| Sunny Side Up June 8, 2005 �2005, Kathleen Gibson I wonder about the way we pray People of faith often talk about the importance of prayer. I've learned, sadly, that too often behind all the talk and hoop-la and 'prayer gatherings' is a sad lack of what constitutes genuinely effective prayer. Let me say it before those who know me best trump my ace - I'm often guilty too. I wonder what God thinks of the way most Christians tell me they pray. We pray at meals. We pray in crises. We pray when we or someone close to us is sick or frightened, lonely or sad, down or out. If we have time (or remember!) we pray for the names on the church prayer calendar and perhaps for the umpteen ministries that inundate our mailboxes with requests for prayer and money. Our civic, provincial and national leaders? The poor? Other countries? Take a number. On the days when the tyranny of the urgent blasts away all our finest excuses, we burst into the presence of the Almighty Divine. "God, listen to me. I have important stuff here that needs your attention�" We blurt it out and back away, in a rush to go do what we can to fix things ourselves. No holy awe, no waiting to let God remind us of his mighty power and limitless love. No listening or waiting for a response. No gazing into his eyes�. I just wonder what he thinks of all that, that's all. Most churches take time during their weekly services to pray for various needs in their congregation. Week by week, I listen. Yes, I know God cares for the sick among us, the ones without jobs, the ones who have lost loved ones. He wants us to bring all that to him. But does God ever grow weary of our inability to look beyond immediate needs to our deepest ones? What would happen if we prayed for our most important needs, rather than our most urgent? Perhaps we'd hear something like this� Mr. Luemper lost his temper again - badly - and want us to pray for his lack of self-control. Mr. and Mrs. Nudge are carrying a grudge they know is poisoning the church and killing them, and would like us to pray they'll be able to forgive. Mrs. Ayers has asked for prayers that she'll resist the temptation to gossip. Mr. Putney is struggling with gluttony, and wants us to pray that he'll allow God to rule his body as well as his spirit. Mr. Weak requests prayer for his ongoing battle with pornography, and the Sloths would like you to pray about their chronic case of laziness. The Clutches are suffering the side-effects of a recent attack of materialism and would like prayer support as they return their latest big purchase. And the All-mines have requested prayer that God weed out their selfishness so they can cheerfully give to others. I wonder what God would do if we got that serious about prayer, that honest with him. Answer it, I'll bet. Respond Home |
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