Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Thoughts on Prayer

I love the way Max Lucado thinks! As a result, he makes me think and that is what happens on a regular basis as I use his devotional journal each morning.

Yesterday, he spoke of how God hears our prayers. He used the story of Lazarus' illness. We all know that Lazarus and Jesus were close friends who cared deeply for each other. We also know the story of how Jesus called Lazarus from the grave. Now that, my friends, should have made a believer out of anyone, but there were still doubters as there are today.

Lucado writes, "When a friend told Jesus of the illness of Lazarus he said, "Lord, the one you love is sick." He doesn't base his appeal on the imperfect love of the one in need, but on the perfect love of the Savior. He doesn't say, "The one who loves you is sick." He says, "The one you love is sick." The power of the prayer, in other words, does not depend on the one who makes the prayer, but on the one who hears the prayer. We can, and must repeat the phrase in manifold ways. "The one you love is tired, sad, hungry, lonely, fearful, depressed." The words of the prayer vary, but the response never changes. The Savior hears the prayer. He silences heaven, so he won't miss a word. He hears the prayer." Psalm 34:17

Wow! This means that I don't have to be so arrogant as to think that my prayer will be the one that will make that person well, or happy, or safe. All I have to do is recognize God's power, intercede for the person in need, and leave it in His hands. Now THAT should take the pressure off those of us who feel we have to perform to prove who we are in God's sight. We don't have to do anything to be loved by God other than accept His love. I've always loved the image of God holding us in His arms protecting us tenderly. He accepts us for who we are as vulnerable children.

Lord, please forgive my arrogance and pride.

1 Comments:

At 9:39 AM, Blogger Rhea said...

What a lovely message. I liked that a lot.

 

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