Disciplines for Life/Prayer: Direct Dial to Heaven
From Gospel Translations
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{{RightInsert|'''Meditate on Psalm 34.''' Does David’s fear of God hinder his love for God?}}To keep us from getting tongue-tied or intimidated, Jesus took great pains to show us how to relate to God. He could have emphasized God’s role as Judge or King. Instead, Jesus presented him as Father—the kind of Father who welcomes his children with open arms (Mk 10:13-16). And while some of us may have bad memories of our own dads, our Father in heaven loves nothing better than to sit with us and hear everything that’s on our mind. | {{RightInsert|'''Meditate on Psalm 34.''' Does David’s fear of God hinder his love for God?}}To keep us from getting tongue-tied or intimidated, Jesus took great pains to show us how to relate to God. He could have emphasized God’s role as Judge or King. Instead, Jesus presented him as Father—the kind of Father who welcomes his children with open arms (Mk 10:13-16). And while some of us may have bad memories of our own dads, our Father in heaven loves nothing better than to sit with us and hear everything that’s on our mind. | ||
| - | + | {{LeftInsert|<big>1</big> You’ve been given the privilege of selecting “History’s Greatest Answered Prayer” to be featured in heaven’s Hall of Fame. The list has been narrowed down to six contestants. Who would you pick? | |
❏Elijah: Called down fire and rain (1 Kings 18) | ❏Elijah: Called down fire and rain (1 Kings 18) | ||
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❏Paul: Was sprung from jail by a super-natural earthquake (Acts 16) | ❏Paul: Was sprung from jail by a super-natural earthquake (Acts 16) | ||
| - | ❏You: When you repent and ask God to forgive you, he does}}Why Pray? === | + | ❏You: When you repent and ask God to forgive you, he does}}=== Why Pray? === |
Prayer changes us as much as it changes the situations for which we pray. This is usually unexpected. There I sit, praying for someone who has a bad attitude toward me, and suddenly I realize that the Spirit is playing his flashlight along the walls of ''my'' heart. “You seem very concerned about that speck in your friend’s eye,” he whispers, “but have you noticed the log sticking out of ''your'' face?” We rarely appreciate this information at first until we realize that God is answering our prayer. | Prayer changes us as much as it changes the situations for which we pray. This is usually unexpected. There I sit, praying for someone who has a bad attitude toward me, and suddenly I realize that the Spirit is playing his flashlight along the walls of ''my'' heart. “You seem very concerned about that speck in your friend’s eye,” he whispers, “but have you noticed the log sticking out of ''your'' face?” We rarely appreciate this information at first until we realize that God is answering our prayer. | ||
| - | Prayer also increases our faith. As I write this, my church is involved in a building program. When I think about the amount of money and effort still needed before our facility is built, I can get discouraged. As I pray, though, and affirm the fact that God is in control of the situation, my | + | Prayer also increases our faith. As I write this, my church is involved in a building program. When I think about the amount of money and effort still needed before our facility is built, I can get discouraged. As I pray, though, and affirm the fact that God is in control of the situation, my perspective changes. Not only do I gain faith that God can pull it off, but I get excited about the part ''I'' can play in making it happen. |
| - | perspective changes. Not only do I gain faith that God can | + | |
| - | pull it off, but I get excited about the part ''I'' can play in | + | |
| - | making it happen. | + | |
Revision as of 21:51, 15 May 2008
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As I write this, Nancy has the flu. She’s been sick for about ten days now. Five days ago she lost her voice. She can’t talk beyond a whisper, and when she does whisper, it causes a painful cough.
Last night we sat on the couch after the children were in bed—a typical time to talk—and both of us ended up frustrated. She whispered, “Tell me what’s been on your mind.” So I told her. It took three minutes. She wanted to respond with a question or some thoughts of her own, but the coughing wouldn’t allow it. We ended up reading the newspaper.
Our love and commitment for each other haven’t diminished through Nancy’s illness, but we miss the inti- macy of conversation. Our relationship with God is the same. We can have a commitment to him without an intimate relationship with him. But if we want our relationship to grow, we must converse. The Bible calls such conversation with God prayer. Without this conversation our experience with God becomes similar to what Nancy and I have gone through during her bout with the flu: we love each other, but our lack of communication creates a sense of distance.
Still, we can’t take our love for granted and ignore prayer. With the distance of non-communication, love can be tempted to wane. Ask anyone who’s been through a marital crisis. So prayer is essential to our life with God.
Prayer is perhaps the simplest yet most profound of the spiritual disciplines. When we pray, we are simply communicating with God. No exotic spiritual hoopla, no mystical rituals—just dialogue. And yet it’s a dialogue with the exalted Lord of the universe. We have the amazing privilege of speaking directly to Almighty God! More remarkable still is the fact that he listens, and speaks to us in turn.
To keep us from getting tongue-tied or intimidated, Jesus took great pains to show us how to relate to God. He could have emphasized God’s role as Judge or King. Instead, Jesus presented him as Father—the kind of Father who welcomes his children with open arms (Mk 10:13-16). And while some of us may have bad memories of our own dads, our Father in heaven loves nothing better than to sit with us and hear everything that’s on our mind.
❏Elijah: Called down fire and rain (1 Kings 18)
❏Moses: Saw God clear a path through the Red Sea (Exodus 14)
❏David: Killed the giant Goliath with nothing but a sling and a stone (1 Samuel 17)
❏Jesus: Prayed Lazarus back to life (John 11)
❏Paul: Was sprung from jail by a super-natural earthquake (Acts 16)
❏You: When you repent and ask God to forgive you, he doesWhy Pray?
Prayer changes us as much as it changes the situations for which we pray. This is usually unexpected. There I sit, praying for someone who has a bad attitude toward me, and suddenly I realize that the Spirit is playing his flashlight along the walls of my heart. “You seem very concerned about that speck in your friend’s eye,” he whispers, “but have you noticed the log sticking out of your face?” We rarely appreciate this information at first until we realize that God is answering our prayer.
Prayer also increases our faith. As I write this, my church is involved in a building program. When I think about the amount of money and effort still needed before our facility is built, I can get discouraged. As I pray, though, and affirm the fact that God is in control of the situation, my perspective changes. Not only do I gain faith that God can pull it off, but I get excited about the part I can play in making it happen.
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