Prayer by the Book

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Ps 119:105

What do coffee with a friend and developing a deeper prayer life have in common? In our prevailing culture, coffee houses are more than places simply providing coffee drinks. They have become essential ‘homes of fellowship’ for many of us who dwell in a fast paced and increasingly impersonal suburban life that does not offer many places of community intersection. A coffee house has become what has been called a “Third Place” or a place that allows for meaningful connection with people third only to our work place and home. We are wired for community and we need some form of recognition in our daily life.

After years of evangelistic preaching to people all over the world, Billy Graham has said that loneliness is one of the greatest problems people face today. We all need community. If a certain coffee house is a place we frequent regularly, then the staff will probably know our name and second guess our order before we have had time to express it. If we meet a friend for coffee we have time to share our lives and enjoy a refreshing hot drink. Prayer with the Scriptures open before us is like having coffee with a friend. It is a soothing experience like chatting while sipping coffee in a cozy setting.

Even to slow down and take just one verse and carefully examine it, like sipping your coffee and examining the flavor and aroma of the brew, transports us into a deeper awareness of God. It enlivens our hearts to converse with God because of the things we are observing and reacting to through God’s holy Word. In this state we are more likely to speak to our Father, heart to heart, and more likely to draw closer to Him. God is so personally interested in you and longs for this level of communication. How can I develop a deeper prayer life is more about asking how can I love God more. So, find a special place, open the Book and ask Him to meet you through your reading today – receive His love for you.

Whose Authority?

“And I (Jesus) will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” John 14:13

I read of a story that spoke of a Dad who took his daughter and two sons to the County Fair and went ahead of them to stand in line and buy a batch of tickets for the rides. Shortly afterward, the man was standing near the gate to the Tilt-A-Whirl where he held the roll of red tickets ready to distribute them to his children who were waiting in line for him. First, he was met by his daughter holding out her hand into which he placed a ticket.

Next, to his surprise, a small boy, whom he did not know, stood in front of him holding out his hand. “Wait a minute, who are you?” the man thought to himself. Not wanting to hold up the line of people formed behind the small boy, the father became noticeably irritated but just as he was about to confront the boy his son stepped forward and said, “Dad, this is my friend. I told him you would give him a ticket too”. Without hesitation the father tore off a ticket and handed it to the small boy. It was not because the father discerned he deserved a ticket or that he had planned to give tickets away to strangers that day. He offered the ticket for one reason alone.

What made the difference was that the small boy held out his hand pleading “in the son’s name”. The father made good the word or promise of the son to the friend in need. It was because of the son that the boy received. In this story that Ronald Dunn’s tells in his wonderful book, “Don’t just stand there Pray Something!” we gain an insight into the principle of why we ask “in Jesus Name” to receive from our Lord. We are to come to the Father through the Son and on the Son’s authority – a legal union as well as a loving union.

What’s in a Name

“And I (Jesus) will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” John 14:13

What names will you remember from the 2012 London Olympics? Michael Phelps and Gabby Douglas caught the nation’s attention early on but later, as the focus turned to the track and field events, we could not help hearing the name, Usain Bolt. His speed was breath-taking and with his numerous victories he proclaimed himself a “living legend”. I am sure the mere mention of his name will bring powerful associations for many years.

Today, many Christians follow the tradition of finishing their prayers with the words, ”in Jesus Name”. So what is so special about praying in the name of Jesus? Is it a secret pass word like “Shazam”? Does is turbo charge an ordinary prayer to send it like a (Usain) bolt of lightning into the presence of God? Well, of course, I say this rather jokingly as God cannot be manipulated. The issue is more a matter of authority. It is important to understand this so we are careful to use this authority thoughtfully and appropriately.

If I have a million dollar check with Warren Buffet’s signature I can take it to the bank! In a similar way, a Christian is allowed to operate under the mighty authority of Christ when submitting his prayers. We designated to be  “ambassadors” or representatives of Christ and we have delegated authority and heavenly backing. Christ generously gives the Christian free use of His Name at all times and for any desire. What a blessing! The privilege is an indication of our union in Christ’s love and His confidence in us. Here is the secret to the power of praying in his Name - it is dependent on the union we have with Christ as to the effectiveness of our prayer. The Name and the Sprit of God are one and our life must be conformed to the Spirit so that we are praying consistently with the will and character of God. When we pray with God’s best interests in mind, then we are in full accord with the intention of our Lord to pray in His Name. Prayer in the Name of Jesus is like gold  – now you can take that one to the bank!

Try it You’ll Like It

“And I(Jesus) will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” John 14:13

Food can be a contentious issue in a child/parent relationship. How many times does a parent attempt to coax a child to explore beyond their usual diet with the words, “Try it, you’ll like it.” In a similar way we can declare: To know Him is to love Him. Stop and read this statement again. Understand that there is no other logical conclusion possible. To truly know God causes our heart to love and adore Him. If we do not love Him then we do not really know Him!

Jesus teaches us that the fundamental principle of His love for us is reflected in the nature of prayer. In particular, that aspect of a father to child kind of relationship.  St John’s gospel contains the astounding principle, repeated seven times for reinforcement, that God desires to answer prayer – “ask and you will receive”. You see, prayer is invited so as to obtain a Kingdom oriented answer. God reveals Himself as an attentive and sensitive father who seeks to direct and coach the efforts of His children toward His greater good. All He requires is for us to consult Him and bring Him into the picture. It is in the discourse of prayer and its answer that the flow of love between the Father and His child can be experienced tangibly.

Also, we should see that prayer becomes the prime vocation for the believer in order to accomplish God’s program on earth. But like an Olympic athlete, this purpose is not accomplished without disciplined determination, training and practice. Yet, the simple child-like principle of asking and receiving is never lost in any stage of development. We can conclude that the secret to the spiritual life is to make yourself little and dependent like a child. The danger is to become big and independent.

The child asking and the Father giving belong to each other in the heavenly economy and most simply define prayer. It is humbling to admit that God must lead and we must become lesser. God is always greater. He is great but He is also perfectly good and this is so comforting.

Call unto Me

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Phil 4:6

A hospital chaplain was doing his rounds. A new patient, a young boy, had entered the ward who was dying. The chaplain visited with him and asked if he might sit by his beside to chat. The patient nodded in approval but asked that he not sit in the chair close to his bedside.

The next day the chaplain visited again. The boy’s health was deteriorating. They got talking about Christianity and the Chaplain was happy to find the boy had a strong faith in Christ. As they talked the dying boy spoke about his prayer life. He said he talked constantly to God. He liked to imagine his Heavenly Father with him in the room. In fact, he imagined Him sitting in the chair beside the bed and that is why he preferred people not to sit there. The chaplain nodded and smiled as he listened to the boy’s story.

The next day the chaplain made his rounds but was met with an empty bed when he came to visit the boy. Enquiring with the nurse he was told that the frail boy had died during the night. The nurse reported, “It was a little unusual. We found him looking very peaceful but his head was resting on the chair beside the bed.”

Reflecting on this story, we should be reminded that God is so present in our earthly journey and nothing should be beyond the scope of prayer. Prayer should be the most natural activity, almost as basic as breathing or conversing with a friend. As with the dying boy in my story, whatever our concern you can be sure it is the concern of our loving God. If it is big enough to lose sleep over, or be anxious about, it’s big enough to pray about. Worry about nothing, says the apostle Paul, and pray about everything. Nothing to everything, now that is an open ended invitation!