The conversation began...

“What is prayer? Define prayer.”
In church life we throw that word around a lot. “Let’s pray about it,” or “I’ll pray about that,” what does that mean? If I encountered someone who had not idea or concept of prayer how would I define it? What words would I use to quantify prayer?
The more we talked the less of a definition we had. About the time a sentence was spoken it was countered with another aspect of prayer that didn’t seem to fit the definition proposed. In The Disciple’s Study Bible prayer is defined as “communication with God.” In a latter section titled Discipline of Prayer, prayer is described as a “central component in worship, the atmosphere surrounding effective Bible study, and the power behind witnessing. Delving into the depths of prayer life is essential to growth in discipleship” (p. 1761).

I defined it as a “conversation” with God yet communication is a better fitting word. The Bible contains multiple types of prayer including, confession, praise, thanksgiving, petition, intercession, commitment, confidence, for forgiveness (Disciples Study Bible p.1867). Not all of those are conversation for sure. I choose the word conversation out of a reaction to the “normal” lecture style of prayer. I use lecture meaning where I talk at God (not requiring his input), kind of like ordering at a fast food restaurant. I make my requests known, my thanks, and my praise and then I’m done “in Jesus name.” My prayer is one sided for sure and not a conversational relationship. I never give him a chance to get a word in edgewise. Don’t you hate that when someone doesn’t give you a chance? I do. I wonder what God thinks when I do that to Him? Would you call that communication? Do you?

Communication involves an exchange of information verbal and non-verbal. Communication is not limited to ideas alone. Effective communication includes emotions, feelings and context for a true exchange of ideas and passions. Prayer is the first wireless communication. Prayer is essential for a relationship between two parties. I ask how often do stop so God has a chance to get a word in edgewise? I didn’t this morning. What about you?

I found this story last week it illustrates our confusion regarding prayer.
Many years ago, when the Chicago Bears were a football powerhouse, Michael Singletary was leading a chapel before the game. As Michael began to speak, he asked William Perry (aka “The Refrigerator”) to lead the group in the Lord’s Prayer after he finished. Jim McMahon, the quarterback, was sitting in the back next to the team’s chaplain. McMahon whispered to the chaplain, “Look at Perry.” The chaplain looked and saw that Perry was sweating profusely. McMahon continued, “He doesn’t know the Lord’s Prayer.” To which the chaplain responded, “Of course he knows the Lord’s Prayer. Everyone knows it.”
McMahon then showed the chaplain a fifty-dollar bill saying, “I’ll bet you $50 that he doesn’t know it.”
Finally, Singletary finishes his message, and Perry, with great hesitation stands, clears his throat, and says, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep…” It is then McMahon turns to the chaplain, hands him the fifty-dollar bill, and says, “I didn’t think he knew it!”
Told in a message titled “The Missing Ingredient” by Paul Decker. Found at http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/the-missing-ingredient-paul-decker-sermon-on-prayer-how-to-87852.asp on 4.21.10
Well, hopefully you do know the difference! Let me know how you define prayer!

I've tried everything!

Are the words I hear from a person frustrated with an ongoing relationship. They are words I have said more than once. When I was frustrated to the point of ending it there, done, stick a fork in it it’s done.

Statements like this always beg the question, Really? Have we done everything or have we simply grown tired of trying and in our desire for a resolution quit? It has been said that the greatest breakthroughs come just after you’ve decided to quit.

“I’ve done everything,” is a statement of frustration although not of truth. Really, typically I have done everything I wanted to NOT every possibility. I may not have tried more than once. Do you learn to ride a bicycle by quitting after you fall the first time? No, certainly not but then in relationships there usually is more than one or a dozen falls leading to the frustration. Frustration at trying again when nothing has happened so far, why try again. Why indeed? A question of commitment to be certain.

After the resurrection the disciples went fishing. I suggest they had “done everything” and were done. So, they went back to what they knew before. And they fished all night catching nothing. In the morning a voice called from the shore asking of their catch. They told the “good news” nothing. The man on the beach said to let their nets down on the other side of the boat. They did. (I thought they were done?) When they did they caught 153 large fish stretching the net to the limit but it did not tear. It was Jesus who asked them to try one more time.

Frustration often leads us to quit when Jesus asks us to go one step farther not in our strength but in his. We thought we had tried everything and maybe we did except Him! Frustration leads us to pray for God to change the other in a relationship when the real prayer is to change us. To ask in His name is to ask to be removed from the way so that He will be visible. When that is our heartfelt prayer then and only then have we tried everything. God is Love. Love is everything.

To ask Jesus to teach us to love those we are struggling with is to try everything! It is to bring the heart of God, HIS very being to bear on ourselves changing us and revealing Jesus. He’s everything. For the future let’s skip the frustration step and move to the love step applying Jesus to our situation.

It seems more direct, certainly more done!

It seemed to be universal...

Those at our Life Group last night the story was the same. A story of a tough week filled with pitfalls that had begun with great anticipation and renewed energy that comes for Easter and springtime here in the south. We celebrated new life on Easter with a great attendance of over 130; fine food, fantastic fun and an egg toss all on a beautiful day in Guyton, all of this making for a fine Easter at least on the outside. Then came Monday!
Life set in and Easter had become just another day after Saturday. What happened? How is it that Easter made no difference on Monday? Did that happen to you?

I don’t think it happens because of the sugar rush from the candy or the hangover from the pollen or the pollen medication. No, God’s arch enemy is out to rob you of your joy. He is there to remind you that your life is a mess and convince you in your eyes that Easter really never cleans up the mess. I remind you he is the father of lies. But that is hard to remember when those old demons are in your head like they were Monday night reminding me that life was failing, I was a failure, the end was coming and it was my fault. Old stories, old wounds, old habits all die hard.

In the middle of the night in the middle of the battle it is hard not to believe the voices in your head are speaking truth and what they say is true. But is it? One way to test is to measure their fruit. When those voices speak what fruit does it bear? Does it bear fear, resentment, hatred, jealousy, envy and rage? Or, does it bear peace, patience, kindness, hope, encouragement? I can tell you Monday night it was all fear and discouragement. That means it was not from God for correction but from evil to corrupt, to take away the joy of Easter. That’s what evil likes to do. So, what can we do about it? Get a new focus. Easter makes the difference.

Jesus, while dying on the cross experienced for the first time separation from God. He had never known that before. But, he had never sinned before either and now he became sin. In His eyes God withdrew. So, Jesus cries out, “My God, My God why have You forsaken me?” I want to point out that Jesus in his desperate uncharted, previously unknown moment calls out to His Father, no curse but a call in faith. Then with even greater faith, “sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see,” (Heb 11:1 NIV) he commits his spirit to God His Father. Jesus changed his focus from what was happening to him to what God was doing through Him. It took great faith. It will take great faith for you and me. Easter makes the difference. The difference is hope.

Hope for life after death.
Hope for help when you are hurting.
Hope that your helper knows what you are going though and lived to tell about it.
Hope in a plan not seen and a purpose not understood.

Easter makes a difference in the days following when we choose to focus on what God is doing through us and not on what’s happening to us. Easter reveals that to really live is to live on purpose (to glorify God) and the plan will be revealed.