Monthly Archives: May 2015

Rote prayers

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As believers of Christ we have freedom to pray with words that come from our heart and to pray scripture to the Lord. But what about rote prayers?

 

The word ‘rote’ entails learning something by repetition usually without comprehension or understanding. We could learn our math tables by rote and not really understand how to calculate the price of groceries without a calculator. We could say The Pledge of Allegiance or the beginning of the Gettysburg Address or even memorize vast portions of scripture verses, but if we don’t understand what we’re saying or believe it, what’s the value? Does that seem like a good way to converse with God?

 

But memorizing something doesn’t have to make it worthless. Memorization is one way of committing a truth to heart. You might have memorized your wedding vows and probably remember at least some portion of them yet today. Repetition doesn’t make perfect but it makes things permanent. Repeating a memorized truth helps to embed it into our daily life.

 

I’ve known folks who say the same words at every meal to give thanks to God for their food. While you might not follow that ‘rote’ routine, do you think God minds if they’re a sincere expression of the heart? Likewise, if written prayers composed by others speak the truth in our hearts, we shouldn’t be afraid to use them in our prayer life.

 

Martin Luther recommended praying the Lord’s Prayer and the Ten Commandments in a personalized way. Many find praying the 23rd Psalm draws them closer to God and expresses what their own words fail to say. So can other written prayers. Consider committing some of these prayers to memory or adapt them to fit your conversational style:

 

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life. (Attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi)

 

Dear Jesus, help me to spread Your fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with Your spirit and love. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may only be a radiance of Yours. Shine through me and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel Your presence in my soul. Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as you shine, so to shine as to be a light to others. (Attributed to Mother Teresa; adapted)

 

And have we ever really outgrown our childhood prayer?
“Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep: May God guard me through the night And wake me with the morning light. Amen.” (Traditional)

 
One of my favorite rote prayers comes from the musical Godspell:
“Lord help me to see you more clearly, love you more dearly, follow you more nearly, day by day.”

 

Memorizing rote prayers or even scripture doesn’t make you holy. But it might help you draw closer to God, which is the purpose of all prayer.

Be blessed.

 

How should we pray? (Maybe not like this)

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There are no ‘magic’ words or secret codes prayer phrases; we should pray from our hearts. But let’s invite God to search and cleanse our hearts before we make our requests. Our prayers get mixed up when our minds overrule the message of our heart. For example:

 

The detailed informant:
“Oh Lord who sees and knows all things, please watch over Judith, the one in our flock who lives at 457 Main Street, the two-story house with the blue shutters. She’s having gall bladder surgery 8:30 a.m. Central Time Friday at Our Blessed Hope Hospital on South Street. Give Dr. John Walter Bernard II a good night sleep and his favorite breakfast so he will be strong and concentrate on the medical procedures he was taught at John Hopkins University back in 1985.”

 

The name dropper:
“Lord, I just ask you, Lord, to, Lord, be with those, Lord, who, need you, Lord.” (You wouldn’t talk this way to your friend Betty; why talk to God this way?)

 

The Gossiper:
“Lord, change the heart of sinner Sam Jones who I heard is having an adulterous affair with Suzy Mae.”

 

The King James prayer:
“I beseech Thee, in The Holiest Of Holies, O Lord. Heareth the prayer of Thy lowliest worm, and forgiveth mine gravest iniquities…” (This might be okay if you talk that way in real life.)

 

The self-seeker:
“God, watch over my red sports car. Protect it from scratches and dents so it can shine for your glory.”

 

The vengeance-seeker:
“Lord go after the person who dinged my new car in the parking lot today. Pursue them until the end of their days. Punish them with your mighty right hand so that I, your righteous one, will be avenged and lifted up.”

 

The ‘just’ prayer:
“Lord I JUST ask that you will do JUST (do this) and JUST (do that) in my life. . . And JUST these other things on my 12 page prayer list, JUST like I want.”

 

The pharisee (praying loudly):
“Oh God, you know my righteous ways, how I always praise you and seek only to be blameless in your sight. Surely, you’ve noticed how blameless I already am! And thankful you for giving me such an extremely humble heart.”

 

The comfort seeker:
“Lord I want to know you and be just like you. Only protect me from all pain and sorrow and suffering. Let my life be an example of worldly success so others will know that you are my God.”

 

The babbler (when asked to say a simple grace at meal time):
“O Lord, I want to lift up to you all the believers of the world, the plagues in Africa, the wars in the middle east, the infidelity of … (that other political party). Thank you Lord for watching over me all my days, for watching over the day I was born and all the days of my childhood and…” (Praying without ceasing is intended to be a condition of our heart, not a litany of endless words.)

 

The intent here isn’t to be judgmental of others but to ask God to guard our own hearts. Don’t worry over your prayer words. Just come to Him with thanksgiving in your heart and let your requests be known.

 

“Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1)

 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

 

 

Powerful prayers of the bible

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During the tougher times of my cancer journey, many prayers were simply, “Lord, have mercy.” I didn’t have energy to say more. Perhaps simple word prayers throughout the day pleases Him best:  “Thanks!” – “Help me.” – “Praise God!”  In fact, His Word warns against the vain babbling of endless words. But when the words won’t come at all, there is another source of inspiration for prayer: Scripture.

 

“Read the Psalms, praise God once; pray them, praise God twice; sing them, praise God three times over!” There’s no value in repeated rote prayers just to say them out of tradition. But if they reflect the desires of your heart, let them become your heart-felt prayers.

 

Find solace in praying the 23rd Psalm. Substitute your name for ‘me’ and ‘my’:

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff–they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

 

I’ve had many occasions to pray David’s shorter prayer (Psalm 51:10-12) throughout my life: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.” It has been a heartfelt prayer to draw closer to my Creator and to live in accordance with His will, especially after I’ve messed up.

 

You might pray as Moses did: “Teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” (Exodus 33:13,15)

 

You can personalize “The Lord’s Prayer” with words from your own heart. Tell him you want His name to be honored and respected in your life activities and ambitions. Describe your daily bread (needs). Confess specific sins. Forgive others by name. Ask God to help you live today with forever in mind.

 

We should pray trusting in the Lord, “In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.” (Psalm 25:1)

 

Consider praying for others this way: “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ.” (Philippians 1:9-10)

 

Or this way: “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 4:14-19)

 

Let the powerful prayers of the bible speak your heart.

 

 

“How should I pray?”

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Is it better to pray while kneeling or bowing or can I pray sitting or standing? Do I have to fold my hands and close my eyes or is it okay to pray with eyes wide open and hands lifted high . . . or in my pockets? Should I pray in the morning or before bed or all day long? Should I say ‘grace’ in public? (What a great opportunity to bless your guests and server!) Should I end every prayer with “in Jesus name”? Should I pray out loud, or quietly, by myself or in a group? Can I pray while doing the dishes or taking a shower?

 

Prayer isn’t saying “Open Sesame” to access God’s treasures. There’s no magic formula. God cares about the posture of our hearts, not our bodies. Prayer is a two-way conversation between you and God. The closer your relationship with God the more natural your prayers will be.

 

We don’t have to approach Him trembling like the Tin Man before the Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz. God says we who know Jesus should approach Him in confidence, that He hears us and will grant requests made according to His will. When He says we should ask whatever we want in His name, He doesn’t mean to add, “in Jesus’ name’ as a formulaic ending to every prayer. He means to ask in accordance to what Jesus would ask.

 

How did Jesus pray? He always focused on His Heavenly Father’s will. We’re quick to pray away every discomfort or pain and suffering, thinking if Jabez prayed that way at least one time, it’s a formula we can claim. But that prosperity and comfort approach mocks the life of Jesus and His followers. Paul writes frequently about suffering as a means of drawing closer to Jesus, advancing the gospel, and increasing glory. Jesus prayed for the cup of suffering to pass IF it was God’s will but concluded, “… not my will, but Yours be done.”

 

If You are willing God if it pleases You, if it advances Your kingdom, if it will bring others closer to You, IF…

 

Jesus gave us a model of how to pray: Honor God. Worship Him. Really trust in His plan. Bring requests to Him. Be honest about what’s on your heart. Tell Him you’re angry at Him or you feel He’s ignoring you. He’s a big God; He can take it. But don’t stop there. Tell Him that you don’t want it to stay that way, that you want to be closer, that you want your love to grow. Pray about everything with thanks and without worry.

 

Confess your sins, your weaknesses, your double-mindedness, your wayward heart that seeks pleasure and comfort more than closeness with Him. Confess apathy toward the suffering of others, the infernal busyness that keeps you from hearing and responding to His call on your life. Submit to Him. The only posture that matters is a humble heart submitted to Him.

 

Jesus gave us His Spirit to interpret our prayers when we can’t even form the words. Ask His Holy Spirit to guide the prayers of your heart as you seek to draw closer to your Lord God.

 

 

The past, the future, and today

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Much of God’s Word talks about learning from the past, living intentionally today, and preparing for the future. Learning from the past involves paying attention to ‘lessons learned’ and changing our behavior to better impact today. Living intentionally today means paying attention to where we are right now, to those around us, and to what God is now doing. Planning for the future leads us to consider our mortal lives and prepare for what awaits us for all eternity.

 

How does this relate to our everyday life?

 

“Whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4) We can and should let the bible’s lessons guide us in the decisions we make today. Worldly gain is actually loss if it compromises God’s Word. The “Flying Scot” Eric Liddell who refused to run on Sunday demonstrated this discipline. Even Robert Fulghum understood the value of early lessons when he wrote “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” When making decisions today, listen closely to your God-given conscience to make wise decisions. What is true is ALWAYS true, no matter what circumstance prevails, no matter how we feel about it.

 

The past is gone and no one is guaranteed tomorrow. Today is the only time you have. Tolkien wrote, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” Time is the one resource that cannot be replenished. You can spend it on trivia or invest it wisely but you can never ever get it back. So how should we use our time? It is always the right time to do the right thing. Help someone in need, encourage a friend – or a stranger. Speak words that build up, not tear down. Discipline yourself to do nothing but sit in quiet reflection for a while. Give anonymously when you have no chance of being ‘paid back’. Pray; the prayers of a godly person are powerful. Can you wisely live a day without investing in these?

 

What does it mean to prepare for the future? We are warned against worrying about the future because most of the things we worry about never manifest themselves. Most of those that do are beyond our control to change. Worry is a great waste of time and energy that easily leads us to the sin of not trusting God. But the wise person does make preparations for the future; first for their eternal future and also for the near future. The degree to which you exercise your faith today will determine your ability to call on it in times of trouble. The moral decisions you make today have real impact not only on your life but on others. May those who come behind us find us faithful!

 

How do you walk the tightrope of learning from the past, living intentionally today and still preparing for the future? The bible tells us to make wise ‘investments’. How much of our passions for hobbies are really a tragic waste of time? Isn’t the most valuable legacy the one which will live on . . . forever? Don’t waste your life. Learn from the past, plan for the future, but live today fully.

 

‘Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.’ – Bill Keane

 

 

Seduced by righteous eating

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I love to eat. Marcia and I are mindful of maintaining a healthy diet (as long as it includes some chocolate!). Marcia prefers to make most meals from scratch so we don’t eat much processed food. We also don’t consume much ‘organic’ foods except what we grow. We just like the taste and nutrition of natural foods. Considering the numerous recalls of tainted food, the growing prevalence of GMOs, and the temptation of ‘super’ foods it would be easy to become over zealous about what we consume. We try not to be fanatic about it because we know:

 

It’s easy to be consumed by what we consume!

 

Dr. Steven Bratman shares a time when all he could think about was what he ate, always searching for special foods to fulfill his ‘perfect’ diet. He observes that “healthy eating can (lead people to be) at risk of a dangerous obsession with eating ‘proper’ food.” He says he found himself “seduced by righteous eating.”

 

Isn’t that a danger we all face, and not only with the food we eat but with anything we exaggerate to a higher focus than what it should have in our lives?! It could be the coffee we drink, the clothes we wear, the obsession with beauty and youth, even our consuming hobbies.

 

Diet, fitness, beauty have become ‘gods’ in our culture and we’re tempted to make our bodies their temple of worship.  I wonder, are we more willing to cleanse our bodies of physical toxins than we are to cleanse our soul of toxic thoughts and habits? We cross a blurred line when eating healthy foods leads us to disproportionate stress and consumes our whole life. It not only consumes us but negatively impacts our relationships with our family and friends. Ultimately what we focus on affects our mental and spiritual health.  We could say the same thing of the blurred line between healthy exercise and obsession with the god of fitness, the addictive hobby, the maddening compulsion to find a cure for everything that ails us.

 

In his book Health Food Junkies Dr. Bratman shares a quiz to help identify if even healthy eating has led to an eating disorder. I invite you to join me in reflecting on whatever consumes our minds and activities:

How much time do I spend worrying about my (fill in the blank) activity?

Do I feel guilty when I don’t focus on this?

How many hours a day do I spend thinking about it?

Do I find myself planning for tomorrow’s activity today?

Do I consider my activity a ‘virtuous‘ endeavor?

How does it affect the quality of my relationship with others?

Am I becoming more strict with my ‘rules‘?

What other ‘good things’ am I willing to sacrifice for this?

Does engaging in my activity elevate my self-esteem? Do I tend to look down on others who don’t?

Does my activity isolate me socially?

Does it feed my need for being ‘in control‘?

Does it drain my time, money, and energy for better things?

 

The parable of the talents illustrates that God cares about how we invest our time, money, and energies. Not every permissible thing is beneficial. All throughout scripture He warns us to focus on what lasts and what matters most. It’s not bad to be zealous about life. Just be careful that what you consume doesn’t end up consuming you.

 

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”  – Romans 12:10-11

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