Tuesday, February 16, 2016

16 February 2016 - (no) power of babble



“In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.

Prayer is not about production. It isn't about what we do. Jesus, help us to approach prayer for the sake of relationship.

Our Father who art in heaven

We are spending time with family. This isn't a check box to check off the list. Silence can be OK with family. Or perhaps we do have a lot to say. That's OK, too. But let's not become so fixated on what we have to say. Let's not spend so much time speaking that no one else can interject. Help us to leave room for you, for your Father, and for the Holy Spirit. Show us how to ask for what is on our hearts and then to leave it in your hands. The simple act of repeating it isn't going to bully you into answering anyway, like the pagans seemed to think.

It isn't about the one asking. It is about the one who answers. Let us approach you with that poverty.

When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.

We're still worried about how we should pray. Even knowing that it is a time with family doesn't completely let us of the hook. We don't want to neglect anything which love would have us include or to include anything selfish and at odds with love. Fortunately, you teach us how to pray. You teach us to put the kingdom first but to ask for our daily needs. You remind us how important it is to walk in forgiveness. You show us that genuine need for spiritual warfare against temptation and evil. If we ignore these things we do so at our peril.

When we use your own plans for prayer, your own words, we know that they have power.

So shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
It shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.

So help us, Jesus, to pray the words you teach with sincerity and attention so that we can experience the joy of your saving help.

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.

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