Are You Too Busy To Pray?
Good Morning Friends,
Today’s Gospel reading is as well-known as any of them. It is a rubric for a conversation with God and a benchmark of how we will ultimately be judged. It is not so much a prayer as a guideline for how to pray.
We have all repeated the words, but that is not the point, even though it may be the one thing that Christians share. No, today’s question is a matter of priorities in not just doing but in learning by doing. Are You Too Busy To Pray?
Scripture: “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that 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. “Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses
Matthew 6:7-15 (NRSV)
Message: Jesus does not condemn public prayer, but does make the point that joining in a prayer ritual with an attitude of a self-conscious presentation can destroy the Spirit. The problem with saying the same prayers repeatedly is that they become mindless but also that they might be embellished in a way that gets in the way of a direct personal relationship with God. To repeat scripture in this fashion is a bit disrespectful too and can become a one-way conversation with God. To get closer to God one needs to hear and reflect on His gentle whispers. Unfortunately, we often only see the reflection of who we think we are as we pray. We are a blind lot, specially to sin. And even if we had the wisdom of Solomon we could not obtain righteousness without asking and receiving the power of God to transform and renew our minds. Jesus teaches us how to pray and starts off His example of a good model of prayer by adoring and showing submission to the will of God the Father. Jesus then tells the disciples they should ask for forgiveness of sins and to forgive others. Even though Jesus does not specifically include thanksgiving in this prayer, it is somehow implied in its tone and the humility of the request for daily bread. Friends, asking God for help is the first and the final step in prayer. We have a lot to learn about prayer and in prayer. If we had all the answers to our prayers before asking God, then there would be no purpose to pray. So, it is only appropriate that we find time to engage in the action of prayer but not be an actor in the process. God want authenticity. So our prayers should be private, sincere and childlike, That is why Jesus starts out teaching us to say, “Our Father”, before a litany of petitions follow. Friends, we are to allow the secret work of the Spirit to help our soul approach the throne of God. Here we hallow God’s name. Here we pray for God’s will and kingdom to come. Here we receive our daily bread with thanks. Here we get the chance to forgive and be forgiven. Here we can pray into the love of God so we not be seduced but saved from the wickedness of the world.
Pray we take time to be in God’s presence. Pray we be helped to pray by the Spirit of God. Pray we desire to commune with God through the life of Jesus. Pray the intensity of our prayers grow with time. Pray our conversations with God are not one sided. Pray our prayers are more in the listening than in the talking. Pray we let God have the last word. Pray we have a mountain moving faith. Pray our acts of Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication are filled with the Holy Spirit. Pray our prayers focus on how to serve in the kingdom of God. Pray our prayers are truly powerful because we no longer look at the size of the mountain that must be moved but on the sufficiency of the Mountain Mover, the creator of all things seen and unseen. Pray we realize that the very act of prayer is a blessing from God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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