“The Journey of Prayer”

October 17, 2006 by mark.

“Prayer does not equip us for greater works- prayer is the greater work. Yet we think of prayer as some commonsense exercise of our higher power that simply prepares us for God’s work. In the teachings of Jesus Christ, prayer is the working of the miracle of redemption in me, which produces the miracle of redemption in others, through the power of God. The way fruit remains firrm is through prayer, but remember that it is prayer based on the agony of Christ in redemption, not on my own agony. We must go to God as His child…” Oswald Chambers- “My Utmost for His Highest”

Prayer, for me, has been a journey much like stumbling in the dark with a blindfold while someone is moving the furniture all around. I have lost my footing more times than I can recall. The constant has been relying on God to teach me how to pray. The disciples asked Jesus the same question and his response was what we now recognize as the Lord’s Prayer. (Check out Matthew 6: 9-10)

We need Jesus to show us how to pray. To make us feel like we are getting through and our prayers are not just bouncing off the ceiling back in our faces.

Prayer is simply a conversation. I gave up using the King James language in prayer a long time ago. I try to talk to God much the same as I would to my wife or friends. Open, sincere, and honest. As in any conversation, you speak and listen. Sometimes I struggle with the listening part.

Jesus understands the deepest utterings of our being that scream to be understood and to understand. To make sense of our world and our reality. Prayer helps us know ourselves and our motivations.

Much more importantly… prayer helps us know Jesus. When we know Jesus we are able to make him known to others.

In any relationship… talking to someone, knowing someone, trusting someone, are keys to loving someone.

And believing… we are loved…

Mark+

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