"I will pray for you"
Posted: Sunday, August 16, 2009
by Jean Purcell
OpineBooks.com
Faith cannot be caught or inherited. Yet it is definitely true that the preceding generations of Christians help us dare to believe. Their adventures of persevering trust produce soul-steel, as strong and as gentle as God's power and His love. Their prayers draw us closer to God until we are willing to seek Him.
Perhaps like me you once felt suspicious when anyone said, "I will pray for you," after you shared information about a decision or worry. Perhaps you still react with mistrust or wariness.
Prayer is one of the most puzzling parts of Christian life. We know that Jesus prayed. Why did He need to pray, when God already knew His divine plan, purpose, facts, and needs of Jesus' life? Why did One with God when creation happened need to pray?
I am not sure that any human has the answers about why Jesus, being one with God, prayed. But we can speculate. Prayer is communication with God that honors and pleases Him and refreshes and strengthens us.
God loves our prayers to come to Him in adoration, thanks, and any requests, especially intercessions for others, according to His will. Like loving human relationships, the relationship with our loving, divine Heavenly Father loves contact, nourishment, sharing, and being made better. God makes us better while we pray, even if we do not feel it.
I claim that because often I go to God with thanks quickly followed by a question or problem. As I sit still and talk to Him from my heart, sincerely seeking, that peace beyond understanding reaches me. I begin to calm down after the most fervent prayers for help for others or myself. Don't you experience this, too?
Beryl Adamsbaum wrote of prayer as a privilege of multiple kinds, which it surely is. Lee Strobel wrote of the Omnipresence of God, including in prayer: "Omnipresence? Jesus said in Matthew 28:20, 'Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,' and in Matthew 18:20, 'Where two or three come together, there I am with them.'"
What better reason to pray, even at our weariest, than to know that then we are with the Lord and He with us in that unique, holy way of communion? What better reason to pray with another or others than to know that then He is in the midst of us as we take that time to be together to wait upon Him, to seek, thank, and express our love to Him and invite His love anew, with us?
There is no higher theme than the Cross of Jesus, dear Son of God, and what that Cross means, due to Him. There is no higher privilege on earth than to call upon Christ who died there, whom God raised from the grave, and who is with God on High and yet also with us. Can we ever tire of these truths? Do we long for others to accept the love and salvation of Christ in this increasingly confusing and uncertain world?
"It is the Lord!" his disciples exclaimed in amazement as He walked toward them on the waters, as He awaited them on the shore after the Resurrection. May our hearts and minds be so moved and made right that we will guard the privilege of His amazing presence as we talk to Him and in stillness listen for His guidance and calm. We can pray as we go along, as well as when we kneel. Let's pray unceasingly, withholding nothing of pain, pleasure, or need from Him who loves us infinitely. Amen.
Note: The Lee Strobel quote is from The Case for Christmas: A Journalist Investigates the Identity of the Child in the Manger," Chapter 3: "The Profile Evidence," Zondervan 2005, p. 65.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)I must agree with the Rabbi. Christan's are completely missing the point of the teachings of Jesus. Jesus never in the bible said "I am Christ" the only comment that is mistaken for Jesus being a messiah is the following..."the only way to the Father is through me." Jesus was a mystic. Mystics always speak in metaphor. All of Jesus teaching were simply based on Love. Love for God, love for life, love for mankind. I seriously doubt he would want us to be shallow humans and ask for everything. Our job as humans is to be creators. The only true creation comes from pure love. No need to pray....just create something beautiful and important with the spirit of God that is within you....LOVE.
Really nice article draws you even closer to God.
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