Category Archives: Prayer

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The Other Side of Prayer

returning thanks

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theothersideofprayer

This week, I took my older two girls (and my baby) to the National Gallery of Art for a special tour for homeschoolers. I had arranged care for my youngest daughter, packed lunches, fed them breakfast, and determined the best route via GPS. However, I wasn’t prepared for a few things that might upset our trip:

1) It was raining cats and dogs
2) this trip was to take place during my baby’s nap time – therefore, he cried the entire 25 minute ride to the Gallery plus the 15 minutes of time it took to find a parking place.
3) I forgot an umbrella
4) In my flustration (is that a word? If it isn’t, it should be), I started us out walking in the WRONG DIRECTION towards the WRONG MUSEUM. In the rain.

We had prayed on the way there that God would help us find parking, calm my baby as he was crying, help us find our group at the Gallery, and enjoy our tour.
Then my seven year old (Thank God she can read!) looked across the street and said, “Look, Mom! There it is! It says “National Gallery of Art.”

We headed into the museum and once we got settled into our group and I was able to nurse my baby, all was well in the world. We enjoyed the tour and even got free tickets for gelato at the end. We walked in the rain to the car (but no one complained) and arrived at our car just when the meter expired.

Once I got into the car and we headed in the direction of home, I told the girls that we should stop and give thanks to the Lord for answering our prayers. Even though things hadn’t began as we had hoped, we did in fact find parking, find our group, and have a great tour. It would be easy to sigh in relief and forget the frustration we had experienced only hours before.

Who Comes Back and Says Thank You?

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This event in my week reminded me of a parable Jesus shares in Luke 17:11-19 about ten lepers who came to him crying out for healing. He healed all ten of them, but only one came back and thanked him, “praising God in a loud voice.” “Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?…Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well” (vv 17-19).

It is easy to turn our attention and earnestness to Christ in the place of prayer when we are in need. When we are experiencing lack, suffering, or trial. But what about when He actually answers us? When the need is met, the person is healed, the food is on the table, the job is secured – do we turn back and thank Him for answering us?

Do we draw our affection and attention towards Him and pour out our thanksgiving upon Him? Do we let Him know that we are grateful? The needy often know a place of intimacy and dependency on God that the prosperous do not. Why? Scripture reveals this clearly again and again through the children of Israel. Hosea 13:6 is just one example of where this is revealed: “When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.”

Let’s not be forgetful children, begging for a cookie and then, once it is given, running ahead full speed -all the while forgetting to kiss the one who made that cookie.

Let’s remember that God is the source of all good things in our lives and when He has indeed answered our cries for help, let’s not forget to thank Him.

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My Only New Years Resolution

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Resolution

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” ~ Luke 10:38-42

I have a confession to make. I love Martha in this story. I really do. Why? I feel her pain.

REALLY, Mary?! Can’t you help a sister out? Are you seriously going to let me do all the work for this dinner party by myself while you lazily recline beside the Guest of Honor? I mean, I would love to do that too, of course, but there is chicken curry to make here!

From a logical perspective, many of us would consider Mary’s actions in that moment self-centered rather than others-centered. But they were something far greater than either of those things: They were God-centered.

One Thing is Necessary

Mary knew in that moment who and what was most important. She knew that she was in the presence of the Messiah Himself and she was not going to let anything or anyone pull her eyes from his face.

This story begs us to ask ourselves an important question – what is necessary?

Not “What is practical?” or “What is most productive?” or “What will others around me approve of?” but “What is essential?”

We get our answer from The Lord Himself. “Martha, Martha” (You can just hear the love and understanding in His voice) – You are anxious and troubled about many things.

Yes, Lord. We are a worried people. A troubled people. A people who work ourselves into a frenzy and get so stressed out by our rapid pace of living that:

we don’t.

know how.

to stop.

But Mary. She knows what is most important. Can’t you just see her? Happy and calm, eyes shining, fully engaged in the moment with her Savior. Now here was a woman of peace and purpose.

She chose what is best. And it won’t be taken from her.

An Invitation to Sit at His Feet Again

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There is nothing more important than sitting at the feet of Christ and listening to His Word. Nothing.

Not work, not play, not cooking or cleaning or politics or world economics or – anything!

Because it is only when we sit with Him and hear His words of truth and life that we can make sense of everything else in our lives and in this world. It’s only then that we know how He would have us to respond and act.

All the swimming thoughts and anxious fears and ideas about what I might do and become and how to love people well and how to make a difference – all of it begins to make sense when I sit at His feet.

For the times when I have no clue what to do – at least I know where to start – bowing at the feet of Christ.

My Only New Years Resolution

So there is only one thing I’m determined to do this year – seek Christ.  All the other goals or priorities that I have will become clear and aligned healthfully as I stay committed to this one thing.

Won’t you join me in this great pursuit? This one thing, when we choose it, will never, can NEVER be taken from us.

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The Blessing of a Prayer Partner

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blessingofaprayerpartner

I have been meeting with the same friend for the last 8 years to pray regularly. We met “BC” (before children) while we both worked for the same organization on Capitol Hill.

Our times of prayer together have looked differently over the years (we used to meet in each other’s offices and now we primarily walk and pray in our neighborhood). The topics covered in our conversations are different, too, as our lives have changed, shifted, and enlarged to include families of our own.

I’d like to share with you some treasures that I have gained from walking with this good and godly friend over almost a decade of time:

1) We keep showing up – even when life gets tough – actually, especially when life gets really tough. I know that when I am wallowing a pit in self pity, I don’t want to stay there. And I know she won’t let me. Which brings me to #2….

2) We speak the truth in love – every Christian needs someone else who they can go to who will be lovingly honest with them when it comes to issues of sin and sanctification. If my attitude is one of negativity and complaining, my friend will lovingly tell me this – and pray with me that I might see change in that area of my life.

3) We listen – I think a lot of our time together is really spent just listening. Sometimes we know what God is asking of us but we are fearful or anxious or just need prayer support to walk it out. And all of that is simply part of being human. We need others in Christ’s Body who can bear our burdens with us and encourage us to see the truth and walk it out, no matter how hard it may be.

4) We pray – though it’s always organic and never exactly planned out, we lift up each other and our concerns to The Lord and ask Him together that we might see Him move in our lives and families. And – He answers. Which brings me to #5…

5) We rejoice in answered prayer – so often, we will pray about something one day and before even a week goes by, see God answering our prayers before our eyes. I believe that God has used these times to encourage us to keep on keeping on and to remind us that He delights in hearing our prayers.

6) We are real with each other – we don’t come to each other pretending or posing to be perfect Christians. We come, often beaten down from battling in the trenches of daily life, humbled and confessing eagerly.

I confess I am nowhere near this real or vulnerable with most people. And I think that’s okay – we shouldn’t spill all our baggage to everyone we know.

But we should have a few people that we can be this real with – friends who love God, are trustworthy, and care more about our souls than our pride – because this is where real spiritual transformation can occur in our lives.

“Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” – James 5:15-16.

Do you have a friend you have prayed with over the years? If so, what have you gained from this relationship? Perhaps now would be a great time to let that person know how much they mean to you. If you have a friend you would like to start praying regularly with, go ahead and reach out – they may be just as eager to pray with you!

Remember that prayer is not only a personal spiritual practice but a corporate one:

“Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians than praying together.  Never do they love one another so well as when they witness the outpouring of each other’s hearts in prayer“. ~ Charles Finney

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