Zoe recently gave me Philip Yancey's book "Prayer: Does it Make Any Difference?" She is also reading a library copy. The reason she gave it to me is because we are in a season of studying prayer.
I also meet with 2 mature Christian women in my neighborhood on Monday nights for a time of fellowship and Bible study. We are studying prayer. But we are not using any type of guide or book, etc, we've chosen to let God bring to mind Scripture about various aspects of prayer. It has been quite an amazing time of rich insight, humble revelation, and a deep encouragement to pray for each other.
My study of Luke at CBS has also been instrumental in this whole "prayer" topic. I am seeing Jesus as a man of prayer, in many ways for the first time clearly in my Christian life. How odd.
I feel that its almost like I am learning about who Jesus was during his ministry for the first time. Why, when, where, how, for how long did Jesus pray as recorded in scripture is such an intimate window into the heart of our Saviour. I am ashamed to confess, I had no idea. I had no idea the prayers He DIDN'T pray are also as important as the prayers He did.
Yancey's book is "uncomfortable" initially to read because it does ask the hard questions about prayer you fear may not have the "right biblical" answers. The question of WHY we should pray could be answered so many practical ways. But the simple truth is this: We should pray because Jesus did (p. 78). And if I know WHO Jesus is, then I will understand why I should pray.
I have been a Christian since I was 13. That's 26 years. That's over a quarter of a century. My heart is almost crushed that I do not know my Saviour. His Word is full of the intimacies of His life, love, wisdom, character and on and on and on, and somehow this entire time I missed so many of the details. And much of it is revealed in His praying.
My prayers are so idiotic. And at this point, I can barely get the words out to say, "Lord, I just want to KNOW you." What if another 25 years goes by and I am at the same place of "I do not really know my Saviour" ???
1 comment:
"Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their children forever! " Deut. 5:29
Can't you hear the longing of the Lord to be with us and bless us. Prayer is such a privilege to have fellowship with the living and true LORD! Diane
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