"The great temptation in our day is to neglect or avoid the practices of God while actively working to achieve what we believe to the be the mission of God."
Quote by Richard Foster at Asbury Seminary
Reflections of a Journeying Blogger
6 comments:
Hey, now there's my life's story. I've seen way to much of this in my life, and I'm working to get that straight. How can we claim to do God's work if we're not talking to the boss?
Todd...where that may be an issue for some, I would say that isn't the issue for everyone. To be honest, I think I hear God pretty well. (I say that in as much humility as is possible being aware that I'm stating I'm being humble!) But, in fact, I move through my day with a pretty strong awareness of that still, small voice. Yes, I sometimes miss hearing God, but I do sense God leading me A LOT on a day to day, basis.
I struggle with what my friend paul talked about today (paul, the pastor). I struggle with believing my prayers have an effect. For me it's a theological issue. I realize God is sovereign, and sovereignty gets in the way of my prayers! I have said the line so many times that "prayer doesn't change God it changes us" that I forget that prayer (my words to God and for/to people) DO in fact, seem to have an effect.
Make sense?
So, maybe this is a separate post, but in what ways do you see prayer change situations? Does it? Or does it only change the prayer? What do you all think of the connection between prayer and sovereignty? Blog on.
I was thinking that very thing today after hearing some pastor talk about it. I wrestle with this concept every time I read accounts of people negotiating with God and getting what they want too (Lot comes to mind, but there are others.). Perhaps the distinction is that God is able do what he pleases, but as part of having a relationship with us, he asks for our participation and input (prayer). This wouldn't be very profound if he asked just to make us feel like he wanted to hear what we had to say, but if he really does want our participation and acts on our input, there's a real relationship going on. Then, of course, we get into praying for sports teams, and what if two righteous people pray for different outcomes to the game (the recent superbowl comes to mind, where my entire small group was praying for the Eagles to win). We either didn't find favor with God that day, or he's a Patriot's fan. ;-)
I struggle mightily with this issue. I was trained to pray, so when someth9ing good/bad happens, I often just naturally lean into God with Prayer, whether it's to say thanks or oh crap can you please fix this? But when I allow my brain to think about it, the soveriegnty issue really does get in the way. Similarly, the issue of forgiveness sometimes weakens my willingness to be obedient. I know I shouldn't do such and such but I'm gonna because I really want to and God will forgive me anyway. I hate that! I mean, I love God's forgiveness, but I hate it that sometimes I see it as a way out as opposed to something to worship Him for.
I am currently very much in a mushy state of transition/doubt concerning prayer. I am hesitant to post this publicly, but I do want feedback.
My honest attitude is that prayer doesn't change anything. God still does whatever he wants to do. I have heard strong evidence to the contrary from some people, ...but my attitude towards prayer has become caloused despite it. I'm speaking primarily about praying requests and concerns to God, not praise or panic.
Keep in mind that I'm talking about my attitude--a mix of "natural reactions", daily living, and feelings--not about my thoughts. My thoughts are very confused and undefined because I feel like the information I've been given doesn't line up with my experience.
My attitude is: why bother? People will still get divorced (even Christians), people will still die of cancer, people will still be alone and depressed, people will still refuse to change or see or come to faith. God doesn't force people to change or to do things, and I do not see the impact our concern for certain issues has on swaying what happens in the world. For me this holds true if you lean towards the "blueprint model" (God has absolute control of everything that happens) or towards the "war model" (God fights against Satan's corruption for everything). There seems to be little percievable activity either way.
I don't mean for this to sound so bitter. I deeply wish that I had faith and discipline enough to be a prayer warrior, because I deeply admire and respect those people who are committed to praying as a lifestyle. Somehow I simultaneously believe that prayer "works" for some people, but not for me...recognizing the contradiction of it. Anyone else feel this way?
I feel exactly the same way, Patrick....even though I have a HUGE cache of examples in my own life and family that speak to the power of prayer. I guess it just seems like, as you said, God is gonna do what he's gonna do. I recognise prayer is more than "asking God to do or not do stuff"...it's how we develop a relationship with Him....but I'm not motivated to do that either at the moment. Because I also feel....no matter how well I know Him, He still does what He wants and I'll never understand why. Same with obedience issues....sometimes I do "bad" things and there are consequences, and sometimes I do them and there aren't (at least, that I can detect) and sometimes I am doing exactly what I know I should be, and things still don't work out. It is hard for me to rejoice simply in knowing I am being obedient to God. This is closely tied to prayer for me...
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