Into the Fire

Isn’t it always? A time to pray, I mean. Yes. Without hesitation: yes.

This is not a condemning post, so don’t take that guilty heavy sigh and dart away.

As a Christian, I acknowledge that satisfaction with my walk is the golden opportunity and open door to an enemy which bangs against my iron will and turns it into silly putty. He lies so effectively, he connives so impressively, he undermines intentions with a map of detours that puts my procrastination to shame. For those times when he is successful and I am a failure, I can narrow my concentration down to time spent “of” the world and not just “in” the world.

Prayer seems to invoke fear, panic, and dread to a lot of Christians. Probably because they think it’s more than it is. They hear these formal, masterful, self-denigrating, missions-laden, wordy propositions laid before God Almighty and immediately deem themselves unworthy of offering a single request, especially about the proverbial parking space outside a busy mall because of being in a hurry.

And, yes, most Christians have been told that prayer is just communicating with God. Which it is. But it’s more than that. It’s establishing the friendship He desires to have with each one of us.

Recently I dedicated a post to my childhood friend after our reunion. We had years and years to catch up on, but we started with our distant past together. With each memory those old times became vivid, colorful, and filled with sounds and scents and heartfelt remembrances we cherished. They’d retained their prominence in our memories because of the love we carried for each other in our youth.

Go back to the day of your salvation. Some experience magnificent, dramatic conversions. Others come quietly. Nevertheless, true conversion elicits emotion, change, and eventually devotion. God makes Himself known to His people, and that simple fact, no matter how complex the experience leading to it might be, is the essence of beginning the journey. Forever after that initial “knowing” we are forming our relationship with God. The Savior is now the best friend we will ever have, the Holy Spirit replaces our inadequate “conscience”, and we engage the God of our universe in a supernatural, profound friendship.

If you’ve never had a close friend, you might not know how to conduct a friendship with Jesus. Whatever you do, however you choose to approach the Savior, He will accept your efforts. Able to recognize when you’re faking it and when your heart is fully into it, He will still accept you. His love for you is indescribable, too deep to explain reasonably. It transcends all earthly love, no matter how noble or novel the examples. It’s perfection. Human love simply can’t measure up to it—regardless of the effort. We fall far short of perfection.

So, about prayer . . . The best and most real way to develop a relationship is to spend time with the friend. Talk to Him. Give it all up to Him. Let Him experience your heart in pain, in distress, in anger and angst. He already sees it, understands it, and offers truth in all situations. Quiet does not mean He hasn’t heard. It means there’s a reason for His silence. Not one we might always understand but one which has far more meaning than we can appreciate at present. Yes, He has His ways, doesn’t He? Higher than ours. Often a mystery to us. And why not? He’s God for heaven’s sake.

If you don’t pray, you miss out. You miss the outlet He provides for all of your emotional rifts. You miss the consolation for frustrations. You miss the development of a friendship which provides shelter for your storms, the collection of your tears, the comfort of the Spirit plus His counsel. And, no, sometimes He won’t give you instant solutions to this thing called life. He doesn’t have to, but don’t mistake His silence for a spiteful refusal to reply. Ponder Him.

This world is on a downhill slide. It will still have its ups, but the downs are plentiful right now for many people. God is waiting to hear from us. How much do we believe that prayer changes the course of our lives in the here and now? How much do you want your relationship with Jesus to be enhanced, to grow, to be so meaningful you can hear the Spirit’s whispers, see the face of Jesus, listen to the voice of God and act according to His direction? Do you want that?

Or not?

Pray without ceasing. God is listening.

Father, you are magnificent. You are perfection. You are Love. You are Truth. Jesus, you are The Way. Help us to be faithful. Help us to talk with you. To carry on a steady conversation. To learn to listen. To want to obey. To take the time to belong to you: body, soul, and spirit. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.