Teach me to pray

Don't you read passages such as
 I John 5:14-15 (And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15and we know that if he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him) and
 James 5:16 (The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working) 
and wish you could pray with confidence that you would see results?  Me too! 


Well, we can.  I believe we can experience the joy of seeing extraordinary things accomplished through prayer.  I also believe that the longing for such is from the Lord.  Just as the disciples asked Jesus in Luke 11:1, "Lord, teach us to pray", we, too, can go to Him and be instructed.  The prayer in Matthew 6 is the set of instructions He gave us.  Elsewhere in Scripture we have other guidance for our prayers but here we have a collection of sentences that provide an outline of topics for us.  The rabbis of Jesus's day gave their followers a set of brief sentences or "index prayers" that suggested the subjects they should pray.  So we will use this guide to learn "an effective prayer that will avail much" (James 5:16 in King James English)

The very first phrase "Our Father who art in Heaven" is where we begin. Jesus wants us to be assured that we are coming to One who loves us, provides for us, knows us, delights in us...and beckons us to come.  We are not approaching a distant sovereign whom we have to beg from, or convince against his will.  No, we are invited to ask with the confidence of a child coming to his father, knowing that his father not only possesses the resources with which to grant his request but also deeply desires to share his abundance.

Maybe the word "father" doesn't hold good meaning for you.  Maybe you have painful memories or an empty place in your heart that should be filled by a loving Daddy.  That makes me so sad.  I am so sorry if that is your story.  Please hear me when I say that your Heavenly Father is not distant or negligent or abusive or cold.  Don't let an earthly failure eclipse your view of Him.  HE is the model all other fathers should follow.  Not a projection of someone who hurt you or failed you.  You can come to your HEAVENLY FATHER with utmost confidence that He is drawing you to Himself, that He delights in you and desires to have the most intimate relationship with you.  And your Heavenly Father is pleased to give good gifts to His children. 

First thing to know in our school of prayer -- God is our Heavenly Father.  And "he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who see Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

Our Father who art in Heaven.  Amen.







Turtle attack

Yes, I got attacked by a snapping turtle today.  I was on a power walk when I noticed a large turtle in the middle of the road.  Cars are constantly zooming down this road and I was concerned it might get hurt.  So, like I have done scores of times in the past, I moved the turtle.  Unfortunately, he was NOT as concerned about the possibility of becoming road kill and consequently did not cooperate with my Good Samaritan lifesaving mission.  He coped in the only way he knew how.  He attacked.  I managed to avoid his snapping mouth but I was no match for his bionic claws.  He left a couple of gashes on my fingers.  So much for trying to help the critter!!!  In spite of gushing blood all over the road, I got him safely to the side among the leaves and rocks.  I continued on my exercise quest...and watched him head right back to where I rescued him from!! Oh well.

I finished my walk, washed up the wounds, dutifully applied antibiotic cream, bandaged up, and couldn't wait to share my funny story with the rest of the Moms waiting on kids at swim practice.  I was laughing until one friend shared about an acquaintance who had recently been clawed by a dog, didn't treat the wounds, and died four days later.  Haunted not only by that information but also knowing what my own Mother would say, I called my doctor.  Now I am on oral antibiotic and on my way to get a tetanus booster (even though my last one was less than 10 years ago....doctor's orders...sigh).  All for a dumb turtle that didn't even ask for help!!!

Moments of reflection.  There's a life lesson in here.  (Well, of course!)  Sometimes we try to help someone and it turns out differently than we anticipated.  Not only are we not a hero, we are often wounded in the process.  The person (or situation) we are attempting to aid doesn't want our assistance.  They may not even know they need it.  Probably there are times we offer help when we just need to leave things alone.  Other times, the person might allow us to help and we can move on without incident.  Sometimes, though, the process is gonna get messy.  They may claw or bite or do whatever they can in order to refuse our remedy.  They may be hurting so profusely that this is all they can think of to do.  Or, they might just simply want to stay right where they are, in spite of the danger of oncoming cars.
So what are we to do? 

I don't know. 

Somehow we have to figure out if we need to leave them alone.  Or come back later.  Or try another tactic (like maybe I should have used a stick to push Tommy Turtle out of the road???). Or maybe we are wrong and they don't need help after all!  What a novel possibility!

Sometimes, though, we just need to do what needs to be done and do it regardless of what it may cost us.  We gotta get them out of the middle of the road.  It might result in personal injury.  It might wind up taking a lot more time than you thought initially.  And it might make you wonder if you did the right thing after all.  But you gotta try and help.

For the record, I'm glad I saved the turtle.  Even if he never realizes it.  I'm glad.

What is prayer?

Probably a bazillion times, we will tell someone "I'm praying for you".  Probably less than a bazillion times do we actually do it.  Now, I'm not being cynical or critical...just honest.  We are well-intentioned and we really do care about the one we commit to pray for....but sometimes we just don't do it.  Or if we do, it's one of those "arrow prayers" that we shoot up towards Heaven - "please bless Bobby".  We'd be hard-pressed to know if God ever answered many of those.

So I thought it'd be fun to do some posts on prayer.  God commands us to pray.  We want to pray.  We need to pray.  So let's find out about prayer.



We will use, as our basis, Matthew 6:9-13.  This is most often referred to as "The Lord's Prayer". 

Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Most Bible scholars agree that we should refer to this as "The Model Prayer" because Jesus is instructing us how to pray.  They say that "The Lord's Prayer" is what we should call John 17, when Jesus prayed for us!   Whatever we call it, it is set of instructions that can guide us as we pray instead of a rote prayer to only memorize and repeat. 

These verses contain different index sentences that serve as topical areas for the believer to cover in prayer.  We will break this model down into those different areas over the next few days so as to learn how we are to pray.  Following that, we will address some questions about prayer.  Things like why do some prayers go unanswered?  If God is omniscient, why should we pray?  What makes God answer yes?  How often should I pray?  Is public prayer acceptable to God?

If you have other questions, let me know and we'll try to find the answers. For now, just pray :)
 
 
 
 

What God does when we hurt


As I sit here watching Chip sleep off the anesthesia from his wisdom teeth extraction, I heard the Lord whisper to me.  He is so kind, so gentle, so compassionate...and so powerful and holy and majestic.  I just had to share the impressions He left with me today...

Over the past several weeks, I have watched friends experience tragedy and heartache.  The sudden and unexpected loss of a Dad. The unfathomable shock of losing a baby.  Prolonged infertility.  Career struggles.  Marital strife and infidelity.  And "routine" suffering like problems brought on by aging, parenting difficulties, feelings of rejection and personal inadequacies.  Hurting.  Pain.  Suffering.

I have cried with my friends.  Cried for them, too.  Prayed for them.  And with them.  Ministered in ways that seem pathetically small...hoping that minute expressions of love can somehow administer a drop of healing balm to their ruptured hearts.  Realizing that probably my attempts to minister might do more to diminish my own pain than theirs... but trying to ease theirs nonetheless.  Sometimes sharing a word or thought but usually not.  I have learned that there aren't really any words that help in times of pain.  Prayers and presence seem to make more of a difference.

In every case, as I have felt acute pain for my friends, my pain is deepened when I realize that, at some point, I get to turn away from their pain and towards something joyful or pleasurable. I can sort of compartmentalize the hurt, dealing with it when I feel more capable, denying it when I don't.  My friends can't, however.  Their lives are forever altered.  They have a "new normal".  No compartments are unaffected by their pain.

Please know that I am not trying to be dramatic or pessimistic.  I am just calling it like it is.  At least like I see it.  People hurt.  Deeply. And, maybe I am dramatic, but I hurt with them.  I want to ease their pain, to lighten their load, to help them heal.  And I feel so helpless.  Inadequate.

So, today, as I took Chip to the oral surgeon, sat with him as he came out of the anesthesia, got his medicine, made him comfortable at home, worried about his pain (and OK, laughed at his groggy commentary!), fixed a million smoothies, cried because he will have to miss some fun outings, answered two million questions (you gotta know my Chip!), and wrestled with the he-has-to-go- through-this-knowing-its-best-and-all-that-but-I-intensely-hate-that-he-has-to-hurt feelings, I also prayed.  And heard God.

 What I am doing today is an earthly picture of what He does.  Faulty and weak as I may be, it's a picture of God at work on behalf of His children when they are in pain.

He generously supplies what we need.  He anticipates our needs and provides for them abundantly.  Sometimes through others but always from Him. Directing our steps...or our non-steps. Sitting beside us when we can't step. Getting us up when we fall.  He hurts when we hurt.  Intensely.  Even though He knows that He will bring beauty out of ashes.  Even though He knows He's got us covered.  Even though He could stop it all with just a word.  He hurts when we hurt.  Most of all, He's there.  His presence.  Compassionate.  Strong.  Healing us with His very presence.

If you are hurting, please know that my heart breaks on your behalf.  I wish I could heal your heart, remove your pain, restore you to joy.  I can't.  But I know that you will find His presence sufficient.  I know that you will find peace and comfort in His arms.  And I hope that He will let me be a resource of His love for you.  I care.  I really do.

In the midst of our pain and struggles, we will know that this is temporary.  Even though we might hurt for decades, it's still not a permanent place.  One day, His Presence will be visible.  He Himself will wipe our tears away.  And we will be whole.  And there will be forever joy.  Because we will be forever in His Presence.  Amen.  And Amen.