"The danger with us is that we want to water down the things that Jesus says and make them mean something in accordance with common sense; if it were only common sense, it was not worth while for Him to say it. The things Jesus says about prayer are supernatural revelations." (Oswald Chambers)
So, what does Jesus have to say about prayer? He taught his disciples to pray, He berated the Pharisee and held up the tax collector as examples, He said to go into the closet and pray in secret, just to name some. He Himself prayed.
Chambers says today, that prayer is not an exercise, it is a lifestyle. Prayer is an essential ingredient that sustains us in all areas of our lives.
When I examine my prayers and my attitudes toward prayer, I have to ask the question, do I really think it makes any difference? Sure, I pray, but what does it look like ?
I have the tendency to pray for people and situations to show God that I am concerned about those. I know God cares, but I go back to the portion of The Lord's Prayer where it says "Thy Will be Done", and I know that It will be. Does it really matter that I pray?
If I pray for a person to be healed and ask God to do that, and then turn right around and say "Nevertheless, Thy will be done", is that just an exercise in concern, believing deep down that the outcome of the situation will be the same, regardless?
I know that prayer is important because Jesus both taught and modeled it. I just need to understand more what it is all about.
As I look back on what I have written this morning, I guess this journal is more a prayer for understanding than anything else. Oh may it be so.
Amen and Amen
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