Prayer: What do you expect?

In his book entirely devoted to prayer, Richard Foster suggests that
"Prayer is the human response to the perpetual outpouring of love by which God lays siege to every soul" (145).

Reflecting on that statement, we observe that God perpetually pours.  His love never ceases.  The human response to that perpetual outpouring, however, often slips from the perpetual into the periodic.

Today, I invite you to consider your practice of prayer.  For some, perhaps, prayer is a practice that you know you need and is far too neglected.  For others, prayer is a regular part of your daily endeavors.  Regardless, whether you are a novice or a natural, you do well to hear from Foster again when he rhetorically questions:
"Who can ever master something in which the main object is to be mastered?"  (xi)

Clearly the goal of this message today, therefore, is to strengthen our communication with the Master rather than mastering a practice.

My paternal grandfather died thirty-four years ago.  While several photos and keepsakes remain, among my favorites is a collection of longhand notes from his pen that he wrote in preparation for teaching various Bible study groups.  Take a look at one of his sentences with me.

If you desire a richer fellowship and relationship with God, you need to dedicate some time, energy, and heart into cultivating your prayer life.

The author of the Old Testament book Deuteronomy challenged the Hebrew nation (Israel) to contemplate their unique and special connection to the Divine.

Deuteronomy 4:7-9 (NIV)
What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

Prayer is a Gift -
Israel's unique position, an intimate connection with the Creator, granted them the grace-filled privileges of hearing from God and speaking to God.  You and I have those same privileges.  Focus with me on those two privileges.

Hearing:
The Bible, as a whole, is the message that introduces us to the story of God's plan of redeeming grace.  While the Bible is full of pain, tragedy, suffering, sin, and bad examples, its central message resounds.  Namely, God is love,   God is good, and God invites you to dwell with Him.  Therefore, you need this key tool of cultivation - the Bible. 

For the post-resurrection believer, the written word of God is the primary means of hearing from God.  During the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, the Reformers proclaimed the phrase "sola scriptura" - (by Scripture alone).  They stated unequivocally that no word of man stood level with the word of God.  No king, Pope, priest, or proclaimed spiritual expert could add to or take away from the value of Scripture.

Westminster Confession of Faith, Article VII
All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed, for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them. (Sola Scriptura)

Notice that to the "learned" and "unlearned" alike God grants access to that which is "necessary to be known."  When you connect your praying with reading, God answers your prayers with His word.  It is with good reason that we refer to the Bible as God's "living Word."  While the words are quite old, to say the least, they do not grow old.  The words confront, convict, call, and comfort today with as much clarity and directness as they did the day they were spoken and penned.

Speaking:
Particularly for those individuals who attempt to grasp the immensity of God, the idea of approaching the throne of God (in the words of Hebrews) proves daunting.  Nevertheless, Jesus encourages you and me to approach with confidence.  

To illustrate, we look to a story of a puzzled disciple.  He seeks counsel from his Lord as to how to pray.  Before we read his story, make sure you understand the history (reason) for his question.  The disciple watched in amazement as Jesus, among other things:

• raises a widow's son from death
  
• heals leprosy
  
• controls wind and waves
  
• drives out demons
  
• feeds thousands with five loaves and two fish
  

He is awe-struck to say the least.  We understand, therefore, how he might be a little puzzled as to how to communicate with his Lord's Father.  On a much lower scale, imagine what you would say when greeting the King of England. 

Luke 11:1-13 (NIV)
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
    for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”

Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Verse one:
    "Can you teach me to do that?"

Verses two - four:
    The Lord's Prayer

Sometimes we, perhaps due to our "awe-struck" state, complicate prayer.  Matthew adds Jesus' introduction to His teaching on prayer (6:7-8) 

Matthew 6:7-8 (NIV)
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

No need to impress God or others.  God knows your need.  Simply tell Him.

Verses five - eight:
    Request in moment of need.
    Boldness / Persistence (vs. 8)

Verses nine - ten:
    Speak up!
    Seek out.
    Stand and knock.  (Keep asking.)

Verses eleven - thirteen:
    Remember the love of God.
    Expect the best.

Prayer will Transform -
My grandfather's words reminded us that prayer is, at the core, a means of cultivating our relationship with our Creator.  Such cultivating transforms us into more willing recipients of God's message and servants of His purpose.

Looking again to Foster's work,
To pray is to change.  This is a great grace.  How good of God to provide a path whereby our lives can be taken over by love and joy and peace and patience and kindness and goodness and faithfulness and gentleness and self-control.

The movement inward comes first because without interior transformation the movement up into God's glory would overwhelm us and the movement out into ministry would destroy us.  (10)

"Prayer changes things," people say.  It also changes us.  The latter goal is the more imperative.  The primary purpose of prayer is to bring us into such a life of communion with the Father that, by the power of the Spirit, we are increasingly conformed to the image of the Son.  . . .  

None of us will keep up a life of prayer unless we are prepared to change.  We will either give it up or turn it into a little system that maintains the form of godliness but denies the power of it--which is the same thing as giving it up.  

When we begin to walk with God, he is gracious and marvelously answers our feeble, egocentric prayers.  (101)

Conclusion:
Today, my prayer is that you seek not to master prayer but to surrender to the Master and that you will follow up that surrender with a desire for constant and clear communication with your Creator.  

Go forward today with the affirming knowledge that,

• Prayer is a gift that involves hearing and speaking.
  
• Prayer transforms.

Approach the throne of God expecting eggs and fish rather than snakes and scorpions.  God gives to those who ask Him!  Let God hear from you today; you will be glad you did.

#ordinarylives
 



For further reading…
Foster, Richard J. Prayer - Finding the Heart's True Home. New York: Harper Large Print, 1992.
"Sola Scriptura." Wikipedia. 10 Jan. 2012.  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sola_scriptura>.