So we Pray

Post Harvey Blessings to each of you – whatever that looks like right now. Times like these certainly give us a variety of lenses through which to view our individual situations and encourage us to look outside of ourselves. The simple question of “how are you doing?” suddenly has a much wider swath of anticipated responses. In so many ways this forces a much healthier perspective on us – to recognize our blessings in the midst of loss around us. To paraphrase Forest Gump, “funny that Lieutenant Dan said that, ‘cause right then, God showed up”.

Hopefully, we don't get to the point of Lieutenant Dan where we're blaming God for the storms in our lives, but it's amazing how God can use difficulties to hone us. We can see God working through His people all around us, in the sweat and soreness of mucking out strangers’ houses or the comradery of working together to repair our own homes or offices. Still – if we don’t cement ourselves into a bigger perspective – a God centered one – we can quickly regress into being mired in our own issues.

Why Prayer? Cultures all over the world have different forms of “becoming centered” through solitude and stillness. There is a universally recognized value in cutting out “the noise” and focusing. Certainly there is value in this, as distraction is a primary obstacle to achievement. But Christian prayer goes much deeper than this. We believe there is a living God who is active in our lives and wants to have a relationship with us. He is the source of all wisdom and longs for us to become what we were created to be. Further, we have a direct line to Him through His Son Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus, the veil is torn and individually we have the ability (and even more – the responsibility) to go directly to God with our praise, repentance, requests, fears, questions, sorrow, and even frustration. We don’t have to go far in the Psalms to feel David’s frustration.

Psalm 13:1 “How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?

But comes back to 13:5 “But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation”

So we are to go to God with ALL things, for He is our “centeredness” and Prayer is the divinely prescribed mode of communicating with our Creator. Communication is a 2 way street, so we are called to listen at least as much as we speak. I can’t remember where I read, “People who don’t hear from God generally aren’t paying attention..” Paying attention means intentionally taking time to talk with God. Like many of you, I like to start my day with scripture and prayer – as it sets my compass. Scripturally, however, we are to pray at all times.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

That’s a tall order for sure – sounds like we’re all supposed to be the guy on the Bluetooth that looks like he’s talking to himself. Clearly, however, we are to be focused on God and He will be there for us! Pray for wisdom. Pray for blessing. Pray for your next meeting. Pray with the people you are helping – not later, but right then and there. Ask them if they mind you praying for them and then ask them how they’d like to be prayed for. You’ll be amazed how “God shows up”.

Be courageous in prayer and you will be Blessed to be a Blessing.