07/08/2020
When we begin our day do we start it in prayer, or walk right back into yesterday’s problems without looking to God for His help and guidance? How about when calamity is upon us, those times when our world is collapsing around us, do we run blindly in whatever direction, or do we fall to our knees where we are, and pray? Our ability to trust in God, and pray without being distracted by the world, is a practiced gift, and some gifts we receive require us to put them together, or to learn how to use them... such is the gift of prayer.
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
Colossians 4:2 ESV
We receive a great deal of instruction, and many illustrations, regarding prayer in the Word of God. This isn’t just because it is our favorite subject to read about. No, prayer is like a toy, or some other gift we might give a child at Christmas... those presents often require us to assemble them, or learn how to use them properly, and so does prayer.
I remember one Christmas when I was young; that year I was given a chess set. It wasn’t unusual for my parents to give me educational gifts mixed in with the fun things they knew I really wanted. Like most kids I played with all the mindlessly fun things until the novelty of them wore out, and then, in absolute boredom, I pulled the chess board from its box, and read the folded piece of paper that contained the basic rules of the game. I invited my best friend to come over, and together we played our first game of chess. Little did I know that even though the rules were quite simple, that I would spend the rest of my life learning to master that game. Our prayer lives are much like that chess set... the rules are rather simple, and we begin in childish fashion, but the more we pray, the deeper its complexity becomes.
“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.”
1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV
On One of my birthdays I was given a juice harp (some call them jew’s harps, or jaw harps). It was a cheap musical instrument that I was given as a novelty gift. You hold it against your teeth, and pluck the center prong to make it resonate. It is a simple instrument to use, and by changing the position of your mouth you can generate many notes, and at that point, your imagination, and ear for music, are the only limiting factors. I carried this small instrument around in my pocket, and whenever I had a few moments alone I would play it, and teach myself different ways of creating new sounds. A child can learn to play it in minutes, but even so, it takes years of practice, and experimentation to find the limits of this instrument. In effect, you are becoming a part of the instrument. Interestingly, without your mouth and teeth there can be no sound generated... no music. Prayer is a lot like this, we find it simple to do, harder to master, and it can’t be accomplished at all unless we join in it with God... our call, and His answer.
“Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.”
Isaiah 65:24 ESV
So where are we in our prayer life today? Are we like children who are easily spooked by hardship and neglect to pray because we are distracted by fear? Are we becoming somewhat disciplined in our prayers, and pray regularly? Or perhaps we are maturing in prayer, and find ourselves advancing towards praying without ceasing. We advance in prayer just like we do in our lives, so where do you perceive yourself to be today, and are you striving to improve... and grow?
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
2 Peter 3:18 ESV
Prayer;
Father, thank you for raising us up in our faith like a child is raised to become a man or woman. Thank you for hearing the prayers we pray as children, with the same patient and understanding ear with which you hear our prayers as mature adults in Christ. Thank you Lord for patiently waiting for us to come to you in the circumstance of life, then just to talk with you, and finally in every breath, as we realize you to be our life itself. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who leads us, guides us, and watches our every move, loving like a doting parent. We praise you when we feel your smile, and we seek your forgiveness when we feel your brow become furrowed in disappointment. Yet in all things we know your love, and we know that the doorway to you is always open to our voices... our prayers. You are merciful to forgive, and pour out your grace when we are yet undeserving; your confidence in us knows no bounds, and your voice reassured us in faith. All glory is yours Father, and every prayer we pray is rises up to bring you glory. See to our upbringing Father, now, and forevermore.
“And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great.”
Job 8:7 ESV
Rich Forbes