Praying God’s Will (37)
Lectionary, Year C, Proper 24
Christopher B. Harbin
Luke 18:1-8
I have issues with popular conceptions regarding prayer. The most popular notions liken prayer to presenting a Christmas wish list to Santa Claus. We approach prayer like rubbing Aladdin’s magic lamp. The lamp gives us control of the Jinn. Then, if we do it just right, we get to tell God what to do. We get to be in charge, God for the day, and make our demands upon one we also call The Almighty. My life’s biggest problems result from being in the driver’s seat, shoving God aside to give me control. We recognize that on one level, but then we begin to pray as though God’s will, purpose, and design did not matter as much as our own. When we pray, are we truly seeking God’s will?
As a young seminarian, I was getting anxious about future direction in my life. I had a definite sense of call to missions and ministry, but there were some elements over which I was struggling to find clear direction. I was reading a book on the spiritual disciplines for one of my classes, and I resolved that I would fast for a number of days until God answered the issue before me. I desperately wanted some clarification and had been feeling put off by God not answering. I would fast. It was a spiritual discipline I had never practiced. It was not part of my tradition. I would try it on for size.
Before it was time for my next meal, I already had an answer from God giving me peace on the issue. I was not overjoyed. I felt cheated. I had determined I would hold a personal, private fast until God gave me the answer I sought, and then God had to answer me before I had taken the first step in fasting! That’s not how it’s supposed to work! That was not how I expected things to go. It was not how I imagined God answering me. Then again, I recognized I was trying to control how God responded. I was trying to give God orders and dictate if not what answer God had in store, then how God revealed that ...
Lectionary, Year C, Proper 24
Christopher B. Harbin
Luke 18:1-8
I have issues with popular conceptions regarding prayer. The most popular notions liken prayer to presenting a Christmas wish list to Santa Claus. We approach prayer like rubbing Aladdin’s magic lamp. The lamp gives us control of the Jinn. Then, if we do it just right, we get to tell God what to do. We get to be in charge, God for the day, and make our demands upon one we also call The Almighty. My life’s biggest problems result from being in the driver’s seat, shoving God aside to give me control. We recognize that on one level, but then we begin to pray as though God’s will, purpose, and design did not matter as much as our own. When we pray, are we truly seeking God’s will?
As a young seminarian, I was getting anxious about future direction in my life. I had a definite sense of call to missions and ministry, but there were some elements over which I was struggling to find clear direction. I was reading a book on the spiritual disciplines for one of my classes, and I resolved that I would fast for a number of days until God answered the issue before me. I desperately wanted some clarification and had been feeling put off by God not answering. I would fast. It was a spiritual discipline I had never practiced. It was not part of my tradition. I would try it on for size.
Before it was time for my next meal, I already had an answer from God giving me peace on the issue. I was not overjoyed. I felt cheated. I had determined I would hold a personal, private fast until God gave me the answer I sought, and then God had to answer me before I had taken the first step in fasting! That’s not how it’s supposed to work! That was not how I expected things to go. It was not how I imagined God answering me. Then again, I recognized I was trying to control how God responded. I was trying to give God orders and dictate if not what answer God had in store, then how God revealed that ...
There are 8566 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
