhard schnabel
systematic theology
wayne grudem
practicing the way
john mark comer
acts
r c sproul
my utmost for his highest
oswald chambers
building dynamic faith
jerry falwell
power of a praying parent
stormie omartian
old testament theology
waltke
jesus on trial
david limbaugh
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