PRAYING ALONG THE WAY

Ever have problems with public prayers? Are you one of those Christians who despises having to pray aloud at your LifeGroup meeting or Bible study? Don’t feel bad; there are so many ways prayer can go wrong that it is worth all of your caution. It has always bothered me that silver-tongued Christians seem to be the ones always emphasizing more group prayer. But let’s be honest: there is nothing particularly excellent or impressive about us when we pray together off the cuff.  Here’s a light look at a gallery of types I’ve noticed over the years:

Case of the Just Reallys:

"Lord, we just really pray that you would really just, just really help me stop saying just really."

THE GOSSIP:

"Lord, please forgive Mary [not present] for her inappropriate attraction toward George [who is, unfortunately, present]."

THE THEOLOGIAN:

"Lord, you are God. You are Triune, Immutable, Omniscient, Eternal, self-revelatory, and ineffably sublime. We acknowledge your total aseity and sufficiency in and of yourself…”

THE OPPORTUNIST:

"Lord, I just want to pray for my financial situation. Just $50 would put me on my feet…”

THE LECTURER:

"O God, forgive those among us who do not understand the need to tithe, for as it says in Your Word: ’The tithe is the Lord’s',.and “test me on this” [and on and on]"

CALLING DOWN FIRE:

"Lord, I pray for the lady who rudely gestured at me in traffic today: that you would convict her of her sin by any possible means. Amen."

PRAY WHAT?

Then there are those other awkward prayers that clearly do not have The Lord as an intended hearer:

THE SIDESWIPE

[While saying grace at dinner:] "Lord,please help my brother-in-law get a job. . .

THE SATANIST:

"Satan, I'm talking to you! Now listen up. I take authority over you and bind you…" [Jude 1:9-10]

THE HERETIC:

"Great Mother, we know you have already saved all people. . ."

THE ANNOUNCEMENT PRAYER:

"Dear Lord, we pray for a good turnout at the Pancake Breakfast next Sunday in Fellowship Hall at 9 o’clock.”

…AND SO ON…

We are flawed people. We use prayers as tools to manipulate and/or otherwise communicate with others in the circle. But a few problems do not outweigh the good: namely; the inestimable value of gathering brothers and sisters together in good faith and side-by-side addressing God with all of our praises, problems, and personal foibles. The great miracle is always the same: that God hears, God forgives, and God loves us in spite of ourselves. That is worth it by far!