I've been thinking a lot about prayer the last few weeks. My spiritual director is coaching me on the ways of contemplative prayer. I've been trying to observe the daily offices for the past several weeks. (Well, to be specific, I'm usually good for morning prayer, anyway.)
I said to our (home church/small group/community/whatever) the other night that I've been challenged by my own hypocrisy - I claim that God is everywhere, indeed, His Holy Spirit is in me, yet I pray like I'm placing a long distance call to someone on the other side of the country.
"Hello, God? It's me. Got a second?"
I don't want that. I want to revel in His presence at all times. (That's what our "whatever" group is going to work at, BTW. Spiritual transformation through the practicing of spiritual disciplines. I'm looking forward to it.)
Back to prayer and my hypocrisy.
Last week while up at our ministry house (where there's usually at least 100 emails in the InBox), I saw one (of several) asking for prayer. Bob is on the mission field and is ill, and in need of prayer. Timmy fell down a well and needs our prayers. Please pass this email on to everyone you can think of so they can pray for Bob and Timmy too. You know the type I'm talking about. Spiritual spam. Chain prayers. Thank goodness Bob fell ill in the age of the internet, 'cause now there's be so many of us praying for him that God will have to heal him. Somehow I don't think that's the way it works.
On the flipside, today I was driving through one of the more questionable parts of Vancouver. I had picked up a supply of prayer journals (how's that for ironic) from our publisher to bring with us to Missions Fest tomorrow. As I waited at a red light a young girl carrying a baby crossed the street, and I started to pray for her. Nothing fancy, mind you. Just that she would have a good day, that whatever her circumstances were perhaps God would show Himself to her in a real way, that she wouldn't fall down a well - that type of thing. I felt good doing that.
I'm not sure I'll ever understand how it works. Regardless, I want to get to the point where I'm speaking with God throughout the day, as we travel together. As God and I drive through East Vancouver I'll point some folks out to Him. Who knows, maybe there's room for Bob and Timmy too.
UPDATE: I finished this post and stumbled upon ThursdayPM, which looks to be my new personal favorite. Here's what Rachelle has to say on the subject:
I once took a course on prayer with Eugene Peterson. When he came to our small group, I told him that I thought my prayers were just worrying in front of God. (I had read something by Richard Foster which indicated this was a no-no so I was... worried.) Eugene's face did this wonderful thing where all of his skin instantaneously gathers upwards towards his temples in an all encompassing smile. Then he said, "Worrying in front of God. I like that. Well, thatfs just fine. Just. Fine. But one thing you can also do is ask what the Trinity is already doing for the people you are worrying over. Ask what the three of them are cooking up and see if you can get in on it." That is a big phrase for Eugene "get in on it." He's always encouraging us to pay attention to stories, ours and God's, and make sure we're aware of how we're in on it.
Wow. (Anybody who once took a prayer course from Eugene Peterson is instantly a friend of mine!) Read the rest of the post here.
Posted by mike at January 29, 2004 10:43 PM | TrackBack