Lot’s Prayer

Lot’s Prayer

You have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can’t flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I’ll die. Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it.

Genesis 19:19–20

Take a look at the different parts of Lot’s prayer. The first part of a good prayer is giving thanks to God. Giving thanks includes acknowledging God’s wonderful acts of kindness and praising God. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we certainly do ask for daily bread. But we first address God as our Father right at the beginning of the prayer. With these very words, we are acknowledging that he has already provided food and protection for us, as a father would, up to that very day. Praising and thanking God are good ways to acknowledge his kindness.

The second part of a prayer is to pour out our deepest concerns to God about personal problems and needs. In Lot’s case, he was saying, “I’ll be in danger if I do what you say and run for the mountains. In the past, I have gotten into trouble for being too slow. I could be in bigger trouble now if I’m too slow. Please give me what I’m asking, for I know you are merciful.”

In the third part of Lot’s prayer, he proposed his own solution to the problem and asked God’s permission to carry it out. He wanted to run to a nearby city where he thought he would be safe. He pointed out that it was a small town, which would provide a safe place to stay.

This was Lot’s prayer. Think carefully about this incident and what happened as a result. Lot prayed, and then God changed his plan. At this point, we shouldn’t debate about whether or not God changes his mind. Rather, we should learn what Psalm 145:19 teaches: “He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.”