At first glance, this devotion’s title will seem strange, almost absurd. “Of course not,” the reader will answer. That person may even quote a verse about God being Spirit (John 4:24), or that God is love (1 John 4:8). But a robot? Certainly not!

As Christians, our personal concept of God is a factor that should be in evidence in every aspect of our life. This is especially true in our prayer life. So many times we enter into prayer with the attitude that God is a robot, and we just have to hit certain buttons to get the desired response. Reciting certain words is the same as performing certain works, and neither will obtain the grace of God. God is NOT a robot!

The prayer of faith is based on the promise of God. God said He would hear (Isaiah 41:17). God said He would avenge speedily (Luke 18:8). God said He would give freely (Psalm 84:11), exceeding abundantly (Ephesians 3:20), all thing to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17). These promises are sure, because it is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18).

Obviously, there are conditions to these promises. If we are harboring sin in our heart (Psalm 66:18), or asking with a wrong motive, He will not hear us (James 4:3). If we are asking for something contrary to His Will, we cannot expect our prayer to overthrow that Will. We are not greater than God.

But we pray because God said to (Luke 18:1). We ask because He told us He would give (Matthew 21:22). Our faith is not a self-generated assent or hope or desire. Our prayer of faith, to be anything, has to rest fully in Jesus Christ as the Object and the Author of our prayer, because He is Faith (Galatians 2:20). In Him the promises of God are yea and amen (2 Corinthians 1:20). For this reason, the Spirit is said to make intercession for us according to His Will (Romans 8:26-27).

Praise God for His Grace, that the answers to our prayers do not rest in our ability to persuade Him with our own self-generated faith. Praise His Sovereignty, that He is NOT a robot waiting to be programmed by imperfect humans. Praise the Lord that the prayer of faith is not a matter of pushing God’s buttons, but is the guarantee of the Almighty God’s promise to meet the needs of His children.