Therefore David blessed the Lord before all the assembly

Therefore David blessed the Lord before all the assembly; and David said: “Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever.” 1 Chronicles 29:10

 In recent years, it has become common to hear public officials use this phrase: “Our thoughts and prayers are with all those impacted by this event.” Such statements are commendable and appreciated in times of crisis or suffering. But given the religiously pluralistic nature of societies, the offer of prayers raises the question, Prayers to whom?

The reason it matters is that prayers should be directed toward a deity that has invited such prayers and has the power to answer them (Hebrews 4:16). In the Bible, there is never any doubt as to Whom prayers are being offered. And often God is named specifically, as when David prayed, “Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever.” Jews, and later Christians, didn’t pray to an unnamed God. They prayed to the God who had made promises that became the basis of their prayers (2 Peter 1:3-4).

It matters to whom we pray, and why. We pray to God the Father, in the Name of the Son, and in the power of the Spirit.

Dr. Capps is the OIC (Maj) of Chaplain Services and Chief Psychological Officer of the VDF Chaplain Corps Psychological Resources Program. He also owns and operates Capps Christian Counseling LLC. since 2009. Dr. Capps holds a PhD. in Clinical Pastoral Counseling, a Doctorate in Christian Education, Advanced certification in Crisis and Abuse counseling and has extensive experience with trauma, PTSD, PTS, Cumulative stress, complex trauma, and crisis and abuse counseling. He has faithfully served with the USN, and the Virginia Defense Force. He is responsible for the creation of the VDF Mental Health Initiative, and the standing up of the Psychological Health Resources Program.

 Photo by Aaron Burden on Freely Photos