Thought for Today
2 Samuel 7:18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and said, "Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?
Psalm 4:1 Answer me when I call, O God of my right! You gave me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
Mattherw 6:9 "Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Mark 14:36 "Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want."
I’m still thinking about those 4 questions I read and wrote about yesterday. Today, I have added other questions to my list: “What do you pray about?” “Are there any topics inappropriate to be brought before our Creator God?”
For answer, I looked at some of the prayers recorded in the Bible. Certainly, our Bible is much more than a prayer book. Just as the Bible is not meant to be a textbook on any of the sciences, it is not meant to be a textbook on theology or on prayer. My Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms defines the Bible as, “The canonical writings accepted as normative for a religious faith. In Christianity the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) and the New Testament comprise the Bible. Theologically, the Bible is acknowledged in the church as a revelation from God.” (pg. 29)
But as we consider our prayer lives, I can think of no better source than the Bible to understand prayer itself. That same dictionary defines prayer as, “Human approach to God and addressing God in praise and adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication, and intercession. A consciousness of God’s presence, love, direction, and grace may be experienced.” (pg. 216)
King David, the monarch during Israel’s ‘golden era,’ prayed to God often. The prayer above from 2 Samuel begins as an inquiry, asking God why David, his family line and even the nation have been chosen by God. I see this as a prayer of identity, a ‘why me?” prayer. I have asked those same questions of God on many occasions. In both joy and sorrow, I have approached God, conversed with God, asked “Why me?” I’m not sure which category from that definition above includes “Why me” prayers. Sometimes they are prayers of thanksgiving. When I pray to God thanking him for bringing Greta and me together, they are heartfelt prayers of thanksgiving. But, I have also prayed to God in anguish, wailing in my prayers “Why me?” I have shared both joy and heartbreak with my Creator God. I believe honestly sharing our emotions with God, irrespective of the nature of those emotions, is important. As I wrote yesterday, in prayer, I share with God the cares and concerns God already knows that I have. I’m not revealing anything to God which God does not already know. I am honestly sharing with God my innermost, most deeply felt emotions. I am honestly sharing my very self with my Creator.
As a Christian, I often look to the Lord’s Prayer for both comfort and guidance. It was offered to the disciples as a model prayer. Countless sermons and Sunday School lessons have been offered on this prayer, analyzing it, dissecting it and even parsing the grammar. One of the most striking elements for me is the prayer’s simplicity. As you pray this prayer, at home, in worship, listen to the words. Think about it as a communication with God. Like any letter, it begins with a salutation, simply “Our Father.”
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus does not go into great dissertations on theological precepts. Jesus simply prays for daily sustenance and for God’s forgiveness. “Luke 11:3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial."
The other prayer of Jesus recorded in the New Testament which often comes to my mind is his prayer offered in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus knew what was ahead. Jesus understood the necessity of what was ahead. Jesus was fully prepared to proceed. But, Jesus honestly shared with his Father what was in Jesus’ own mind. God already knew, but Jesus went to God in prayer. We may not always understand the “why?’ of the things in our lives, either the joys or the sorrows. But, like Jesus, we can always honestly share with God how we feel about both. And, as I wrote yesterday, “God patiently listens as I articulate in my mind or aloud that which occupies my mind. When I still my mind to listen, God answers.” God wants us to share, to be in an intimate relationship with God.
Stay safe, be honest with God and yourself, trust God,
Pastor Ray